“THE FA R111 E R I S OF jl[()RE (.'().\'SEQUEi\'(;'E THAN FARM, AND SH 0 UL!) V01. XVII, N0. 24. THE MOIt'l'GAGl-I TAX LAW. How Does it WorkZ—0pinions of sev- eral Leading Farmers and Grange Members. ROBERT L. H EWITT. The Grange in Michigan has for a number of years been demanding at the hands of the legislature the anactment of a law under which esscssing officers could find for as- sessment moiieys and credits. Ex- isting laws provided for their as- sessment, but the shrewd capital- ist had little difliculty in covering, or hiding from tlieasscssiiig officer. these classes of property. A law for discovery is all that was de- manded. The law of 1887 was a coiices- siori to the just demands of the Grange. In practiceit was exceed- ingly cumbrous, yet it in a great measure accomplished its purpose. The defects in this law were that on mortgaged property double taxes were levied, and persons living out- side the state but loaning money in this state. wholly escaped taxa- tion on such money. These were certainly defects, yet not nearly so serious as frequently represented. The Grange has gradually come to believe that the ()alif'orniamort- gage tax law is the most nearly perfect to secure the taxation of mortgages of any known statute. The legislature of 1891 in revising the tax laws made a pretense of complying with the wishes of farm- ers and provided, in section 17 of - the tax law. that mortgages should 5 money. I I LAiNiSiI.Ni'i(i‘}, .lIICllIIlitN‘, DECEMBER 15, 1852. has come under my own observa- tion. Let me say in the beginning, that I believe the law to be a fail- ure so far as helping the borrower is concerned. The poorer class of people have to have money, espec- ially the small farmer that wants to add to his farm. He may want $500 or $1,000 to buy more land. He goes to the money loaner to get the money expecting to give a niort- gage on what land he already has, but he finds that the money loaner will not let his money with the same rate of interest that he did before the law took effect, but charges one or two per cent. more. and besides he is obliged to give what is known as an "iron-cla(l” mortgage, compelling the borrower to pay all the taxes. and do all the road work. N ow we can see plainly that it would be a damage to the person that is obliged to hire But. some might say that it benefited those that had a mortgage on their farms when the law took effect. But instead it proves a damage, for as soon their mortgage becomes due they are forced to pay it or a foreclosure is the result. I would pronounce the mortgage tax law an entire failure, as we can’t compel a man to loan his money. H illsrlalc comify. L. A. SPENC ER. Owing to a prolonged tussle with the tax roll I have not had time to state my objections to the new be assessed in precisely the same manner as in California. The word- _ ing of this section is not materially 2 difl"erent from that of the ()alifor- nia law, except that the following‘ is left out: “And every contract by which at mortgage tax law, but I think by the time the tax is collected iiuder the new system its defects will be- come apparent to all. I/'(m Bmvm CO. H. (‘-. .\lC DERMID. has no occasion to restoration. As to the second objection, I think the present law” is right in assessing the proper.-'5' where situ- ated, instead of where the owner lives. The mortgageelowns an in- terest, frequently a large one, in the farm pledged topay the mort- gage; in other words is art owner of the farm. which sbou d be taxed where it is. The cit} does not claim the right to tax a C-::.‘rm lying out- side its limits, even, though owned by one of its resi(le‘i:‘.a. What bet- .er right has it to tax an in/m'csi II) the farm owned bf; such resident. than the whole farmr-"7’ The old system began with the plain wrong of twice taxing the same property. lV.‘i:i.t wonder that the public conscien owns debauch- ed, and that people tried to escape the unjust tax ? 1 would put our tax laws first on a basis ofjustice, are then use dili- gent efforts to L‘11l'.OI"LO them. profit- ing by such experierwe as we may gain in the attempt-.“, (V1.1/mm: C0. " clamor for its .lEIlO.\lE 1ilLLs. <‘i The question of:‘ taxation has been agitating theivrninds of the people for many hears. It has been discussed in t.3_'.»- Grange and elsewhere hoping it}.-at some law might be enacted, tl_,__:_.‘ all property ‘should ‘near its J.”-ff‘lvi proportion of taxes. It was observed by all that a large amount of money invested in moi'ty-_r;ages, etc.. had entirely es- ca ped taxation. As a remedy the law known as the “mortgage tax law” was enacted. which in my opinion proved quite a success, as it in- creased the valuation. thereby re- ducing the rate per cent of tax. This law provided that the county that by assessing the amount ofthe mortgage to the mortgagee, which amount is deducted from the value of the property and the balance assessed to the inortgager. that good might result; but it has proved that in nearly every case the mort- gager will have to pay all taxes. either by special contract in the mortgage or from fear of having the mortgage foreclosed if not paid when due, thus relieving entirelx the mortgagee; while previous to the present law the amount of the mortgage was assessed against him as personal property, which now cannot be done, thus causing a falling off of the taxable prop- erty, which in this (Ottawa) county we believe amounts to between two and three hundred thousand dol- lars. This must necessarily make tlie rate of taxation higher on the remaining property, causing,tlie poor man to pay more taxes while the money loaner pays less. “Te hope our next legislature will see the injustice in this and remedy the existing evil. (lflrutiu Co. A. U. BARNES. This law seems to fail to accom- plish the object for which it was