The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-11
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
OPENING OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
Address by j. ii. Brigham, Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture, Who Is
Master of the Order.

HARRISBURG. Pa. Nov. 1O-The Ma
tional Grange. Patrons of Husbandry, con-
vened to-day in the Supreme Court cham
Der. Delegates from almost all the States
represented in the national body were pres
ent. National Master j. H. Brigham as
sistant secretary OF agriculture who ar
rived from Washington last night, was in
the chair The morning session was short.
and was devoted to preliminaries. The re-
port of the treasurer, Mrs. E. S. Mcdowell,
of New York, showed the finances of the
order to be in a satisfactory condition, with
larger amount of funds on hand than the
previous year. Secretary Trimbles report
showed 141 new oranges and nearly one
hundred congratulations The reports of
state masters were received. The creden-
tails committee made partial report and
the grange proceeded to receive the reports
of its officers.
Worthy Master Brigham submitted his
annual report. He said that the condition.
of the order was very encouraging. One
hundred and forty oranges had been
organized and seventy-four dormant ones
revived during the past year. I'VE have
he continued reason to rejoice over the
marked Improvement in the prices of most
products of the farm The prices now re-
but are remunerative to the farmer, and, If
maintained, will cause a marked advance
in the value of farm lands. 1t is also a,
highly gratifying sign of the times that the
business failures in the South and South
west in july August and September OF the
present year represented in the aggregate
of their liabilities only 81, 900, COM
pared with $ll $4,000 during the correspond
ing period of the preceding year.
Earnest efforts are being made to ex-
tend our markets in foreign countries and
to secure the abolition of the discriminate
ing restrictions and prohibitions unjustly
mainland by certain foreign countries
against our agricultural products. During
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1897, we
shipped to the United Kingdom 37S, 459 cat
tie, valued at $35. 374, 1872, and fresh beef
amounting to 29O0,772 pounds, valued at
Congress will undoubtedly be urged by in
tereSted associations to appropriate large
canals for the purpose of irrigating the arid
lands of the West.
1T is not the policy of our grange to
espouse the cause. Of any political party or
indorse the policies advocated by either;
but when the people have settled the ques-
tons at issue we accept their decision and
try to secure for agriculture fair treatment
in the legislation, carrying into effect the
policy indorsed by the people. In pursuance
of this policy, we urged upon the members
of Congress the Importance of dealing fairly
with the agricultural interests in framing
The agricultural schedules of the measure
lately enacted into law. l am glad to say
that our suggestions and recommendations
received due consideration, and farmers will
be able to judge for themselves whether
such legislation has been beneficial to them
or otherwise. r
''The National Grange is on record in fa-
vor Of electing United States senator's by u
direct vote OF the people. j am sure we
will take no backward step in this matter
until the Constitution is amended to pro-
vide for it. Until that is done we should
insist that the people have the right, III
some measure. TO express, their preference
for candidates, which will undoubtedly be
regarded as binding upon the legislators of
the dominant party.
Overseer Aaron Jones, of Indiana. made
a verbal report.
National Lecturer Messers report in part
follows: I'm the face of hard times and
depressed conditions the work of the grange
has moved steadily forward. and the record
in membership but gains have been made
in all the departments of its work. In none.
however. has greater progress been made
than in it's educational work.