Year: 1873

The best thlnS that you ever did,


Was quit your stylish dress.


Oskaloosa, Dec, 1873.


From Farm Department OF Register, edited by a
Granger.


THE STATE GRANGE.


The State Grange now in session
in this city has responsibilities rest
ing upon it of no minor Importance.
The manner IN which it acquits it.
self of this work will 90 far in estab-
fishing the stability, or the ephemer-
al character Of the order. 1t has no
ancient landmarks or well establish
ed precedents for its guidance. Its
laws and usages have not been puri-
fed and perfected by the conflict of
ages 80 as to disarm the pen of crit.
icism. It's theories and practices
are not of that ETHEREAL and abstract
character that its hills will resound
with empty declarations of fine spun
eulogies on the virtues nor consist
of complaisant genufiec;lons before
an inquisitive world. On the contra
ry it proposes to make war upon
hoary errors and concentrate capital.
1t has to deal with live issues. 1t
aims to work out new department
tor many of the industries and estab-
lished usages of the world. Attemp.
ting to push forward great COM
mercial, financial, social and moral
revolution the Patrons have first to
discover what they want, and then
bring into requisition the way and
means of doing it. The time has
now arrived in the history of the or
der when abstract declarations of
what it is going to do, will no longer
satisfy those who have invested, and
those who have looked forward to
the time when there was to be for
ward movement. Let us summarily
look at the work this State Grange
has before it, and which it must
meet or be branded as incapable of
transacting what it has voluntarily
undertaken.


THE RAILROAD TARIFF QUESTION.


Among the most important ques.
tions, and which it should grapple
early in the session, is the railroad
tariff law. The Order has been pro-
fusessin its declarations in favor ofreg-
ulating freights and passenger
charges. The Legislature will meet
in few days, and it will expect rea-
sonably, that this vanguard of the
army making war upon railroad mo,
nopolies and extortions will mark out
with minute detail the law they wish
enacted on the subject. No empty
and intangible resolutions will meet
this question, but the Grange must
grapple with the issue in a business
way, and present bill in all its de-
tails, of what they want. They must
rot adjourn, if it takes three weeks,
ill this is accomplished. The
Grange dare not dodge the response
bility and stand fair before the world
as a body capable of transacting
their own business. The Patrons,
the people aud the Legislature de-
mand this at their hands. The Leg
islature will in all probability be will
ling to enact such laws as so large a
portion of their constituents may de-
mand. But if the Grange dodge
this question, and leave the Legisla-
ture in doubt as to their wishes, they
may spend the winter in fruitless
search after that object. A failure
of the Grange to embody in a care
fully drawn bill the specific enact.
ment they desire, will be tacit ac-
acknowledgements that they are incom
petent to meet this difficult ISSUE
Let an able committee be raised ear
ly in the session, to whom this sub
ject shall be referred, with positive
instruction to report bill, and then
hold the Legislature responsible for
its enactment. One Of the most seri
Gus objections urged against our or,
der, is that we have no practical
plan-no remedy for high charges,
and unjust determinations OF rail-
roads.


GRUMBLINGS AND MALCONTENTS.


1t is folly to attempt to disguise
the fact that there are grumblings
and heart-burnings in the order.
Whether these grow out OF the natu
raj out-croppings of malcontents, or
from well-founded cause of com.
plant, it is within the power and
province of this State Grange, by
wise and prudent action, to so shape
all the affairs that the recalcitraHt
members can have no ground for re
bellious action. Men are not like
animals, to be led by the halter, OF
driver with goads, but by kindness
and Cancellation the most turbulent
can be led in the path of duty and
usefulness. The mere fact that the
majority have the power of doing a
thing, is not always sufficient war.
rant for the action. Minorities have
their which should be, and policy
dictates, ought to be respected. BY
harmony alone within our circle car
this great enterprise be a success
War and conflict without we may ex
pect. Its intensity and fury has mo-
yet reached that fiood-tide which will
range when the order begins to tight
en- the cords.


But these outside enemies we car
meet with composure, and laugh a
their rage. Yet many of our wors
enemies are within our Oranges
They are there to create dissensions
distraction and defeat. They have
crawled high up in the order, and ir
influence. They have talent, address
and cunning. They are wormine
themselves into the confidence of the
members, the more readily to driv.
the order to destruction. To NEE
and battle all this opposition and dis
cordant element, will require wise
and prudent action at the hands O
this Grange. The seeds of its disso
luton are we'll and thoroughly sowr
by our enemies, and the wise hus
bandman can only by prudence aver
the consequence.


THE POLITICAL FEATURES.
How far our Order can use it