passed. But on the contrary. in a imposes double taxation upon the borrower but it makes it tripl c-.)mpclli1~.g ‘the bori‘-._,-wer to the tax for the full amount of ‘the assessed valuation, to pay the o v nnx gagee or mortgager, to pay a larger . assessed valuation. _ The mortgage tax law truly {carries out the principle of making BE FIRST .I1lIPR()l’El).” large majorities of cases it not only - portions belonging to the money. loaner and it also compels a farmer ‘ like myself, who is neither a mort- ~ per cent on account of the reduced ' '. ‘ . . ‘ ; _ d1'?bt:SI‘e‘::n‘l):)11)]t'£i‘11tleg1(E:epfffilglg lmflj I think our present inortgage, 0 a " U -I (‘L l ( ’ ) ,tax law is decidedly better than ourl on any mortgage’ deed of trust’ or I old svsteiii and should be retained I other lien, shall, as to any iiiteresti ‘ ' ' ‘ specified therein and as to such tax ' with slight amimdment’ at least Em.‘ ' t b H d .d,, la thorough trial. It is not to be or assessmen ’ enu an V01 ' lexpected that a system entirely thnnnmtwcawwmwmwewm d bt . .tt d T] . . {such a tender subject as taxation, f3 V °r2fl‘S it‘. t “:D'.0”(”1SS1O11:§slioul(l work without friction. No mmmnmmawwwwrmml _ . V _ . objections. hmmnmmmnewmmmmww r-a . » ‘ ‘ ' 1-“piste,-S Shouhl report to ,im.h I the rich richer and the poor poorer. other H“. amount of mo,-tgag«,.s‘t'1‘lie assessment roll for Lawrence, held by each imhvhhm], and‘ 3150 j township for 1892 shows that there . to the several assessors of tlieir“W*1S W511 l)1'0I)91't.Y in the I°“'nShlP 1-(.ig})e(-five C0m1fieS_ This, llO“'e\‘(.\1'y ;' outside of the Village (}(II‘p()l'iltl()ll‘ did not do away with whatis called $69‘;-35‘»l “S5€‘$S9‘l 1“§t SIJY111.‘-£3 05 double taxation, and at the last 5-(._q_ this amount 4t‘S125,27;) or about :32 sion of the legislature a law was, , . _ _ passed which was thought would r a little more than one fariii in five. remedy the existing evil. This law UP?“ 11195“ morlgfiges Wm‘ “;95“5S*‘d provided that mortgages should beifl llfiflc Over $200 _flS _H1.‘-EIIWRY assessed to the mortgagee if known; Labor fax and out of this amount. if not it should be assessed as uh- 3108 have been returned unpaid.‘ known and the value of the I1ll')1‘l’-It is fail‘ t0 SUDPOSE thilt this 57 * per cent was the mortgage interest, I ‘. . ' I .. ] y‘ ‘- «mmwwwmwmfimnmmms - -o " ' ‘ the mortgager to pay the taxes as- sessed upon the mortgagee shall be void. I think our law is defective in oniitiiig this vital provision of protection to the creditor, and should be promptly amended so that all future contracts shall be compelled to comply with the spirit of the law. Emasculated ballot laws or tax laws are seldom satis- factory. Two principal objections are urged against. the present law: lst, That the mortgagee evades the law, and requires the mortgager to pay the entire tax on the mortgaged property and, 2d. That the cities and villages loose from their assess- ment rolls a large amount of mort- gages owned by their citizens, which are now assessed where the farms are situated. As to the first, I have already called attention to a remedy which I think would meet the case. The new law places no new tax upon the lender, and there is no _reason why he should be permitted to shift his burden upon another. Our courts have for many years held certain agreements between insur- ance companies and the insured void, on the ground that they were unjust to the insured and against public policy. Apply the same principle to money loaning, and a. great difficulty will vanish. As the law now stands, even when evaded, the mortgager is no worse off than under the old system, and courts hold such contracts valid. All mortgages are now taxed. whether owned in this state or out- side of it, but it is the debtor and not the creditor who pays the tax. The above quotation from the Cali- fornia law enacted as an amend- ment to section 17, would at least go far toward protecting the debtor. Another defect of special concern to farmers, is the fact that bank stock may entirely escape taxation. As this can only occur where the amount of mortgages held by a bank equals or exceeds the amount of its stock it may charitably be supposed that this defect was acci- dental; but it exists nevertheless, and is a most serious one. The law is defective in other re- spects, but for these, other than the agricultural interest, may be safely trusted to secure proper amendments. The Grange should do all in its power to secure correction to the defects here specially pointed out. It would not be unwise to employ a competent attorney to draft amend- ments at once constitutional and effective. Ingham 00. S. E. HAUGHEY. The mort-age tax law is a subject that has been discussed very exten- sively in Hillsdale county, and there are hardly two persons that have the same idea of it. What I have to say on this subject is what gage deducted from the real property; so that the mortgager is assessed for such interest as he actually owns. This law in my opinion does not benefit the debtor class. Before the enactment of this law money could be loaned at seven per cent. As soon as this law took effect money could be loaned at the same interest but not without inserting the tax clause that the mortgager shall pay the tax. Eastern capital- ists making this demand enables the money loaners of this state to do the same, which so reduces the valuation that if the mortgager pays the tax upon the mortgage his taxes are more than under double taxation. Clinton Co. MELVIN S. SMITH. Seemingly the more our law mak- ers try to do for the poor man the louder is his complaint. We refer particularly to the “ Mortgage tax law,” which was enacted, as we supposed, for the sole pur- pose of relieving the burdens and oppressions of those having mortgages upon their property. But in