The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
EIGHT GOVERNORS OF ALABAMA
1874-t901 -.
No. 56-The Order Patrons of Husbandry
Edward A. ONeal Governor

room legislature, that had never
quorum
The plan of the state grange consisted
in county and neighborhood subordi-
mates. All the organizations neighbor-
hood, county, state and national admitted
women to full membership. In six or
eight years the subordinate oranges Of
this state averaged some 15 to the coun-
ty, or something more than 800 all told.
The social feature became necessarily
prominent-the most prominent. The re-
unions were monthly and at them prac-
ticaly the entire population of the viein-
age assembled in pleasing intercourse. In
various places there were grange halls
kept to accommodate these meetings.
The local or subordinate oranges In this
state exercised a strong influence upon
the circulation of weekly and monthly
newspapers especially those of the agri-
cultural class. Subordinate oranges also
in several instances established primary
schools notably one at Trinity, Morgan
county and at Mount Willing, Lowndes
county. Under the patronage of the
grange. state fairs were successfully held
at Selma and at Montgomery Under the
influence of the grange men We're sent
to the Legislature.
The Alabama grange was controlled BY
citizens of the frst standing. w. IL.
Chambers of Russell, Gen. E. NJ. Law Of
Lee, Col. Hiram Hawkins and J. W. CO.
mer of Barbour, Gen. Charles A. Poll
nitz of Marengo, p. b. Mastin, Boiling
Young and Jefferson Falkner of Mont
gomery, j. w Phares of Sumter, S. s.
Scott of Russell, j. F. Burns of Dallas
James Parson of Jefferson. One of the
best lecturers of the state. Gen.. George
ID. Johnston, was appointed to canvass
the state, organizing subordinate oranges
and instructing the public in the princi-
pies of the order.
In the 1905 the caterpillar annually
infested the cotton fields with destructive
results. The state grange In council in
1874 petitioned the legislature to enact
laws protective of insectiverous birds;
laws allowing the posting of fields as suf-
ficient notice against the intrusion Of
hunters, many of whom We're negro
youths. laws restricting the sale of
liquor by druggists; good dog laws, that
would senable owners of large unculti-
waited areas to raise cattle and Sheep
laws that would protect fields of cotton
from marauders who at night picked
sacks full to deliver to dead falls along
the public roads, called Stores a law
appropriating money for geological sur
vey of the mineral belt. This last de-
mand was in the interest of creating a
taxpayer of that belt.
Senator Morgan, ever quick to respond
to the call of the country folk for gov
ernment relief, now prevailed on the gov
crnment to send an expert to Alabama
to study the cotton caterpillar. The rep
resentative of the government chose the
vicinity of Faunsdale Marengo county,
as his field and from the hospitable
Faunsdale" plantation pursued his
studies for weeks in mid summer
The secret feature of the order con-
fused many minds. The ''know-not things
and their oath bound, midnight fantastic
performances had not been far enough
gone to be forgotten. The ever pending
menace to white supremacy in govern
ment, that appeared with every organi-
zation that threatened to divide the demo-
cratic and conservative party, seemed
present with this organization.
The national order commanded great re-
spect from political leaders and business
houses. Masters of state oranges and
executive committees were appointed to
manage cooperative exchanges in all the
principal cities. Warehouses under
grange control were opened. There was
one or more "Grangers' Life and Health
Insurance company"
The cooperative plan of doing business
proved difficult. The object was to break
down the monopoly. but in effect that
plan seemed to check competition and
subdivision of labor
The National grange in 1875 suggested
the present department of agriculture as
a cabinet feature. The influence of the
order succeeded and the department was
created several years later. The largest
cities Wed with each other for the an
nual National grange council, as they
have ever done for national party con-
ventions.
JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.