The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-04-15

ganiZation, and demonstrated that the
farmer is not the dull, unthinking
clod, a brother to the OK but a live,
energetic, thinking, patriotic member
of society, and over 100000 of them
in the nation have banded themselves
together for a purpose, and the n
purpose, above all others, as | view
it, is to take an account of our citi-
zenship and see how we are governed
and inquire If we have any RESPONSE
bility in the matter.
Slowly but surely we are coming to
see that learning to grow larger crops
and better ones, the one thing that
controlled the activities of Farmers
Clubs and many Oranges in the past,
although a very important function
in their work, is only one small side
of their problem. They must have
greater control of these crops before
they are consumed, and in some way
obtain a fair share of what they final
ly sell for. They must have better
roads on which to market these crops.
They must have better mail, express,
telephone and telegraphic communica.
ton. They must, in the revision of
the tariff now at hand, be considered.
They must, in fact, have a better gov
eminent. In order to do this they
must run their fists right into public
questions, and that is just what they
are going to do.
"The Grange is not, and must not
be, a political organization in the
commonly accepted conception of that
term, but the interests of it's members
| n ~ ca on1inLod with thn aNnnm0n in
terests of all that it can legitimately
stand for clean, careful, business-like
methods in the administration of pub
lie affairs, and as a cOnservator of
agriculture and the public good it
must take notice of these things.
There has never been a time when our
people were so alert in their knowl-
edge of public affairs as now, so hun
cry for the truth and so anxious to
do their whole part in their improve
ment. The Grange is going to find out
what to do and then do it; and I feel
sorry for the politician who tries to
head them off with empty promises.
Men combine for selfish purposes
and unhealthy power. 1t is just as
| possible to combine for good; hence
we have families, societies, states and
nations. The national greatness de-
ponds Upon the individual greatness of
the states, and the greatness of each
state depends upon the purity and pa.
triotism of it's several subdivisions,
and these subdivisions depend upon
the societies and organizations with
in their midst, and these organizations
depend, finally, Upon the character,
ambitions and knowledge of the indi-
vidual members of those organiza-
tons.
"The individual is the unit; his pow
er for good or i'll affects his neighbor-
hood, his family, his society, his town;
his town affects the county, his
ty the state, his state the nation. his
nation the world.
"How important, then, in working
out the great things that the Grange
stands for, that We give special
thought and study to the proper di-
rection of our own individual lives,
when we realize the final greatness
with which it is fraught.
LET me urge you. as individuals of
a great whole, that you think good,
do good, be good, and the whole world
cannot help but be better for your
having lived"
These thoughts are so nearly to my
mind that | have adapted them to our
needs, and have given them to you
for your perusal, and hope that you
may realize that the Grange stands
for a better, a truer manhood and
womanhood, and a better share of the
good things of this life for the farm
er. FRED w. LEWIS.