this case is there not cause for complaint? While we doubt not but that the intentions of our law makers were all right, yetif so, they failed utterly in accomplish- ing the desired end, as the work- ings of the law plainly prove. It would seem upon first thought, .'per cent of highway tax was paid by the borrower and at least a like proportion of the general tax if not more will also be paid by the borrower. The shrinkage of valua- tions in the assessment last spring came through the change of niort- gages from the class of personal property to that of real for the purpose of taxation. Taking the township of Lawrence as an average town of this county the mortgage indebtedness of the county is over two millions of dol- lars but the shrinkage of the asses- sed valuation is but about $500,000, showing that over one and a half million dollars of these mortgages escaped taxation under the old law or were taxed in other localities. It will be the duty of the incoming . legislature to repeal or amend this 5law to get us out of the present -tangle that the mortgage tax law has got us into. But it will be very difficult to make a law that will do justice to the thousands of farmers in this State who have been compelled to renew their mortgage or agree to pay the tax on the old one by threats of fore- closure or otherwise. It is evident that many have been compelled to renew as the recorder’s office has been flooded with these renewals of mortgages and I am told these re- newals all have the tax paying clause in them as further evidence that the borrower largely pays the tax. One of the prominent money loaners of the county was heard to {OLE N0. 4l)8—.— WI any that the firm he represented had 360,000 loaned in our town- ship in this county and that the borrower had agreed to pay all taxes. Many more cases might be cited but this seems enough to show that there never was a law enacted in this State that more completely defeated the object for which it was passed as does this mortgage tax law. l'm2 Rurcn (.70. c. H. I~‘A1i:\‘i'.\i. At first I thought it wouldseem but fair that if I were to place 8 mortgage on my farui for say five hundred dollars, the assessed value say fifteen hundred, I should pay a tax on one thousand dollars, the party holding the mortgage should pay a tax on five hundred of the assessed value. This I say at first thought would seem right. But suppose the party loaning the nioney lived out of the state and he gave this iiiortgage in to the assesor where he lives, as he has a right to do. What then? And again if it ‘is assessed to the mortgagee what I‘ is the process for collecting the tax ;on that third assessed value of my ifflflll. sell it for the tax ‘.’ Now in lmy judgment it is not just the best ithing. One of my neighbors who ‘is loaning money after this mort- llgage tax law was passed simply ;went to parties he held mortgages iagainst and had them sign an agri c- §nieiit'to pay Um taxes or he would ihave to call the money in. and ithose that loan money as a rule simply place a clause in the riiort- -‘gage that the borrower shall pay the taxes. I sold some property fthis last summer. the pn.i'tics I sold to wanted time on better than half the purcliase money. I gave a deed -and took a mortgage. 1 would have taken the full aniouiit if the parties had wanted to pay it. Now is it reasonable to say l shall pay half of the taxes on that property? In my judgrneiit I sliouldsay no, and I don't have to because the mortgage reads that the parties I. sold to and gave the mortgage shall pay the taxes, I believe that every man should pay taxes on money and mortgages should be assessed the ‘same as landed property. In conclusion will say flint taxing the mortgages doesn’t. hit. the right 1 parties. As a rule, those who are able ‘to hold mortgages are tax payers while perhaps in some instances 3 they don‘t pay as much tax as they should, there are plenty that get jthe same protection and as much iof this world’s goods who do not I pay a cent of tax. Be'rr1'cn Co. ‘ Jonx NU(‘.EN’l‘. I Under existing circumstances it Eseems to be a law that is hard to j apply. The great majority of those iwho borrow money are practically under bondage to the money power iand when the mortgager makes his 1 mortgagee pay the tax on his mort- igage then the latter will retaliate ;by making the mortgager pay the ,‘mortgage when due or close him (out, and in too many instances it has to be the latter; for owing to scarcity and consequently lively demand for money those who have money to loan do not care to place it with a man who would make them pay the tax on it. This has been my observation of actual transactions in this community, and not the ex- ception, but almost invariably the rule. Again, the law allows as high as 10 per cent interest under contract and to make themselves secure against the tax the money loaners are putting on 1 per cent extra above their usual rates to secure themselves against the tax. In my opinion the law as it now exists is a failure and a damage to the poor man who borrows money. Huron 00. 