Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-08-20
THEY HAD A HOLIDAY
Kent County 0ranger Held
Their Annual Picnic.
ADDRlssED-BYMR. WHITEHEAD



we're about loo Of tn sturdy ycomen.
inciuding their families. In astendsnca
The hired man and hired girl we're
there. and all appeared 10 enioy them
selves with the various attractions at
that popular resort A bountiful has-
vest had been secured and the industri.
Gus and prudent grsnges had q day u
weli-earned recreation aad pleasure.
They spread the tables on the picnic
grounds south Of the pavilion With the
choicest viands from the farm house
larder and devoted an hour 10 refresh-
menfs
/: After dinner largo crowd assembled
around the speakers stand and listened
20 an address from their distinguished
guest. Mortimer Whitehead OF New
Jersey. lecturer Of tho national grange.
The speaker devoted the most f his
time 70 discussing the money question.
and consumed two hours in explaining
the demands Of the grange in the pres
ent crisisk
What the Grange Wants
Mr.. Whitehead said: The grange
demands free and unlimited coinage ol,
both silver and gold just as II existed
from almost tho foundation OF the gov
ernment up TO 1913 when silver was de-
monetized. and believes that the gov
eminent alone should issue money. and
that sufficiency OF legal tender notes
should be issued. All the various labor
organizations touch elbows with US on
this question. Thus we see grand un-
broken line OF toilers reaching across
the continent insisting on Legislation
that will keep silver by tho
side OF gold. its full equal before
the law made % by the constitutional
right OF the people through congress 10
coin money and regulate the value
thereof. The farmers OF this country
are no longer a great body OF unthink-
ing innocent sort Of folk placing implicit
faith la political guardians; no longer
like dumb driven cattle" under the
party whip rounded up 10 the polls and
voted. They are now organized think
ing. intelligent, hard students Of politi-
cal economy. Farmers have been
schooIed upon this great question. 1t is
my firm conviction that upon popular
vote with no distracting Influences to
hinder that 90 per cent Of the votes OF
the farmers would be cast for the i'm
mediate remonetization OF silver. While
in no sense OK the word Is the grange a
partizan organization and while il per-
mits utmost freedom OF thought and ac-
ton in that line, still its platform has
ever held for every member that il il his
inalienable right and duty which be-
longs TO every American citizen to take
proper interest in the politics Of his
country.
Know Dishonest Dollars.
Farmera have learned that il the
silver in a dollar Is worth only 70 cents,
il 10 because tho stealthy demonstrating
act took away its money value and that
the same act made tho money left--the
| gold--worth more and therefore q s1.50
dollar. They have also learned that IL
| the silver in dollar Is worth dollar. it
is the silver out Of dollar is not worth
dollar and with the free coinage Of
silver the silver out of dollar would be
worth dollar because any one having
the silver could get dollar for it. They
have learned the lesson OF pay
ing debts on gold basis and
selling wheat at the price of
silver bullion made cheap by demo
netization. Mr. Whitehead spoke against
the proposition for the government
TO issue more bonds. saying that the
world has had its stone age, its bronze
age, its iron age. its age Of steel. and
now we have our bond age. swatch out
for the bondage OF yourself and child
rem" he said, and don't leave those who
are To como after US white slaves and
bondmcn TO those who toll not, neither
do they spin"
Why Boys Leave Farms
In speaking OF FREQ mail delivery for
| the rural dietricta tho snealer said.
I'VE often hear OF the advantages and
privileges OF city life. as compared with
tho drawbacks. disadvantages. isola-
tons. etc. OF the country life: that
farmers are behind the rest q the world
IN the march OK progress. and we often
hear OF the man from way back Surely
In getting the mail what progress has
been made In the rural districts
in the hast fifty years besides
cheaper postage. How often and
how seriously il the question
OF. why do the boys leave the farm
discussed. not alone in the papers and
at the farmers gatherings. but around
the family circle. where ID is 4 heart
| question. question o. broken ties and
loved ones swallowed up in the vortex Of
already overcrowdcd cities. Give city
advantages 70 the country. Bring the
farm home In touch with the eiviliza.
ton OF the day In which we live. Keep
the farm up with the times. and not
days and weeks behind the tines Put
the daily paper. the daily markets.
| within the reach n the farmer within
bis home. Bring the postoffice 10 the
door by the carrier and you will add a
thousand dollars 10 the value Of thou.