Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-27
TEXAS STATE GRANGE.
W. A. SHAW Intervlewed-The CircuIa-
ton Of funeral Notices Has Start.
ed the Grange on q Been.

=
ed the Grange on . Been.
The Grange Taking no stock In Political
Movements-eolitician FishiDg
Tor sucksrs-stats Fair.
Correspondence Of the Gazette.
DALLAS, TEX, April ia GAZETTE
representative accidentally ran ACROSS
Mr.. W. A. Shaw, managing editor Of the
Texas Farmer, organ Of the Texas state
Grange. He had just returned from ON
extended trip, having accompanied Hon.
A. J. Rose, Worthy Master Of the Grange,
in tour embracing the counties Of Hill,
Bosque, Comanche, Erath, Hamilton,
johnson, Kaufman and VarZsndt. THE
GAZETTE thought him good subject for
an interview. OF the correctness Of this
opinion the reader may judge from the
folio wing:
Reporter-How did you fnd the order
in the localities visited7
Shaw-Well, you see funeral. notices
have been circulating for good while on
the assumption that the Grange Is dead;
in fact some over Jealous speakers, rep
resenting other organizations, have gone
SO far as to indulge In memorial lamenta-
ton owe. the fate Of the Grange. This
hiss naturally called into action oil the
latent patriotism OF the order, which, added
to an efficient lecture system, has started
the Grange on Q pretty good boom. 1t
may be truly said that the Grange is pros
pering-erioying, in fact, healthy
growth.
R.p.-How about your State Fsir7 You
are Secretary Of that, believe.
Stack Is being taken by members
Of the order in all parts OF the state. No
de ate action as to location is contem-
plated until $4,000 90 stock has been
taken by members. 1t is not the inten-
tion, either, to attempt to profit by work
ing up competition for the location.
Any place desiring the enterprise will be
asked to make ita own estimate of its val
ne and submit proposition accordingly,
without any knowledge from Jour direct
ors as to the proposition Of any other
place.
Rep.-I notice that in some localities
farmers and laboring men are joining lin
political movements. Is the Grange tax
ing any stock in this direction2
S.-Auy Grange would forfeit its char
ter by going In to partisan politics in any
shape. The order does, however, exer
else wholesome influence in preventing
farmers from falling into many Of the po-
litical traps set for them.
Rsp.-Trsps are being set for them
now, for instance?
S.-My friend, cleo ions are in sight,
and Of course the political fisherman Is
abroad in the land with hooks most adroit-
ly bated-especially for suckers. He seems
to think the farmer about the biggest Of
all the suckers. Iregret to say that the
action of some Of them at this
time does not leave this opin-
ion entirely bsseless. Do you know
there is an attempt now being made in
volving the biggest frsud ever perpetrated
against them, and many are biting at it
with the avidity of catfish?
Rsp.-Pleese explain.
Swell, 1 found wherever went
but especially in Comanche, VanZsndt,
Hamilton and johnson counties-that
numbers of farmers have identified them
selves with what is known as the Union
Labor party. Wherever found mem
Der Of the Grange thus Afflicted inquiry
generally proved him to be what
we term q double geared Granger
that Is also member Of the Alliance. So
at first concluded the Alliance as an or
der was responsible. But more diligent
inquiry satisfied me this was mistake on
my part, for found majority Of ALI
ance men as violently opposed to the
scheme as 1t Is possible for good Demo-
Gratis to be. BY keeping my eyes and
ears open and my tongue pointed with an
interrogation, formed the opinion, de-
liberately, that some very adroit and
self seeking leaders in the Alliance and
other reform organizations are endeavor-
ing to use their positions to defeat the
What may at first appear enamolous is
that monopoly, through lis organs-es-
pec!ally the hybridizad factor st Dallas
and Galveston-is aiding the move
menr by giving the greatest pos.
sible prominence to said leaders.
When you think ct 1t moment, however,
it looRs like "serpent- wise" policy.
Neither monopoly nor its organs expect
to see the Democratic ticket defeated
Their policy is to help this movement to
cut away from the dominant party large
enough agricultural element to enable
these shrewd manipulators to get control
Of the nominating conventions. Tney
see plainly that the conservative elements
under present conditions will control the
nominations; and for this reason mo-
nopoly end its agents will encourage any
DETECTION that will weaken these ele-
ments. The vigorous action of GENERAL
Hogg In the interest Of the people, backed
as be no doubt is by the "Little Cavalry.
MANI and his "Cabinet," has thrown q
bombshell into the ranks of monopoly in
Texas-and no action will be scrupled at
to down the people through their repre-
sentatives, and put corporate power on
top.
Rep.-That's pretty shrewd game You
give them credit for. Will 1t succeed?
S.-Under one contingency 1t may-and
that Is If the 'cranks" among toe pros
and antis are permitted to transform the
next convention into discordent deba:
ing rink. Otherwise the scheme will fail
for the reason that the manipulators have
been too previous. The grange and al.
lance people all over tie state will under
stand the play before the hand Is half
out-and the manipulstors Of the game
will retire with big black eye.
Rep.-Whst about the convention called
at Waco?
SO bosh. That Is the best sample
Of their laundering have seen. Have
vOu noticed the nere0nnel Of the dietin.