The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-03-17
THE STATE GRANGE.
INTERESTING ADDRESS OF The MAS.
TER WORKMAN.
Delivered at the Annual Meeting OF the

master Of the State Grange of South
Carolina, delivered at the annual
meeting OF that body, recently held
~ Sumter:
SUMTER, S. c., Feb. 10, 1897.
Officers and members OF the State
Grange of South Carolina:
Once again It becomes my pleasant
Guty to greet you as representatives OF
he greatest organization Of farmers
the land and to render an account,
20 this bcdy, of the work Of the grange
during the past year. While there has
:>een no great boom in grange work,
sill the effort to elevate our agricul-
ural classes to a higher and better
manhood and womanhood among its
members. and to enhance the comforts
and attractions of the farm homes,
:Ias gone steadily forward, and today
:Se are stronger IN members and in
!luence and stronger IN the hearts OF
'he people than we We're one year ago.
Some new oranges have been organ
zed and the membership in the older
oranges has been increased. While
'hese facts are encouraging, still my
brothers and sisters there is 8 great
work for all of us to do. There are
many, very many neigh hborhoods yet
to be organized. The farmers need
some organizations in each section,
and the time is propitious now, and |
rave no doubt that persistent personal
work, properly directed, will result IL
Il vigorous and healthy growth OF the
r,der throughout the State. Some one
10 lead the way in each agricultural
community is the great need now.
Let each of US bear IN mind that the
men and women who make this world
worth living in, are those who ATTACK
the work which lies in their way and
which seems to be the best they can
10 at the moment, and who attack it
iearlessly, cheerfully and without
complaining. The order will receive
benefit in direct measure as its mem
bers are earnest, harmonious and act
iseSin its work. While the right of
supervision and advice belong to your
officers, the responsibility Of future
results rests to 8 large extent on the
Individual members, and 1t is here
that we. must beg IN reform, II we are
20 expect any great success, From my
:; experience and observation am COLI
.tinced the best way to organize
oranges is for an earnest deputy to go
:lnto a -neighborhood and make visit
from house to house and get the lead
Jog men interested and a well organ
lied grange will be the result. Let
;sach of US then constitute ourself 4
committee 10 see what work We can
accomplish during the next year.
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.
While there has been no general
failure of crops, still prices received
FOR our products have not been alto
ether remunerative. The cause or
causes should be earnestly sought and
,iemedyapplied. We can not control
:ae prod duction or cost of production
,f crops in the great cotton growing
States of the west, and there Is no
,ro6t, but very discouraging, to sell
ur products below the cost of pro-
drction. But there is one thing we
can do, we can produce nearly everJ-
thing we need to supply our own pso-
ple, we can reduce our cotton ares,
Increase the production of sll good
crops, diversifying our industries, and
lbus control our, own markets, Tor
why should we buy from others what
we can produce on our own farms.
Our State with its varied climate and
soils is capable of producing every
crop necessary for mans support, ana
{ have thought that if a Chinese wall
was built entirely around our State,
ard thus cut US OF from the outside
world, our resources would be sUtil-
cieut to sustain all of its inhabitants.
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
It was my privilege as well as my
pleasure to attend the last meeting Of
lhe national grange, which was held
in Washington D. O., Nov. 11-19.
Very much important grange work
was done at this, the thirtieth session
of the national grange, as you will
see by reading the published proceed.
ings which ! have brought to 6istrib
u.e. The grange believing that it is
Tor the best interest of agriculture
thar a practical farmer should be
placed at the head OF the agricultural
department. An earnest effort was
made to accomplish this. The grange
appointed a committee to visit the
President-elect to convey to him the
wishes of the grange, and to urge the
appointment to this position OF our
worthy master Of the national grange,
the Hon. J. 81. Brigham, as one emf
nently fitted for this Office. Petitions
signed by thousands. Of members OF
Inc order from al parts Of the coun.
try without regard to section or party,
were forwarded in behalf Of Mr.. Brig
man as the choice of the farmers. The
grange did more towards eleyatlng
Inc department OF agriculture to 8!
cabinet position than any other body,
and the farmers claim the right to ask
the appointment Of a man IN close
sympathy with the farmers OF the
whole country, but alas, within the
asst few days. I see 1t announced
through the press that our wishes and
forts have been 6isregarded and an
ether has received the appointment,
whether practical farmer cr not !
know not, ard whether IN sympathy
with the best interest Of agriculture
remains to be been.
BUILDING UP THE GRANGE.
As your representative l made an
earnest effort to obtain some hnaEclai
Lelp towards building up the grange
in States where the order has grown
weak. Ny effort net with some sue
cess and we can noW feel sure of the
hearty support and financial aid OF
the national grange in cur work to-
wards organizing and leorganizing
oranges throughout the State under
certain conditions, which conditions
| trust we can easily comply with
ard go forward and build up our Or
der throughout the State.
GRANGE DUES.