The record-union., 1896-10-07
ADDRESS OF MASTER GREER.
Delivered Before the State Grange Yes
terday.
Review of Its Work During the
Year and Its Present
Condition.

Nv. w. Greer, embodying the reports Of
Steward e. G. Shoemaker and Overseer
=. Il. Beeoher, Jr., was delivered. 1t
was a document of great length, from
Which the following extracts are taken:
Oh1cers and Members California State
arrange: The tWenty-fourth annual Ses-
sion Is upon US, and in accordance with
Doth law and custom I present to you
my annual report for the past year.
we are assembled at the Capital Of
ahis great agricultural State to review
our past work, to consider together, and
to plan, wisely, we trust, for the pro-
motion of the agricultural interests of
this State and the advancement and
Improve ement Of the members Of our
fraternity Although we meet here as
fraternal society, yet no Legislature
ever assembled within these walls with
duties and responsibilities devolving up
On them which more directly effect the
interest and welfare Of the people than
those entrusted to our hands. For 1t
Is the mission of the grange to advance
the social, moral, intellectual and ma
! ferial condition of a class without whose
prosperity no nation can be rich and
powerful.
Not Understanding the Importance
of manufacture or commerce, we know
other industries prosper. The grange
is not an organization to make war
fare upon other organizations or de-
partments of business, but it is to help
the farmer to get better posted in all
branches Of business, and especially to
get better posted in his own business.
Each business or occupation is linked
with or dependent upon some other
business or occupation. The professional
man has his sphere, the merchant has
his world, SO has the banker; both are
dependent, so much so that a single law
passed by the Government might de-
stroy their occupation.
But the underlying business upon
which all other business rests is agri-
culture. Agriculture is the basis of all
wealth. The farmer feeds them all.
The grange teaches its members to look
upon farming with the same pride the
electric wizard looks upon his many in
Ventons evolved from his powerful in
acllect. The grange teaches the farmer
10 love his chosen calling.
The ultimate object of our Organiza-
1ion is the advancement and improve
ment of agriculture, the American
farmer, his family and his home. Our
, order is founded on the axioms that
the products Of the soil are the basis
of all wealth; that individual happi
ness depends upon prosperity, and that
the wealth Of a country depends upon
tie general intelligence and mental
cultures Of the producing classes. g
Laboring as our order does for the
advancement and Improvement of the
American farmer, no question Of par
tisan politics or selfish interests should
hinder us in a diligent search for the
causes that bring about these results
VI The patriotism, the enterprise, the in
1elligence Of the American farmer
Should come to the front and not only
find the causes, but apply the rene
G:es, and make our agriculture more
prosperous, our farms more renunera-
tive, and more equitably distribute the
products of labor. The only consolation
that we can get is that all business and
productive labor is suffering alike The
inability Of the farmer to buy curtails
the demand for manufactured goods
and compels the merchant to sell on
very narrow margins. In consideration
of all these things down comes the price
Of labor
There is no doubt some of the ills
from which we suffer can be remedied
by legislation. The farmers I know
are not agreed as TO the effect of legis-
, alton, but they know that considerable
recent legislation has not been to their
advantage.
Already substantial political reforms
have resulted from grange influence,
hut we have great work before US. On
the following questions the order is well
united: Free rural mail delivery; the
election of United States Senators by
di- ect vote Of the people; the equality
OF male and female before the law; that
-
practical agTiculturist; pure food reg
u'ations; proportional justice in taxa
tion the development Of our public
school system and better educa ton
On the tariff question we do not espouse
either side, but do demand equal pro-
lection with the manufacturer If the
manufacturer is to- be protected from
the cheap labor Of the old world, SO
must the farmer be protected against
the cheap land and labor countries Of
Argentine India, Egypt, Asia Minor
snd Russia
There is no doubt in my mind how
ever, that a great deal Of the uncer-
tainty and stagnation in business is
due to tariff tinkering. and business
will not be settled until the tariff ques-
tion is let alone by politicians and set
fled on business principles.
Referring to the silver question, the
Master advises a thorough and dis
passionate discussion thereof but as it
has become a partisan issue the grange
should be very careful in the action it
takes on the subject The order Is
strictly non partisan.
The address then reviews the action
Of the National Grange and It's recon-
rnendationt to Congress Of what is known
as the "Lubin Plan" for Government
protection to agriculture.
CONDITION OF THE GRANGE.
From AL reports and information at
this time / am pleased to report the
order of Patrons of Husbandry in the
United States to be very fiattering More
new oranges have been organized and
q greater increase in membership has
taken place last year than for many
years past. The grange has grown in
popularity. The conservative action Of
the order on questions Of public concern
has met the approval Of the American
farmers. The grange has refralned
from all entangling alliances. Other
organizations have sought afiiliation
with US but our answer has been that
we had nothing to gain by any union,