Year: 1874

DIAMOND DLUFF: loIct OO., "i0'' rSlyE
+, Feb. Oath, 1874
Editors Grange Advance ~ sSa'5


With your permission would ike to
answer Brother Jackman's letter in ref
erence to myself, also to explain*a letter
from me, in a previous issue, in regard ee,
to the ruling in our State in reference
to taking persons into the Grange nearest
where they live, &c., and will trysand
make it so plain that Brother j Jackman
can see the great benefit to be derived
from such ruling to our Order, even
though he can see no. better than L.
Now we do not propose to. shut out any
good and proper person from our Order,
no not at all ; we want all such to come
in with us, but they must conform to,
and abide by, our rules and regulations,
which is very easy matter. For in
stance, Mr.. A. wishes to join Grange
that is four miles farther off than the
one in his town. Well, now, wouldn' t
it look little suspicious to you, it GER
tainly would to me, and yet he mi ght be
all right in every respect. Well, now,
there must be some cause for this. If
his business interests are here, and he
has old friends and associates here, or
if the Grange in his own town was COM
posed Of foreigners, while he was an
American and he wishes to be among
Americans, either Of these would be a
sufficient cause to want to join here
Now all he has to do is to 90 to the
Grange in his own town and state his
situation, and also his wishes, and if this
Grange think he is proper person and
his reasons sufficient, they will make out
statement of his case, and send it to
the Master of the State Grange with
their approval. The Master will ex-
anime the certificate, and, if he is salts
fed with the reasons given, he will grant
the request; then Mr.. A. can join all
right. Now I don't want to get up any
unfiendly feelings towards Brother
Jackman, for I presume he is working
for the best interests of the Order, as
we'll as myself, but want to say to him
that we cannot be too careful who we
take in. Now, in regard to organizing
new Oranges. I certainly ask questions
and not only that, but I have them elect
their own members. Now, Brother
Jackman, this is another rule we have
in Wisconsin, and it is done in this way {:
after all have signed the application that
wish, 1 prepare lot of blank ballots. I
give each person that has signed the ap-
plication one, and tell them that if any
improper person has signed the applica-
tion, and one that they would not take
in after they were organized, they must
write his or her name or names on the
ballots, but charge them not to do it on
account of any personal matter. Then I
collect the ballots myself, and if I find
any one name on three ballots or more,
l erase the name on the application and
refund the money, and no questions
asked. Now if Brother Parsons had
adopted this rule I don't believe he
would have had six corrupt and unpopu-
lar men all in one Grange, for that class
Of men are not generally so thick I
have organized several Oranges and I
have not had more the nanre ojected in
any one Grange. am making this let
ter too long already, but, brother editors,
I wish to say one word for the ADVANCE,
that is, that I feel proud to think that
we have one paper that dare come out
and stand up for our cause without fear
or favor, and believes in free discussion,
especially among the farmers.


Yours, fraternally,


G. III. NERO.


The Temperance Excitement.