Year: 1879

and railroads was very fully discussed
and considered. During the discus
sion we were visited by the board OF
railroad commissioners, and very
pleasant Interchange OF views aud
ideas took place. AS the result OF
our consideration OF the subject we
recommend the following resolution
for your consideration:


Resolved, That the Missouri State
Grange express the almost unanimous
wish of the farmers of Missouri III
urging upon the next Legislature to
pass "railroad regulation law"
which shall be plain, strong aud eff
fective in protecting the rights and
interests of the people, while at the
same time it is just. fair and properly
remunerative to the railroads.


INSURANCE.
Our insurance interests are pros
periug but slowly. The Mutuals have
not done as much business as was ex-
pected, but this is a natural result
from the great scarcity of money,
and they will doubtless grow in inn
portance and usefulness as times im-
prove.


We regret that the fair dealing and
generous rates of the New York
Home have not been fully appreciated
by our order. 1t is q sad fact that
irresponsible companies are doing
nearly the entire business of the
farmers of the state of Missouri at
much higher rates than this reliable
company offered US, and fl conse-
quemce the New York Home decline
to make amy arrangement with US
for the coming year. This ought to
be a warning to the Grange to pat.
ronize their own business arrange
ments, for thus il will be with all our
enterprises and success if we do not
cooperate and use them when we
can.


| THE MONTHLY TALK.


In obedience to the plain will of
the last State Grange, our valuable
aud well conducted little paper, The
Monthly Talk, was abandoned and q
contract made with the Journal, of
Agriculture and Farmer to give US
the use of four columns in that paper.


NATIONAL GRANGE. .
| After conference with patrons gen.
orally the cnmmittee have become
satisfied that the unanimous sense of
the people is that nearly the whole
of the large fund now held by the
National Grange ought to be return
ed to those who paid it, to be utilized


by them in building up the order at


home by lecturing and otherwise.


We, therefore, ask an expression from


the State Grange on this subject, so


that our worthy master may feel


fully authorized to press it at the


coming session of the National


Grange. In this connection it will


do no harm to repeat that Missouri


patrons are unalterably in favor OF


abolishihg all the higher degrees


which cannot be taken at home and


by all patrons. . t-51rrL 3D.. 4.t


That we believe it is our right tina,


we shall be represented in the Ma


tional Grange according to the mum


bers of our patrons, and we will


never be satisfied until this right IL
granted. Tat we also hold that the


National Grange should not meet


oftener than once in two years, and


that State Oranges should be permit t.


ted to do so, likewise. il they desire
it..


STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
Il
state board of equalization for jus


with corporations, and while all il
} not granted that we consider is du,
e to our claims, yet some CONCESSION
, was made, and if the matter is prop
5 erly looked after and we continue Il
| preseut our case justly and Will


moderation, we will, in time, succeet
1, h
Y same ratio as lands.


y CROP REPORTS.


The chairman has given som


thought to system of crop reports


which shall at stated periods give
= proximate estimate of the condition
}, Of the gro wing crops and the amount
J, still in first hands OF our various pro
l. ducts. 1t does seem that farmer
d organization ought to perfect som
t wise scheme of collecting statistics q
n to their own calling. So far, Oranges
Il as organized bodies, have utterly fail
: ed to respond to all calls upon then
y for this kind of information, but
o is suggested that one active, jealous
: patron can be found in every count
e who would take pride aud pleasur
v In collecting information and maxim
3 a careful monthly Or quarterly repor
: to the chairman of the executive com
II mittee who might condense and put


lish the same in the journal an


Farmer.


v THE WORK OF BUILDING.
" The great need of the Grange Jus
now is harmony among ourselvel
l. Assaults and abuse from the outsid
y affect US but little; but the faul
finders and busy-bodies among ou
II own brethren do US immense harm
9 No institution can prosper where th
) words of the slanderer have NOR
il weight than the wise words of ou


own teachers. Bick erings and jea


ousies and suspicious and slanderer,
ii stabs in the dark at those whom "
S. put to work i'll our cause may 500
/. tear US down, but they cannot bull
J. us up. Here is our great danger an
As almost our only danger. Let is pu
E. none OH guard that we cannot trus
10 aud then let US couflde in them ,spea
@ well of them and encourage them I
20 look for the praise OF "Well don,
le good and faithful servants ~


ID The manifest Improvement of til
n times should inspire US to renew ou
Sc efforts to build our order on all Ell
le during basis-making enemies {
1t none and seeking the good will of al
III while firmly maintaing our ow
In rights and using all just means {
re bettering our own condition.


to AS the present report closes I'll
re official connection Of the chairman
10 the Missouri State Grange, the exec,
IS. tive committee have kindly permi
is ted me to say a few W ords of farewell
IT. From the bottom of my heart | d
as sire to return my most sincere thanl
H. to you and to the entire brotherhoo
ed for uniform and universal kindne
d. with which L have been treate


through the many years of my labo


to build up and perfect the busine
~ aims of the Missouri Grange and
III ~ do believe it is a pardonable prit
do with which look at the success d
In tanned by our magnificent purchasil
on agency. 1t can aud will! be sustaint
W Wul aud increase iu usefulness TO I'll
farmer If the order continues to u
hold and sustain my successor In Il
W. same generous way as you have m,
,se and here earnestly enLreat all p
'' ' irons no petty jealousies, no self
motives shall ever prevent Them fro