The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-05-15
The Grange and Politics.
(Fred w. Lewis.)

Are you changing your plans?' No;
wait minute and let me explain what
1 mean. The word politics" has two
uses which are often COMPOUNDED, but
which we separate and distinct, as fol-
lows:
Politics l. The science of govern
ment; that part of government which
consists of the regulation and govern
ment of state or nation, for the pres
ervation of it's safety, peace and pros
perity, the augm entation of it's strength
and resources, and the protection of it's
citizens in their rights, with preserva-
ton and improvement of their morals.
2. In a looser sense, political affairs
are the contests of parties for power;
the management and conduct of a po-
litical party, which includes the ad-
vancement of candidates to office
Now, the Grange never interferes in
politics as used under the second def
milton, which, to distinguish, we term
partisan politics." but under the first
definition we believe it to be the duty
of all honest and upright citizens to
interest themselves in politics. We
hold it to be the duty of every citizen
and every association of citizens, to
to know what results will ensue from
certain actions and to reason out what
will most benefit the majority of the
people. "The preservation of it's peace
and prosperity" is of vital interest to
each one of us. We are so bound to-
gether that the peace and prosperity
of one must more or less, affect all
within the circle of influence and if one
ort Of &c
it will surely acct the prosperity of
our whole nation to just such an extent
as the importance of the particular part
is felt.
The augmentation of it's strength and
| resources. Here, also, we find some
thing of interest to every true citizen
of our nation. 1t is of much Importance
to us that our nation be strong, not
only in our arms and navy, but in citi-
zenship and influence The resources
of our vast country must be developed
to give us a greater degree of power
and influence as we'll as wealth and
prosperity Good roads tend very much
toward the development of a country,
especially that part of it which is most
nearly under the care and protection of
| the Grange therefore we stand for
good roads and urge our government,
both national and state, to assist in
building roads where they will be of
benefit to the people.
The protection of ita citizens in their
rights. What are the rights of a
citizen, To teach us to be able to an
swer this query is one duty of the
Grange. Teh farmer has, altogether too
| long, been content with whatever the
politicians Ct mean now partisan poll
ticians'D saw fit to give him and that
was merely enough to keep him from
arising in his might and taking control
| of the destinies of our government, or,
to make it palmer, just enough to keep
| soul and body together, give him some
sort of roof to cover him and permit
him to obtain clothing enough to make
| him decent. Of course there have al
ways been farmers whose business in
stinct is developed sufficiently to allow
| him to gain a larger amount of the
| pleasures and profits OF life but they
are the exception and the masses of
| farm people are today struggling under
| lack of means to permit them and
| their families to really enjoy life. Now,
we hold that each citizen has a right
to enjoy life and fair share of the
prosperity of our nation. Space for
bids any charging on this theme of
our rights, but we will speak of more
of them in future papers.
The preservation and improvement of
| their morals The Grange aims to teach
| it's members their duty toward each
other, and it has been said the golden
rule is the embodiment of good govern
ment In the past / have told you
of some of the acts and aims of the
| Grange, and in the future l expect to
continue the papers so I have given you
this as a sort of boiled down explana-
| ton of our position. We believe in the
bet "a of nhnnd his comfort hi