Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-25

| ity IL there, and If it has not been de-
veloped it Is the fault of that individual
Grange and not of the organization as
a whole. The farmer lacks expression,
the ability to speak in public, the pow
er to think on his feet. Full many a
rose is born to blush unseen and waste
its fragrance on the desert air. We
! want our brother farmers to bring
their. bushes into the public of nation
al life and express their thoughts
where they will do themselves and
mankind some good.
/ The Grange hall offers place for
practice in expression, 1t offers conf
dence for diffidence. and for lack OF
ability it offers results. The worst
fault offered against farmer candi.
date at an election was that he could
not talk in public This in the eyes OF
many disqualified him for an election
to an Office where he would have been
expected to represent his constituency
No other disqualifying fact was alleg'
ed. His honesty was above par; MS
ability above question, yet he was re.
jected in place of the other candidate
as usual, a lawyer. If for no other
reason the farmer needs the Grange,
| because it tends to break down the
barriers Of prejudice which lead many
farmers to select men from other
walks Of life to fill the various omces
and local, county and state. Ana 90
we as a rule vote for the farmer! NO.
because Of prejudice. We need more
class solidarity, more pride in our oc-
cupation and as we learn more apout
our work, more about the underlying
laws governing agriculture and from
| them the short cuts to results, we Will
develop more the great spirit OF ira
| ternity of preferring one another.
Such is the purpose Of the Grange. Inc
Grange is the oldest and at this time
| the most prosperous farmers organlza-
4! ton in existence; and is the only one
national In extent. It is founded on the
great underlying truths of the blple;
on the principles of right and justice to
all men. It has passed through the
formative period, through the expan-
sion period when growth was faster
than the care Of selection. and the
natural depression which followed only
proved it's worth, until today 1t is with
out a peer at the service OF the lndl-
yidual farmer wherever he may be
located, ready to help him IN every
way within its power. DESTROYS or MS
help to fight the battles of the farmer
in his desire for unity. charity and ira
ternity. 1t is ready with educational
features to develop and broaden the
mind Of the farmer by leading him to
INQUIRE into farm questions. 1t also
stands ready to assist him in the study
of state and national questions OF VI
tai import to everyone. Financially II
is ready to help by doing away with
useless middlemen. In many states 1t
has a competent organization to insure
his stock and buildings, even his lie;
and in the more progressive Grange
states will assist him with the market
ing of his crops. Always and every
where the Grange is just what its mem
bers will to make it. 1t cannot give
more than value received. 1t can show
them how to do. it cannot do for them.
No where can the Grange do what us
members will not do. 1t only reflects
their will, but 1t stands ready win
aids and helps which if taken and USED
will make prosperous community,
contented and happy farming people,
and make for them the ideal farm llfe
In all the works Of the Grange, writ
ten or unwritten there Is nothing,
which can in any way conflict with
ones duty to his country, his Maker or
himself. Everything tends to make OF
the Granger a better man, more pat
riotic citizen. a better husband anu
father; and Of the woman better vile
and mother.