2 THE GRANGE VISITOR. DECEMBER 15, 1892 Field and Sfock. TARIFF VS. WOOL GROWER. plying to your question, “Do you an- ticipate any abrupt tariff legislation as concerns wool?” will say that I do not believe any tariff legisla- » tion as affecting wool will take place during the life of the present con- were in the majority. under existing I am one of their number and do inot know what is the best method lto pursue myself. Let us study the prospect for the future and see with what we will have to contend that we may be gress. To the second question, “ \Vhat do you think probably will be the policy pursued?” will add that it will take a better guesser than my- self to predict with any degree o certainty what the policy of the party soon to come imo power will be. If it carries out the pledges made in the platform adopted in Chicago at its national convention, the McKinley hill which gives adequate protection to the growing of American wool, will be repealed among the first of its legislative acts and wool will be placed on the free list. If the let- ter of acceptance of the President- elect, were to be considered the basis of future legislation, I would think wool would still be protected were it not for the fact that Mr. Cleveland is on record as strongly favoring the abolition of the tariff, on wool grown in this country. In either case, I do not see how the Democratic party can do differently than to take off the protection now afforded the wool grower and keep its pledges and live up to its tra- ditions. To the third question, “Under such probablities what would you advise wool growers to do?” I would advise wool growers not to abandon the business, but wait and see how a different policy, a policy of free trade, will work. It has been proclaimed from the forum and published in the press that under free trade, wool would be higher than when, as now, the article is protected. If such a theory proves correct the wool grower who sticks to his flock will receive a benefit. Should the theory by actual test, prove delusive, the American wool grower will demand in no uncertain tones a restoration of protective duties on wool. In either case I think it a wise policy to wait and not sacrifice so in1por- tant an industry as wool growing until compelled by the importations of cheap foreign free wool. To the fourth question, “ \Vould you advise any different policy for any man who owns and shears sheep?” In answering this ques- tion my advice would be that wool growers improve their flocks by proper breeding and liberal feed- ing, so that flocks which now shear from ten to twelve pounds per head of unwashed wool shall shear twenty-five per cent ad- ditional amount and that the cost of the production per pound be cheapened. ‘This can be done if the same skill and thought is given to the business as is given to any prosperous and well managed en- terprise. I would further advise those flock masters who have established valuable flocks of thoroughbred Merinos or Merino grades to keep right along the same line of work that has made their flocks valuable rather than to follow the teachings of those who would breed a class -of nondescripts that have no special value in any direction. Time alone can tell with cer- tainty what the probable change in the future policy of protection or free trade will bring about. One thing is sure; no shrewd business man will abandon an important interest on assumption or theory. Let us wait and see what will be the result before we sacrifice our business which has become so near to our wishes and desires. WM. BALL. ANOTHER GROWER SPEAKS. EDITOR GRANGE Visiroa-—In answer to your inquiry asking my idea in regard to tariff legislation affecting wool, will say that I do not think an extra session of Cong- ress will be called, but at the very first opportunity an effort will be made to revise the tariff, and “ wool will be one of the first articles to be placed on the free list.” As the coming administration was placed in power with the above promise in in its platform, and with a_ ma- jority in both houses, a president who has advised in his message to give the people free wool, I do not better able to decide our future 1* course. I think any lower rate of duty on very injurious, and jwool would be free wool means decided 1'u1n to gthaf industry, which would prove, Ia great blow to agriculture in the 1 United States. .fl1e reasons for this expression. :The greatest is————we cannot com- i pete with our principal competitor, iAustralia, in growing cheap wool. ; Many of your readers may notknow lwhy. Perhaps I cannot tell them 3 in a better way than to give excerpts ifrom a statement made before the Ways and Means committee Jan. 2, I 1890, by E. N. Bisscll of Shoreham, Vt. Mr. Bissell has been to Aus- tralia several times in the past few years with Merino sheep bought in \'ermonf,' New York and Michi- gan. They were taken there and ,sold to wool growers for crossing on their flocks. which improved fleece without impairing the qual- ity of their wool. He 1‘<é<'(-3iV<'(l a good deal of information about their principal industry (that of wool growing), from Mr. Samuel Mc- Caughey, a prominent Wool grower of Coonoug, Urania, New South Wales, who visited Vermont in 1887 and 1888, and purchased sheep to ship to Australia. His home farm is 400 miles from Sidney. He owns 1,200,000 sheep which graze on 3,500,000 acres of land, 2,000,- 000 of which he owns, and 1,500,- 000 he rents of the government at two cents per acre, the lease run- ning in some instances 35 years and all permanent improvements made by him, such as fencing, is paid for by the government. He estimates that it takes three acres of land to keep a sheep one year, as they have no frost or snow dur- ing the year they feed no hay or grain, and his farm being fenced in fields containing 1,000 to 2,000 acres with salt plants he requires no shepherd to herd his flocks. He offen hires others to keep sheep for him and pays nine cents per head, for one year. At this price the person keeping them clears three cents per head, as the rent of enough land to keep them only costs six cents per head. Hr. Mc- Caughcy’s sheep shear on an aver- age five pounds per head, and it costs him two cents a head to get them shorn. They are not partic- ular about getting thcm shorn close and smooth, as they say what they do not get this year they will get next. The freight from Coonong to Sydney is one-half cent per pound, and from Sydney to New York or Boston by sailing vessel is one cent per pound. The total cost