Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-22
Mr.. MORTON AND FARMERS.
The Patrons Of Husbandry and Political
Parties
A Maryland Granger Writes of the Or
ganfsatfOn-Farmers Who spool
Their Thinking Faculties.o
To the Editor Of The Evening Star.

10 the Editor OF The Evening Star:
In an editorial in Saturdays Star on the
subject OF Secretary Morton's strained re-
iations with the grangers OF the country you
unknowingly do a great injustice to a large
class of farmers in the United States Be
ing on the outside Of the inner agricul-
tural circles" 1t is but natural that you
may have been misled by the statement
emanating from what should be the foun-
tain head of agricultural knowledge, the
Secretary Of Agriculture. How the Secre-
tary of Agriculture, whose ability is sup
posed to be equal to the position, should
undertake to make the speech he did be-
fore the Farmers Congress held in Chica-
go in october, without informing himself
better as to the aims and workings of the
are commonly called. is astonishing. to say
the least.
The grange, after a life Of twenty-five
years. can only point to one political action,
IT, indeed this can be called political, and
that is the successful campaign which it
insugurated and fought for for many years.
viz, to make the head of the Agricultural
Department a cabinet officer; and had Ii
not been for the determined and long con-
tinued fight OF the National Grange the
present incumbent would still be connned
to the green pastures of the law. Nor does
the constitution OF the grange allow poll
tics to be discussed, and i have been a
member of this order for nearly twenty
years and in my grange there are members
of all political parties, and representative
men in their respective parties. but in the
grange we are all farmers working for the
good OF all.
So much for the grange. But there is in
this same speech sentence that Is hard
to credit to an intelligent man Of this pc
Rod of progression. 1t is as follows: THE
farmers do not need to pool their thinking
faculties" MIR. Editor, what industry in
the bit in its mouth and run an independ-
ent course? DO not the railroads pool
their thinking faculties DO not the iron
men, the woolen men, the shoe and leather
every industry and profession? And vet
for some great and good reason TO the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture, the farmers only do
not need to pool their thinking faculties"
for fear that they might too often turn
them to political purposes.
i am a member Of an agricultural neigh
borhood, which has the reputation Il do not
say II is deserved of being the most adj
vanced in the science and practice of farm
ing of any in the state. In this neighbor-
hood about fifty years ago a farmers club
was formed of sixteen members. the object
of which was to pool their thinking facul-
ties" This club is still in existence. and
two additional clubs of sixteen members
each were formed. which had the same OBJ
ject in view. Their meetings are held once
a month. The members compare notes as
to the best way of conducting their bust
ness They give and take advice from one
another and profit by each success and fail.
ure. And yet, the Secretary Of Agriculture
In the national congress Of farmers, pro-
nounces the opinion that these great educa-
tional features Of societies are not for the
farmers and that "tbay are a greater pest
to agriculture than n.urrain in cattle. chol-
era in swine or weevil in wheat" Not be-
ing satisfied with his speech at Chicago
by, he has struck still another blow at q
great educational feature connected with
our profession. and that is Withholding the
appropriation for the experiment stations In
the several states-institutions that are do.
ing more for the farmers Of this country
than can be told on paper. And, in conclu.
sion, when it is known that the prosperity
of this country is based on agriculture and
that half Of population OF sixty odd mil
lions are directly interested in farming
there Is only an appropriation asked fol-
from the Department of Agriculture for the
next year OF about 81, 0o0000; and the Presi.
dent of the United States congratulates the
Secretary tMr. Norton for saving nearly
81 ,oO0,OOO in the last estimate, three-fourths
Of which was for the support of the expert
mental stations that have proved them
selves OF such benefit to the agriculturist
even i'm the short time they have been es
tablished. Three millions for one war YES
Sci is not considered exorbitant but our
country is at peace and is likely to remain
So The agriculturist, on the other hand, 4.
at war With the elements. the animal and
other plaques, and with low prices and higt
freight rates. and IL is battle to make
both ends meet and feed, clothe and educat.
our children. II. II. MILLER,
Oyerseer OF Montgomery County Grange