Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-01-13
PATRONS OF mUsBANDnY
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.

Inc NatlOndl orange, al lts dHhudi
session in Lansing, Michigan, i'll No
vember last, unanimously placed itself
on record against a repeal of the cleo
margarine law. or any amendment of
the same that would in anywise curtail
its usefulness to the producers and con-
sumers of dairy products i'll the North
ern States. The State Oranges that
have held their annual meetings since
that time-some twenty-five in all
have also emphasized and endorsed
the action of the National Grange. 1t
is well known that interested parties
have for several months past been or
ganizing and perfecting their plans
for a combined effort before Congress
this winter to have the law either en-
tirelv repealed, or so amended as TO
make il imperative. Now it becomes
the plain duty of all members of the
Grange, and farmers not members,
but who are equally interested i'll sus-
tanning this law TO at once write per
sonal letters to their Members of Con
press and their United States Senators
asking them TO sustain the present
law. Let each Grange at its next
meeting prepare its memorial, have 1t
signed by the master and secretary,
and with the seal of the Grange at
tached send it to the Member of Con-
gress that represents that district.
And send also duplicate copies TO both
the United States Senators for that
State. 1t is an organization that mas
given III this and other good laws. Let
organized work be done to save the
law. and the sooner the better.
The dairy interests of the United
States represent an investment of
more than $4,000, 0O0 900, nearly five
times as much as the entire bank cap
ital of the country, which is SOL, OOO,-
600. The number of mich COWS Is es-
timated at 2i,000,000. This is the great
industry that is again threatened by
the repeal Of the oleomargarine law,
to say nothing about the interest OF
millions of consumers in being pro-
tected from fraud.
"A dozen years ago, and more, when
the Grange was growing rapidly in
membership, it attracted public atten-
ton because of its possible influence
i'm business affairs and in politics.
Many persons viewed the movement
with uneasy apprehension, for they
feared that it would overturn estab-
lished order and so become a disturber.
Later there was cessation of growth
aud men wise in their own conceit
said, 1T has had its day; it will soon
be among the things that were but
are not" Fears and predictions were
wrong. To-day the Grange is silent
force working beneticently in the in
terest of order, peace and the welfare
of a people engaged i'll honest indus
tries that thrive best when directed
bv intelligence. In no instance has it
been a disturber. Its influence in
politics is greater now than ever be-
fore. but it is not partisan nor can it
be used to promote the success of
schemes devised by politicians. With
out doubt its early growth was too
rapid. 1t gathered within its ranks
persons who became at once all ele-
ment Of weakness, hence that retarda-
ton that for time gave rise TO fore
bodings and checked enthusiasm, even
among its most faithful workers. The
purifying process had begun and 1t
never stopped, until the Order had
lost the principal parts of its impedi-
ments. Then confidence began to
return and with it increased strength
that has continued to increase until
the Grange, counted weak after its
losses, has become powerful factor
in shaping affairs. Tile HuSbandman.
70.