The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-11-15
The GRANGE the Farmers Hope.

wish to impress it upon the minds
of my readers that in organization
alone there is strength. That is why
a small army of soldiers can control
a large mob, and why trust is SO
powerful. Believing this and wishing
to act upon the suggestion, farmers
must combine or they will remain at
the mercy of the many organizations
which prey upon him.
In nv last article | called your at
tention to fire insurance as carried on
bv organized farmers of Washington
In this | wish to impress upon you
the advisability of organizing so as
to get what we want in our Legislature
and congress. In the first place,
believe that the Grange is the most
available organization for the purpose,
because it is broadcast in its scope OF
any farmers organization in exist
ence. 1t is the most thoroughly orga-
nized. It has legislative committees
of permanent and strong men VINO
work, during the sessions OF our legls-
latures and congress, for the passage
of laws which affect the farmer IA
vorably, and it is the most extended
geographically, of any farm organiza-
ton in existence.
Moreover, it is growing very rapid
ly both in the east and the west, there
having been two hundred and hfty-
nine oranges organized and sixty-s1X
reorganized during the past year In
the United States, of which number
PENNSYLVANIA reports fifty-five, New
York thirty three, Michigan thirty
three and Washington thirty. Twenty
one other states report oranges or
ganized and in looking over the coun-
try we find that the people are ready
for organization if the matter is
forced upon their attention, and a hun
dred men giving their whole time to
the work would make an enormous
showing in the number of oranges or
ganized.
Just at present it is needful that
the farmers be united to obtain the
needed legislation. Our legislative
bodies will soon be in session and I'M
less we let our wants be known we
cannot expect to get the laws passed
which are to act favorably upon us as
farmers. You remember the old say
ing, eff anything isn't worth asking
for it isn't worth having" This is
true with us as it was with our grand
parents.
If we wish the parcels post we must
SO signify. If we want senator's elect
ed by direct vote of the people we
must make our wants known.
If we desire a law prohibiting sa-
looms and pool rooms next door to
our state college at Pullman we
should so instruct our legislators.
If we believe that our road law
needs fixing we should so inform the
powers that be and let them know
that we are alive to our own interests
and that we intend to stand up for
our rights.
Last year all interests combined
with the Grange to get the denatur-
lied alcohol bill passed, and as re-
suit we will soon be able to make
fuel out of our waste products OF the
farm. Now, we believe that this year
the parcels post should be our next
Improvement and the Grange is TAX
ing the matter up in earnest. Our
worthy State Master Kegley is chair
man of a special committee on the
parcels post to confer with the other
organizations favoring the measure, to
devise ways and means to get the bill
passed this winter.
There is a movement on foot now
to have an investigating committee
to learn where is the cause for the
deficit in the postal department and
show how it can be remedied.
Everything will be done which it is
possible to do if you will do your
share. You can do your part much
better if you are member of the
Grange and acst your vote with the
other members of that Grange to SEM
memorial to congress asking them
to give us parcels post privileges. A
petition signed by officers Of a Grange