The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-03
THE FARMERS DEFENSIVE
MOVEMENT.
BY w. A. PETER.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

lZeO DrancH VI tne Iafmets bo'euehl
is the National Grange of the Patrons
of Husbandry.' At its annual meeting
in Topeka, Kan, in Nov, 1895. 30
States reported, 80 States we're repre-
scented. The actual membership at that
time was about 125,C0), though the
exact number reported was only l09,-
039. During the last preceding year,
1917 local oranges were organized. AT
the time of this writing, Oct. 80, 1889,
the total number of active patrons in
the country is estimated to be about
10000. The Grange, as originally
organized, was based on general prin-
ciples of fellowship and good will
among agriculturists generally, but
without definite aims Soon after the
war, President johnson sent a man
South to ascertain the condition OF the
farmers there. This was O. H. Kelly,
an employee Of the Agricultural De-
partment. He was so seriously in
pressed with wha. he saw, that he pro.
posed a national association of farmers
with branches in all parts of the coun.
try. Upon his return to Washington
he consulted ] R. Thompson and w.
NJ. ireland, employees in ether depart
ments. They were both schoolcd in
the mysteries of Masonry, and MIR.
Kelly himself was proficient in the
composition of ritualistic work. They
then conferred with VIM. Saunders,
Rev. John Trimble, Rev. N. j. Crush,
all employed in the civil service at
Washington and with f. NJ. Mellow
ELL of Wayne, N. Y. These seven men
met on the 4th day of Dec, 1867, in
the office Of VIM. Saunders, and organ
lied the National Grange, with Saun-
ders as master, Thompson as lecturer,
Ireland as treasurer, and Kelly as sec
rotary. The other offices were not
filled then. Miss Carrie A. Hall, Of
Minnesota, proposed the admission Of
women on equal terms with men, and
they have been so admitted ever since
Membership was open to all persons
"interested in agricultural pursuits
This was sufficiently indefinite to ad-
NIT great many Objectionable persons;
and in February, 1874, at St. Louis.
Mo-, the National Grange, with 80
States represented, and reporting over
10000 subordinate oranges with ag-
gregatc membership of 100000, adopt.
ed "declaration Of purposes" restrict
ing membership to persons actually en-
gagged in practical agriculture, and such
other persons as are in active sympathy
with agricultural interests, as rural
interests. as rural mechanics and editors
of farm journals.
In the declaration of purposes, the
general object of the order is stated to
be "to labor tor the good OF our order,
our country, and mankind" The
specific objects are thus stated:
"To develop better and higher man.
hood and womanhood among ourselves.
To enhance the comforts and attrac-
tions of our homes, and to strengthen
our attachment to our pursuits. To
foster mutual understanding and CO.
operation. To maintain inviolate our
laws, to emulate each other in lebor. to
hasten the good time coming. To re
duce our expenses, both individual an d
corporate. To buy less and produce
more, in order to make our farms self
sustaining. TO condense the weight
of our exports, selling less in the bush.
ell, and more on hooi and in fleece; less
in lint, and more in wrap and woot.
To systeuize our work. and to calculate
intelligently on probabilities. To Dis
countenance the credit system, the
mortgage system, the fashion sytem,
aud every other system tending to pro-
digality and bankruptcy. We propose
meeting together, talking together,
working together, buying tooether,
selling together, and, in geneal, acting
together for onr mutual protection and
advancement, as occasion may require
Litigation is to be avoided "as much
as possible" to be superseded by
"arbtration in the Grange"
ave shall earnestly erdeavor to sup,
press personal, local, sectional, and
national prejudices. all unhealthy rival
ry, all selfish ambition....."..We desir,
to bring producers and consumers,
farmers and manufacturers, into the
most direct and friendly relations pos
sible. Hence We must dispense with
surplus of middle men-not that We are
unfriendly to them, but we do not need
them. Their surplus and their exac
tions diminish our profits. We wage
no aggressive warfare against any other
interests whatever.."....In our noble
order there is no communism. We are
not enemies to capital, but We oppose
the tyranny of monopolies. We are
opposed to excessive salaries, high rates