The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-19

ernmental policy In federal affairs. Barge
ly If not mainly upon this predicate
Hayes reversed the arbitrary and despotic
methods of President Grant toward the
south. placed a southern man in his
Cabinet and withdrew the troops from
southern capitals.
In 1880 the greenback party. supported
largely by the farmers organization, put
Peter Cooper UP for President. The Ala
bama legislature of that year was known
'as the grange legislature" Col. d. wy
att Aiken OF South Carolina became the
official head of the movement In the
south. published a newspaper in its in
terest and otherwise displayed extraordi-
nary energy in advancing its objects. He
came to Montgomery on a memorable oc-
casion.
IT has been incidentally mentioned in
this place that the order of Patrons of
Husbandry was organized under the SUBJ
title of State grange in Alabama in the
darkest days of the military period of re-
construction, November II, 1873. The or
ganization took place at Montgomery. 1t
was for the purpose of assisting in that
event that Colonel Aiken came as mem
.ber of the committee of the National
grange.
The organization was accomplished with
great enthusiasm. A distinguished citizen.
Hon. w. II. Chambers of Russell county,
was made master. A notable commander
in the Army OF Northern Virginia, Gen.
u: M. Law of Macon was made secretary.
Col. 8. 8. Scott was made chairman of
an executive committee of three members.
Gen. George ID. Johnston, a notable COM
mander in the Army of Tennessee, was
made state lecturer. The lady assistant
steward then chosen was Mrs. d. II.
Odom Of Clarke. Ceres was Mrs. L. d.
Jenkins of Calhoun; Flora. Mrs. A. C.
Mitchell of Russell; Pomona, Mrs. E. d.
Connor of Marengo.
Two years later. so confident had the
organization in this state become that an
agricultural journal of excellent charac-
ter was set up by it at Montgomery.
edited by the master, w. II. Chambers,
called 1.-THE Southern Plantation"
The Alabama grange fourished for more
than quarter of century under con-
troll of leading citizens. More than 1000
subordinate oranges were organized in the
several counties
In the presence of 1900 men and women,
at Dothan July 15, 1896. the master, Col.
Hiram Hawkins. delivered the annual ad-
dress Answering his own question, "Vhat
has the grange done?" the orator said.
More than 2500 meetings of the grange
have been held in the United States each
month for the last 25 years. Two million
farmers and their wives and daughters
have thus been admonished in the paths
OF wisdom and virtue. Some of the
best citizens and farmers of this (Do-
thsn) community when they Joined the
grange, some 10 or - years ago, lived
" log cabins on a one or two mule farm,
en- the credit system. How changed their
present surroundings Commodious DWELL
ings. have succeeded the cabins; there
are barns in place of the little stalls; COM
Portable and happy homes. with orchards
and gardens and plenty of live stock on a
self sustaining farm All this is due to
the grange!''
An accepted rule of the order was to
eschew politics and frown upon politi-
cans But necessary reforms were SUBJ
jects OF law. Laws were liable to con-
troversy In the courts. Six cases were
appealed to the United States supreme
court involving the question of state con-
troll OF grain elevators doing an interstate
business. and state control of railroad
rates. The grange won each case.
another order came into recognition,
This was the Farmers alliance. The
Farmers alliance became q powerful po-
liticai organization In Alabama, striving
to gain control of the state government.
30 interesting WAS the struggle that we
may well afford to take notice of the or
igin Of the organization. The alliance
was composed practically Of members OF
the state grange. but all members OF
the grange did not Join the alliance. Only
farmers who were white men were eli
gible to the alliance. There were no fe-
male members.
The alliance had this origin: In LAM
pasas county. Texas, theft of cattle by
squatters had become uncomfortable. An
alliance" OF the bona f1de settlers was
entered into for mutual protection. This
was In the year 1876 10 years after Kelley
and associates organized the National
Grange OF Patrons Of Husbandry.
Three years after q citizen of Larilpasas q.
w. ]. Basgett by name. moved thence
into Parker county. Baggett into his new
home introduced the method Of Lampasas
He organized his new neIghbors, but en-.
larged the name and style of the enter.
prise to ''FArmers alliance"
The scheme lacked motive and strength
of direction. 1t spread slowly. BY IS8t
no state save Alabama had adopted the
alliance. Here only few sub-alliances
existed.
The secretary Of the Texas alliance
however, reported that in IL months 18sI
to 1856, the organization had increased II
that state more than fourfold, from eO
to 200. This was an increase notable onlv
in numbers. Discord broke out, the body
divided in two parts and lost its force
accordingly.
A general agitation in the farming cir.
cles prevailed. The "AGricultura]
Wheel" appeared in Arkansas. In Louis.
lana the "varmers union," with 10.O0(
members. came into View.
Meantime the 'Farmers' National con.
Gress, IN 1oe1s was organized, compospd