of growing and transporting his wool to our markets would not exceed five cents per pound, and the increase in his flock most cer- tainly ought to pay good interest on the money invested. The theory that our fine wool would bring as good prices if placed on the free list and in competition with foreign wools with the above facts staring us in the face I can- not believe. I would as soon think that if I had a ten acre lot pastur- ing about all the Merino sheep that would thrive and do well on it, “I could improve the pasture by open- ing the gates and letting in my neighbors Shropshires.” The mixt- ure of the manure would make the grass grow better. There is only one condition that I can think of that would make the price of Merino fleece as high with wool on the free list—that is when the American Merino became as scarce as buffalo, and foreign fine wool growers had it all in their own hands. It will not take many years of free wool to bring this con- dition in the older states. The politicians can say truthfully to us breeders then that “You should have stuck to your flocks. I told you wool would bring as good prices under free wool as with a protective tariff.” But at what a loss to the agricultural interest! If unfriendly legislation compels us to give up or abandon what has been a. life work of many (that is, to develop a breed of sheep that see how they can avoid fulfilling cannot be improved by crossing ers of pure wool bearing flocks, as: them by increasing the weight of} their promises to the people wholwith the same purpose sheep fromldiscover, that so many people arelprice. It is very little use to any other nation), We shall have to}disgusted with the use of the ap-jquarrel with the demands of the 3 that also unprofitable. idriven us out of the cattle business 5it is going to find its way into thel lthose who make exhibits, that we“ As to my advice to wool growers resort to the mutton breeds which propriation already made for ex- ‘, market, it is easier an(l more profit- probabilities, I . may cause overproduction making i penses and salaries, and so little of EDITOR GRANGE VISITOR-_IN re- hardly know what to say to breed- able to grow what the market de- mands, and he who keeps nearest Our western sister states haveiexpense and premium account oflto it will obtain the best prices. Early maturity is an essential ‘ (nearly), by their cheap and free , feel like fighting shy of them less element of success. Quick returns use of government land, and now if in addition to what they will draw * are a source of profit. A glance at Lwe are compelled to abandon sheep .. from the state, they will also bring the general character of the live breeding in the older States, the icondition of our farms and farmers ,would become deplorable, as we could not keep up the fertilily of our soil without stock. especially where a catch of clover cannot be relied on. Every agitation of the tariff has had a bad influence on wools, es- elcction stud flocks‘ in this vicinity . have been offered for sale at about ‘ten per cent of the value of the original flocks in 1883. \Vhat a .severe blow this‘ industry has re- .'<-cived already. The next query is, iHow are the wool growers to be lcompensated? If they have to sell the products of their labor in com- l petition with the world will they be iallowed the privilege of buying lthcre‘? If not, and they are com- pelled t.o sell free wool and and buy protected goods,~every farmer and E wool grower will become an orator land stump speaker before another , presidential election. As to my advice to those having ent probabilities, I say continue in their line, and to those having grade fine wools I would use upon them a pure bred Shropshire ram. Cir- cumstances in the future would de- cide me as to keeping the female offspring with the intention of turn- ing them into a mutton producing flock. To the breeders of pure bred American Merinps I would advise them to do as I '-intend doing my- self, viz: Try to make them better, or at least keep‘ them as good as they are (a sheep producing the most, best, and strongest clothing wool of any sheep on earth), until legislation says I have in all these years only produced a little raw material. I fear iI1 answering your ques- tions for publication I have intrud- _ed on your V&l;1;‘rll)le space, but I p and have given them from the standpoint of a farmer, wool grower and wool dealer. I forward you a sample of wool that I obtained from a Philadel- phia firm that was recently bought in London for ‘.38 cents per pound. edge of the cost of growing wool think fora moment that we can deliver our fine wool i11 eastern markets in this condition for 28 cents per pound with importing freight added ? Yours truly, P. Voonnms, JR. STOCK _\'I‘ THE WORLD’S FAIR. EDITOR GRANGE VISITOR——Re- plying to your question, “ What can be done to insure a good show of Michigan stock at the \Vorld’s Fair?” In the first place it will be necessary that an appropriation be made from the fund of the commis- sion already appointed, or that a special appropriation be made by the incoming legislature for this special purpose. The stock inter- ests have not been treated gener- erously so far, to say the least. In my opinion an appropriation of $10,000 should be made by the coming legislature to be divided,— $3,000 for horses, $3,000 for cattle, $2,000 for sheep and $2,000 for hogs, and that these premiums be paid through the superintendents and committees already established by the VVorld’s Columbian Ex- position; that the entire judging of the stock be done through the es- tablished committees of the'Expo- sition without any commission or committees from this state to “work up” exhibits or draw salaries and expenses from the fund. These cash premiums divided in the same ratio and for the same classes as are now provided for by the Expo- sition would insure an exhibit of stock at the Fair. So far I believe the commission from this state and the committees constitute one big farce. Few who contemplate an exhibit of stock have applied to influenced in making up their minds to exhibit through anything that any of the committees have have done. For me I am sure this is the case. It is the general op n- ion, so far as I have been able to 3 the mutton breeds, under the pres- 1 have been honest in my expressions, , Can any person who has any knowl- : them for information or have been‘ lin a bill against us. The live stock 1 interests in this state are very large, and in my opinion they have not I received proper recognition andi jencouragement as was intended. ?from the committees appointed for ‘that purpose. It is all rm] top} am] no p)'(u‘/icul )'c.'iii;;o-r .