The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-04-01
WANT MEASURES, NOT MEN
The Patrons of tiusbandy Will Support
Those Men Who Stand FOR the
Laws They Want

thai AblSlC l4dS OCCu Sd40 lCPSoeS0Ay IL
every state ever since the order was
founded. And yet people continue to
ask such questions as What figure will
the Grange cut in the present cam
paign? VINO are the Grange candi-
dates for the Legislature this yearP Is it
true that the Grange is supporting Mr..
So-and-So for the United States senator
These questions are undoubtedly
called forth by the activity of promi-
nent members Of the order who are in
teresting themselves in the election Of
men to Office who will carry out the
program OF the Grange, for while the
Grange endorses measures, and not the
candidates or parties, it in nowise in
terferes with the action of its individual
members, but rather encourages their
taking steps to secure the passage of
the reforms demanded by them through
the election OF men favorable to those
measures. II it were to do otherwise,
it would paralyze all efforts at progress.
1t would be acting the part of the dog
in the manger, continually bowling and
growing about what was wanted and
discouraging its members against tax
ing any practical steps towards obtain
ing those demands. In campaign
where there are several candidates for
a certain Office, and but one of them
standing for the legislative program Of
the Grange, it is easy to see that every
consistent member OF the Grange must
logically support but one candidate;
but in doing so each one acts as an in
dividual citizen, and not as a member
of the Grange or Patron OF Husbandry.
However, where such unanimity, or
practical unanimity, occurs, it is easy
to see how it may be mistaken for the
corporate action OF the organization.
This is our position theoretically,
but few of US are at all times consist
ent. It is hard to draw the line be-
tween the propaganda of education and
action. We do not endorse candidates,
but we have lately been in the habit OF
endorsing the political record CT this
OF that candidate on his position on
this or that measure. Our enthusiastic
devotion to the cause Of national con-
servation has led US, over and over
again, to pass resolutions commencing
in the warmest terms the position taken
on this question by Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Pinchot. In so doing We have, OF
course, condemned the stand taken by
certain prominent gentlemen whom l
need not name. We have been pub
fishing lists OF names of politicians who
voted against this or that pet measure
of the Grange, with the injunction that
all good Patrons should make it their
duty to see that the politicians named
obtained as few votes as possible. Over
and over again we have passed redhot
resolutions demanding the elimination
of certain men from public life. In all
Of this we have probably been incon
sistent. II Jones and Brown are candi-
dates for the legislature from certain
district, and the Oranges of that dis
trict say in effect, I'VE can neither en-
dorse Jones nor Brown; we can take no
part in this election so far as candidates
are concerned; but we express our in
dignation and adherence OF the course
taken by Jones, and urge all good citi-
zens to unite with US in our efforts to
defeat him." 1t is humorous, if not
silly, to have US add, But We can do
nothing constitutionally to secure the
election Of (the only remaining candi-
date) Brown"
Every officer in our order, from the
highest to the lowest, takes a solemn
pledge that he will not use his position
to directly or indirectly influence the
political or religious views Of any mem
Der Of the order, and then he is ex-
pected, as soon as he takes his place,
to work for Direct Legislation, Tariff
Reform, election Of United States SEN
ators by direct popular vote, until one
wonders what the Grange means by the