The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-10

Farmers Associations

IF farmers used their power of
thought as they do their musc'e, theV
would be the most prosperous and sat
isfied clas- of people in these United
Gta'es. They would retain at the lowest
estim. tie thirty perez more of the
wealth their industry creates than
they. under the present condition of
affairs do. They could easily b. mast
ers of this nations destiny when the
Iamentab'e fact is. they allow them
selves to he looked upCn and treated as
N,e most insignificant factor OF the
great comp nent rarts which compose
opr body polite, or our social and
business fabric This insignificant in
Huence exercised by the farming pop
ulation il mainly-in truth we might
ssv altouether-owine to the isolated
condition which their business makes
it convenient FIR them to maintain
and which habit has cultivated through
generations, of species Of epvious
iealou<y which they hold to each other
One farmer will rarely assist brother
farmer to avoid being overreached hy
sharper man i'm some other line of bus
mess. but seems to jov the discomfort
Of his neighbor. This same contempt
ible feeling has kept farmers aloof from
organizations which were intended for
their benefit and advancement, and
from looking with suspicion on every
effort of this kind thev have been
among he first to cry it down and join
in the scorn which those in different
calling have shown a cheerful alacrity
to indulge in.
Farmers are slowly mending in this
direction but they lag sadly still. We
publish in our farm department some
points from lecture of Worthy Master
Darden. before the National Grange
which mt in Philadelphia last month
that contains valuable information, as
we'll as encouraging facts. The grange
has been decried by the middle and
sueculating class from the dav the first
one was organized, and farmers as is
their usual custom, joined hea lilly in
and helped their own ridicule. But in
% wears the grange by its steady work
to better the condition of the rural class
aocially financially and Intellectually.
has well nigh lived down it's defamers.
and is steadily conquering the prelu-
dice of the more ignorant of the rural
class
Where oranges have been established
among an earnest, intelligent class of
tie agricultural population, and have
been fortunate in having men with
some administrative ability to lead,
thew have done noble work for their
members. We have one such grange
in Cecil the Elkton Grange, and ought
10 have more. There should bea grange
in the 9th district with its place of
meeting at Rising Sun. No greater
aid 10 our agricultural population
cpuld be instituted than live grang.
= There are suffici mt reasons why the
early oranges failed which do not ex-
ist now to defeat their reestablishment
and if the Elkton grange won d lend a
helping hanA, by some ofits public
spirited members comforting with far
mers in this section, prosperous
grange might be established here this
winter. The one would strengthen
the other, and farmers of Cecil might
turn their opportunity to a profitable
advantage N many directions. There
Ia one thing certain that farmers will
never secure their just share of the
wealth they create until they combine
In closer ass citation.