Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-06-10
IS NOT A new
ORGANIZATION
In this STATE
Brief History Of farmers
Group Givem By Master
OF State College Chap
ter.

In 1866 President Andrew Johnson
authorized the Commissioner Of Ag-
riculture to send a representative from
his department to gather statistics
and other information in the South
ern States" Oliver Hudson Kelley, a
clerk in the Department of Agricul-
ture, was chosen to procure this in
formation.
During this period of history dire
economic conditions prevailed through
out the length and breadth of the
south. Obvious as these conditions
were, Kelley was o impressed with
the farmers being satisfied with a
meager social and economic existence.
Here it seemed that social and eco
nomic customs were static. Nj. Kelley
attributed this condition to lack Of So
cial and intellectual intercourse.
As he pondered methods of giving
farmers a more abundant life, he
eventually conceived the idea that a
fraternal, secret, organization would
meet this need. While discussing the
proposed fraternal order with Miss
Carrie Hall, his niece, who lived in
Boston, Mr.. Kelley was persuaded to
provide for the admittance of women
to membership on a parity with men.
In December, 1867, Mr.. Kelley's
plan became a reality when seven gov
eminent clerks and a fruit grower at
Washington, D. c., organized the
Patrons of Husbandry or the Grange
as it is more commonly called. This
infant chapter at the National Capt.
tai at first served largely as a labora-
tory in which to experiment with the
secret ritual and other aspects of the
organization. While the Grange was in
this stage of development the lecturer
was added to the staff of officers al
ready in existence. The creation of this
new office was in keeping with Kel-
ley's belief that farmers needed more
social and intellectual stimulus.
A few years ago DR.. Clarence Poe,
editor Of the Progressive Farmer and
others comprised a committee to make
a survey of farm organizations to de-
termine which would be most appro-
pirate for this state to adopt. When
the committee decided that the Grange
best met the needs of this state, this
organization was adopted. Since that
time the growth of the Grange has
been rather marked in North Caro-
lima especially during the last year.
1t was through the influence of the
state master, w. K. Scott, that the
National Grange was induced to meet
in this state this year. This national
body will meet this fall in Winston
Salem-the second time it has even
been held below the Mason and Dixon
line.
Though the State Grange emphasiz-
es fraternity above everything else, it
has a definite legislative platform.
Some of the planks of their platform
are: State support of the schools with
out the ad valorem tax; the luxury
sales tax rather than the general sales
tax; a state program for re-foresting
idle lands; the teaching Of Home Ec-
onomics in-every Standard Rural High
School in North Carolina; the Eigh-
tenth Amendment; electricity for the
farm at the same rate as for industry
in the city; a telephone system which
given the same kind of service and
charges the same rates as in towns;
and the expert debenture bill as advo-
Gated by the National Grange.