\lachino- has u very import- ant improve-nu-nt in (I Loot-'¢~ Iiulnncc Wheel, so coil.-'truct.4-it as In pi-rinit. winding bobbins wit!» out r»-niovin«,: the work from the maelnnc -\(‘ll .\l.-\(}HI.\'l-I IS FURNISIIEI) \VlTH THE F()I.Ii()\\'l.\'(i A'I'I‘.-\('II.\IENTB:: IIEIIMERS. I{UFI<‘LEll., TU(‘.Kl"" .. .-..--.... ....-_—--------- -- - . v . THE GRANGE VISITOR. DECEMBER 15, 1892. 4 ’ made practical would start a great i possesses its quota of brains and of i The right to combine for mutual l fore, is doing a much needed work. ‘: many boys in study who do notiable and influential men whoseiadvantage is 55 Sacred ‘'10 employé The leading grains 9mP10Yed in feel like spending four years in iwhole training prepares them toias to emp1°yer' Weeding sheepin Michigan are com’ , . AW '1‘ t.h *,it.db.E.'tdtal- college. Of course it would not do {understand the needs of the “com- . that em::i)(::.: yof rfgggl; or:,,::‘i:,f_ figsttfllg m1I:;,n0f e,,_\f1f grain’ 2511:, to do away With the £0111‘ Yea-I‘Sim0n pe0p1e”8nd Whose sympatlliesitions seem sometimes inclined t-oisingly or in combination. are not course. ‘are with the men of toil—we sayiencroach upon the rights of em-lreadily accessible to tlie_ordiuar_y This is, perhaps, worth thinking . we believe that C1353 should fm._1 ployers, and of theirfellow labore_rs feeder. The object of this experi- . . 1 . . . . . wvho, for some reason. do not _]01Illl.D€’Ili is to furnish such data gather- of. Other states have tried it, and , nisli its legitimate share of public ; their Organimtions ' with some success. "servants. A ‘ THE GRANGE VISITOR Published on the 1st and 15th of every month. Kenyon Ii. Bntterflelil, Editor and Manager, LANSING, MlCH., To_w_hom a1l_ exchanges. communications. arlver txsipg business and subscriptions should be sen . The right to ». ed from actual feeding trials; 123 labor for the support of self and igrade Sliropshire lambs are divided TI1’5KR‘.VI§h50SC%nts a Year, 25 Cents for Six 0n; S. _u scriptions payable in advance. _ ‘ “d d‘sf’°“°"““'d“‘"“""““’“"‘T‘I°“‘* ’“""”"°"" L Facts Seem to Show that Such 1S 3 familv IS something that must not . into lots of 10. 1.) and 20 respective- 3‘Rem1tta.ncee shouldbeby Registered Letter, ,’ - ” - - _ - } M0ney0rder0rDfaf[_ ANVUAI MFET1 V-,1. OF STATE , not the (,-as(._ ,be iiiterferred With; and if a laborer , ly. There are under experiment . . . . . , . . . . , .. . , , , ., . , ‘ _ - ‘in the exercise 1 f ill." I'1’llt” as a : ten lots. Three lots are ted on 1-1(;gT1(;U1,7(,1g,1L ,go(,11«,Ty_ lVe are equally earnest in our? _.t._ I .1. ’t (‘H t”) ‘ .fl _ ‘ti 1 l wt. "1, _ _ ,belief that the farmers are decide‘-“L1 IAGD, (E‘(.1IJ€S o associa -I W1-i1.(01I1, 0.1 s am iraii 1(n[)(L Ht y. T1 131 satin yof the Mu-h1_I _ _ , I _ . fellow laborers. those who do unite * Four othcr lots are fed combina- “* ’”““ m ‘J = th tte d t ltlr tl - - - - V - - - w , . - . 1 1 . .- 3m 15 ma 1' an 1“ 913‘ "it 19”‘ ; have no right to interfere with his i tions of the above grains. ten lanibs gari State Hoiticu tiira society , . . , . _ . - . . . , ,. , voiccs shall be heard and their l freedom to work for whomsoever 1 receiving corn and oats. tcn receiv- will be held in Ann Arbor, Dec. 2 I; . . . . , ,-]1 0- . 1- ,, 1, ,, , mt qt ' ., . . . 11 . {ft . -. . .' -' ,- 2‘; 1” _ _ ‘I 1' V _ _ I lwlshes S1131] welgh 1,, the cgm111g,“l- give iini trip )3 It . a,iii__ (0111 aiii iiaii. i ieiiiiuiiiiig t0 ‘—a )‘—‘g111111Yl.£-’ 1 011‘ 4}’ 9‘ ‘31l1*_“r-- jchflicp And Om, lgflislmors as : price agreed upon liy both. mats and bran. and fifteen receiving A variety of liorticultural topics J th insqemble to di” hm ’thC‘ icorii, oats and limii. The grains . . . e r '. :* - rr . : i - * - will be disciissed and the annual, I I .1 ‘L ,'"e I . WI" 1”‘-\"“[ “‘l_“"1 l”"'t-" ll)’ “"‘1.‘—€l1t- > it. uties an upon them )_y the‘, In ery two years the people i 1.4%}, 10», ,.,.(.,.1\-,.;.; an t1,,.,.1,,\-{.1-lmy W,’-[MW for one ‘ qr \ L ‘in n, th s t . t . .11 I . 1 f I t t ;people of Mic-liigan, can do no bet- a 011003“ H1911‘ l'9ll}"’S9llt“t1"95 111 ill" . that it will cat up clean, and an r. ‘C. v*\' .~c( ccc - i ~ -- -- _ _ I -,. .. - -.--. .-.--1 . of Eliot's works.‘ 7 ‘ It tU].t1Ol.] “1, ii 1.)” _ '0. I. 18 S d ,uS tcr service. than to listen to these f_'.“_“'V‘ h_(:“”{ Bf (’1‘"'3“:“ ‘”."_% ‘t“_[-‘V I ”l1"“'“W't‘ "f "“*‘ l’=’l1l'1“l"fl""’l»" P” i ng To an). Om m,di,,g 3,, ,,,.,;. _,,,,,_ ;of ,\T1(‘il1gfll1 s fruit cxhibit at tiic 3 Voiws and to mngider H1086 , six _\eais. t iioug 1 state t‘_L{‘lS'H. mes (lay f,,,- ,.,,,_.1, 1,,,,,},. 111,. ,.m1,.m»0r samba;-s for one year we \\ill sciid l)ickcnv_., “folqdas Fail,’ mm H“, premium list; .'li_l1l0S(x. Off tho 1l1)IL)‘ll‘1I1()TZ‘A?1(".(,]%?:ln:lte~ has Mm“ t” (_(mdm_t mp (_xpe,.i[11¢>i1t ‘ ~‘ ‘Vt-'I'\' our years t ie iie ‘..\’ccu- complete works. , _ 1 1 f=Wi:~slic.<. V~ T" -‘"3’ one -‘cndin:_: 3o m~:.:~ .m/I.~'rri//- ‘ of the horticultiiia l t'}).