Dodge City times., 1888-11-29
Two National Convention

Two Not1Onol CcuventiOuS.
Two important agricultural organiza-
tions held their annual national CONVEX.
tons in Topeka last week, the Farmer.'
congress snd the Grange. The session
OF the Farmers congress is the eighth
annual one. Up to Wednesday night
net a sufficient number OF delegates were
in attendance to proceed with regular
business. The Hon. 3. F. Clayton, one
of the leading members of the congress,
was appointed to respond to the address
to be delivered by Hon. A. W. Smith in
behalf Of the state beard of agriculture.
The twenty-eecond annual meeting OF
cts National Grange, Patrons of Hus-
bandry, began its session in Topeka
Wednesday. Nearly every state in the
union YVES represented. The most inter-
esting event OF the day was the address
OF the acting grand master. In tie
course Of his address he said In regard
to the material condition Of the grange:
"The organization Of 1913 subordinate
oranges during the past year warrants
the assertion that the order is in q
healthful and fourishing condition.
The greatest increase in membership
has been msde in North Carolina, while
the New England states show contin-
ud increase b9th IN membership
and new oranges. Colorado has devel-
opsd marked activity and progress and
is represented again this year ia the
councils Of this body. The increase of
membership by initiation, new orgsni-
zstions, and reorganization in the several
states will appear in the report OF your
secretary, and matters pertaining to our
finances in that of the treasurer and ex-
ecutive committee. Taking into account
that the year just closed has been one Of
great political excitement and activity,
aud that the minds Of the people have
been more or less diverted from their
several pursuits and interests, the condi-
ton Of the order as a whole is decidedly
encouraging"
The Farmers congress held busy
closing session. Many important reso-
lusions were pesse6, some of them call
ing out warm discussions, among which
we're the following: Favoring a free
coinage Of silver, f.voring the expansion
OF the medium Of exchange, approving
the policy Of the government in improv
ing the rivers and hsrbors Of the country
and urging a continuance of the policy,
indorsing boards of railroad commission
ers urging upon all states TO establish
such bords, to infoIcs the interstate law;
condemning the provisions Of tie
national bank law which prohibits the
acceptance of real estate security for
loan5, and asking congress to
amend the law to put real esss'e on an
equal footing with other property;
recommending the enactment Of equit-
able laws by Legislatures regulating
freight rates and governing railroads;
recommending the enactment Of laws "a
voring a home market.
A committee was appointed to petition
congress for the continuance Of appropri-
atoms by the government for expert
menting with the sorghum sugar indus
try. The following wers also idcpt-
ed:
Resolved, that We sre opposed to all
combinations of capital in trusts, or other
wise, to arbitrarily control the markets Of
this country to the detrimeut OF our pro-
ductive industries, and we demand Of
the congress of the United States such
legislation es will secure to the farmers
and stock raisers Of this country the best
possible reward for their labor. We de-
mand legislation that will discontinue
end prevent in future suchtrusts.
Resolved, That We urge our delega-
tions in congress to uss all honorable
means TO secure the speedy passage Of
the bill now pending before that body
creating the cabinet position Of crs-
tary OF agriculture, and recommend
thst such place be filed by some prac-
tical farmer.
Tne session of the National Grange,
continued during the most of Two weeks.
As this is secret society its work was not
given to the publ, to any extent.
A joint session Of the two delegate
bodies, with such visitors as could find
room, occurred in representative hall;
a part Of the proceedings being q gen.
eral reception. The following masters
of state grapges were present As dele
gats: Hiram Hawkins, Alabama; Levi
Booth. Colorado; J. NJ. Thompson,
Illinois; J. II, Hale, Connecticut; J. E.
Blackford, Iowa; J. D. Chardy. Ken
tucky; II. NJ. Murray, Maryland; q. A.
Barton Jr, Massachusetts,; Thomas
Mars, Michigan; J. B. Bailsy, Missis-
eippi; o. E. Hall, Nebsiska; Charles
McDsriels. New Hampshire; Richard
Coles, New Jersey; J. H Brigham, Ohio;
J. G. Peckhan, Rhode Island; Hon. j.
II. Brigham, master I the state orange
of Ohio, wee, on Monday Of the second
weeks session, elected as master Of the
National Grange. Hon. Lsonard Rhone,
of Pennsylvania was then elected to fill
Mr.. Brigham's place in the executive