Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-29


which we belong. And for this con
9ition of affairs no one is more to
blame than the farmers. We have
allowed machine politicians to hold
absolute sway too long. We have
been plodding along after the pillow
for 10, these many years, making our
semi-annual trips TO the county seat
10 pay our tax and swallowing with
open eyed wonder and Indignation
the terrible tales of the corruption of
the other party, which we find in our
party paper or hear from our party
speakers. But as a general rule, we
are all made happy when the speak
ers refer to us as the "bone and sinew"
Of the band. Not long since, | heard
a Kentucky orator say to the farmers
of lIarverhill, that if there was any
one thing in this world that he COW
eted more than any other, it was
that of being able to own farm in
the beautiful French Grant, with its
broad acres, and free turn to pike,
railroads and river facilities, soil SO
fertile and stock rolling with fat.
This POLITICAL soft soap pill was
swallow cd and real estate really adj
vanced in the estimation of the av-
erage farmer of the French Grant.
So you see this pill had the tendency
to increase the burden of taxation
which forms a very large complaint
among those who are inclined to
grumble.
Brother Farmers haven't we been
going it blind long enough? Can
we see any hope of return SO long as
We continue to neglect our duties
as citizens? Is it not time that we
unite in definite organization and
use our strength for our protection?
! think it absolutely necessary that
farmers should be something more
than the bone and sinew of the nation
especially when it is spelled with a
capital NJ What we need is more
brain and less muscle. The time
when muscle ruled the world, is gone
by. The original French sett ers,
cutting and clearing away the huge
forest that once covered this beaut-
iful valley, represented muscle; today
i'll the beginning of new century,
with all modern machinery and mod
ern appliances for farming, shows
the necessity of more active brain
| az lAax Il. .nl
Our numbers, our intelligence our
wealth, our taxes entltle Us 10 con
sideration and representation. Let
farmers be chosen in proportion to
their numbers for office, or we shall
become degenerate sons of noble
sires.
And it only needs the earnest
sympathy and hearty support of the
farmers of our country TO enable to
accomplish this work. 1t furnishes
opportunities for intellectual inn
provement and social culture. In it
the material and national interests of
the farmer can be discussed. 1t is
all its most devoted lovers antici-
pated and more. 1t is a grand and
broad educational institution with
all It's vast resources open to the far
mers' family. | feel safe in saying
that it was the education which
Senator a. b. Cole received through
the Grange that prompted him to in
troduce the bucket shop bill, to pre-
vent gambling in futures. The Ohio
State Grange has its eye OH the pre-
sent Legislators and some of their
illustrlois names may appear in print
"ere the roses come again"
Now, Brother Farmer, shall we
unite in this grand work? The
time for action is here. You must
admit the necessity of organization
and you must see that few can not
do the work of the many. The re-
sponsibility is yours; the duty is
yours. Do not retire to your homes
and dismiss this matter from your
minds. see where master II. Ellis
master of the Ohio State Grange, has
issued the proclamation that the
watchward of the Grange for 1888
shall be an increase of 10 per cent
| want to work for this; will you as.
sist, or will you sit idly by and see
the only hope of the farmes die:
Examine carefully the nature and
character of this organization and il
you can think of any better plan
given under Heaven whereby farmers
may be liberated from pending pow
erty and be united and built up to g
knowledge of their rights, privilege,
and power than through the Grange
let some friend of humanity nam,
and describe it. for one am ready
to abandon the Grange, when con
WINGED there is something better t.
take its Mace.