«l1illlt*I1i3 " ,‘ Have the farincrs tlie man of. five. and tlirougli him the iiieiiiber.-a of the Suprcnie (lourt who .'ll'c l Entered:-it ti P totfi .-t L: ' ,‘\I“l.,W Second cimiiimii? °°" ”"““"' ‘ ”“ ‘”’ Our 0ll'ers. I. For one new iiamc for one ycar wc will send :1 copy of /A’/ark /i’rm//_i'_ II. To any one sending in 5 m»:;' 51(11- srrrbcrs for onc year we will sciid the V15- ITOR onc vcar frm.-. . . 1[1_ To any Om. ,,.,,d;,,_._/f in ,5 ,,,.,._. ,.,,,,_ _‘elcct1oiiofofliccrs will occur. Mucli THE l‘EOI’l.E RULE. as iicarly uiiilcr ll\'(‘l'll.‘_{t‘ conditions as ]lH:~‘>'ll)lt', in a fci-iliiig trial d1ir- ers for one vczu‘ and .f:_;.ri_o we will send Ili , ‘ ‘ . .' , - ' - . . . _ , , . tin, Ian will l)t, for ]1]sI)l,Li on. . ing the \\‘lllii‘l‘ of l.\‘.ll-fill.’ rcsults VVebster or ‘.Vorcc.~tci‘ l)ictioiiar_v. Ur wc ‘ _ .;~ 3-°~ i(‘OlIllll¢’ill(llllf_; ability thus to ri-pi'c- will seiid the sillllc for (:0 1147:’ /In///r.»'_ VI. For 80 m-:;' .w/».\‘rri/aw» for one _vc:ii' and $1000 we will send the C()lliI)2llllr)ll: organ. Or we will sund it for 120 um.- su[2.crn'/rc/'.~ for one vczir. [i’r'1)1z'I/1/21')‘, flll_\' fiill .~iil)~‘(:i‘i',itioii.< .\L'llt in i before Jan. 1 will bc itrcdilcd to _[:xii., D4. Do not scml fiiillnllx’, Send in your nziiiics as fast as you gt-t 1 them, with the iiioncv, stuiiiig wlizit pru- mium you arc workiiig for. BcC«_ri/1 now, Black Beauty for one new name. Look out for our next iiiiiiibcixf It may interest you especially. How many Graiigcs 8.l‘t‘.StI1(lyll]§_{‘ our papers on Political Ecoiiomy?j . . . l If your coiniiiunicatioii is left; out, remember that we are crowded - l for space Just now. i Lack of space forbids as long an account of National Grange as we ' had hoped to give. Orders for “Black Beauty” con- tinue to come in rapidly. Are you not going to have one? This issue appears early so as to have it out of the way when State Grange meets. Reports will ap- pear in the Jan. 1 number. We make no apology for substi- very lllit'l'(,‘a'illlf_’,' pi'oj_»‘raiii has been ‘p1'cpm'c(l. Chief Hziiiiiicls, Prof. ‘.[“illl'(‘llll1l and S. D. Willui-<1 of Geiicva, N. Y.,willbc presciit. \\'ill also be :i'»HiI't'll1]— ing and sympathies and acts sccni yto iiiakc him the farmer’s rcp- mcseiitative. But let the peoplc is[)cul( their choice who ever it ,‘inay be, and let the ineinbcrs inf the legislature not dare to ‘act contrary to the wishes of the E llltt‘lllf_,"€,I)i»8.ll(l substiiutial voters of §Micliigaii. \Ve plead for no man i but for what seems the interests of - the farmers. And the legislators iuust sink personal wishes if not in accord with the people’s wishes and desires. .\'A'[‘IONAL GRANG E. The National Grange met at Concord, N. H., Nov. 16, and con- tinued iii session eight days. The city had been finely decorated for the reception of delegates. The meeting was one of intense interest, perhaps the most‘ interestiiig ever held. Among the pleasures was a trip to Mt. Washington and a visit to the immense cotton mills of Manchester. Bro. Brigham had a ringing address. The report of Worthy Gate Keeper, Ava Page, of Missouri. was much admired. \V e present portions of the Master's address. EDUCATIONAL INFLIIENCE OF THE GRANGE. Education is the great central object of our Order. It is our pur- pose to teach better methods in all branches of our work including all And blind must be the man who does not see that great progress has been made although the work has but just begun. \Vt)l\IAN’S WORK IN THE GRANGE. The work already accomplislied by the committee on lVoman”s VVork has demonstrated the wisdom of continuing the committee, and of extending all the aid and en- couragement which we can possibly give. The details of the work of the National committee will appear in the report which will be submit- ted and published with our pro- ceedings. CAPITAL AND LABOR. The farmers are deeply interest- ed in the relations -which exist be- tween the employer and eniployé in this country, and we View with apprehension the disagreements which are too frequent for the best interests of all. Believing as we do that the “laborer is worthy of his hire” and that steady employment, at fair wages, is of vital importance, not only to the laborer and his family but to all of our people, we depre- cate all disposition on the part of greedy corporations to reduce the pay of workmen except when declining prices make it absolutely iiecessary in order to avoid serious loss. We believe that employers can 1 better afford to accept losses which 3 result from temporary causes, than to provoke a conflict with the men whose labor in former years brought great profit to the employer. We have no sympathy with organized capital, when its power is used to destroy organizations formed to promote the interests of workmen. Yes, we think 5 that pertains to good citizeiisliip- l.2lp})lJllliIl‘(l to rcpl.-icc those who diiw , or I‘<*:«'l}_I11. V All iiatioiial lcgislatioii ll)ll.il.-x _iVic\\'.s‘ of thc people and carry out ,llic policy 'in(lorscd by thcni at thc fbaliot liox, wlicrc every citizcn is :1 t . - A ésovcrcigii. This systi-iii of govern- niciit seems to afford perfect secur- iity to illv people. i The one objcctioii which nriy bc urgcd with some forcc is the fre- quent cliaiiges of policy i'ciidercrl possilile by the short time which elapscs between clcctioiis. The country can hardly entcr upon oiic line of policy and can certaiiily give it no fair trial, before the pro- ple have an opportunity to change their minds and declare in favor of some other course. It is proliablc that a longer time between general prosperity. ' ARID LANDS OF THE WEST. I again call your attention to the fact that tliere seems to be a well defined purpose upon the part of interested persons to induce the government to expend large sums of money in the irrigation of the dry lands of the ‘Vest; and it will be well for the farmers to take note of the fact. ‘Vs have no doubt that the time will come when these lands will be needed to sustain the increasing population of our country, and the world; but it is very certain that i they are not now needed. There is ialready more land under cultiva- l tioii than can be farmed with profit; ;and we should insist upon it, that $110 money belonging to the people be expended at this time to bring under cultivatioii, lands not needed and which will return little or no profit to those who cultivate the same, and will still further reduce the profit of those who now find it difficult to dispose of surplus crops at fair prices. FINANCIAL oUEs'r1oN. It is not the province of our Order to interfere with the free- dom of, or dictate what any mem- ber shall believe upon any eco- nomic question, but rather to en- courage investigation and thought, whilst at the same time we counsel coiiservative action wlien_ import- ant changes are proposed. "It is oftimcs better to endure the ills we suffer, rather than fly to those we know not of.” The farmers are vitally interested in all questions relating to the circulating medium of the country; and full and free discussion of everything pertaining thereto is de- sirable. We should avoid all re- flections upon the patriotism, or integrity of those who differ with our views; recognizing the fight of every man to his own opinions. We should urge all, however, to investigate for themselves rather EXPERIMENT IN FEEDING SHEEP. F. B. MUMFORD. The business of fattening lambs is rapidly becoming one of Michi- gan’s most profitable enterprises; and any experiments tending to lessen the cost of production with- out decreasing the value of the pro- duct will appeal to all feeders. Experiment stations have not given the same attention to the econom- icai production of mutton, that they have to the production of beef and pork. The Michigan station, there- g(}«iiigi'i-ss is expected to 1‘<'llcI.'i tlic; elections would be conducive to. than adopt the opinions of others. I scciiicd to ll11li(‘2li<‘ that roots were vcry vai1iz1bl<- for piittiiig an aiiiiiieil iii priiiic comlitioii. and do- ‘iiig it chi-ziply. \\'c arc continiiiiig he sziizic l'.\’])I*l'lllli'lli «hiring the pri-~:«-iit S4‘tl.\'i\ll anal shall watch the .l't'>'llil with much iiiti-rc.~'t. Many 'l':irni»-i'.< lu-licvc Ilia! silage is not a .~;:it'c fooil foixslici-ii,c>:pc<-inlly breed- iiiig cwcs, We fr-il it with iinirked 1sui-co-astofatii-iiiiigsliccpduringthe wiiitcrol‘ lt~;".ll-‘.l'.’. and our lii'ccdiiig , c\vcs.fi-ii :1liniiti-ilziniount.:ipp:ircnt- ‘lywiiitcrcdwell. \\'i-sliallthoi'ougli- ly iii\'.~sligatc this iinittcr of silage lfill‘l)l'(‘t‘tlllIgf‘\\'t’H:lll(l bc prcp:ii‘cil to publish the results of our iiivcsti- gatioiis. Many fccdcrs arc usiiiga. ;"sclf-t'cc(l” for fatlciiiiig sliccp, 1'. 0., grain kc-pt l)é‘fi)l‘i‘ aniiiials at all tinics. This siilijcct will also claim :1 sliare of our atteiition. .\'0Tl‘IS FINHI 'I'Ill'l FIELI). Monday. Nov. ‘AH, at 12.37 we stepped otftlietraiii at -loiics, (lass county, and recogiiize(l Bro. E. J. Stover, a deputy who took us in cliarge and to his home in Ncwburg. At evening we went to the Norton school house and were greeted by a very attentive audience who seemed glad to learn of the work of our Order. Several signed the call to organize, and to give opportunity for some friends not present We agreed to meet then again the 21st of Deceniber. Tuesday evening was planned by our Brotlier for another favorable locality, but a letter cainc stating the iieccssity to postpone and askiiig us to come again. And then we went and called out Newburg Cciitcr Graiige and had a good iiici-ting—-oiily about a year and a half ago we spoke to a few liere, on a very storiiiy night, and now they report about .sixty with otliers coming riglit along, and they stand well up in line of tiliaiige work. Bro. C. IV. Poc and wife from hcre. will be with us at Lansing. Here are the fruits of (.-o("ipera- tioii in t.ra.de. They have bought twine, not only for themselves and neighbors, but tilled orders for local dealers who could buy of their purchasing agent clieapcr than else- where, while orders in wire, imple- ments, and other articles have always made a good showing. VVednesday was atrip to Penn and among the substantial farmers of Young’s Prairie, where a joint meeting was held with the Ladies’ Aid Society and the list of recruits was taken by good workers to secure the material for a first class Grange and another appointment made. Thursday we were taken to the home of Gideon Hebron, and in the evening met a fine gathering of people at the Porter town hall and quite a large list of old members and new applicants pledges to put Porter Grange in working order i again by our assistance on the 20th. V Friday, our next field was Mott- gville where a Grange Hall with an lorgan and other furniture of the lold Grange is idle. Some calls among the old members show quite an interest, but a severe cold rain, afternoon and evening, dampened our prospects here for the present, and early Saturday morning we were otf for home but counting on Cass county to be found in front line of Grange work before long. If some of the other county deputies would look about and put in the work as Bro. Stover they will find as good fields -ready. Wont you try it NOW? A. J. CROSBY JR. F ,,,. .i. .-i I»...-. '-|‘».b-in-i.:.*i..» . % ix . if ~__ --M ~:-*-’~‘s-~!;fl-4;~;~f-"_ h ,__ fl .;I._:,,,<,,__.... _ /x"'_ DECEMBER 15, 1892. THE GRANGE VISITOR. 5 TWO STATESMEN. We extract the following from the N. Y. Sun. It is a tribute from the great editor to the great states- man; We make room for the following letter because it seems to be dictat- ed and animated by a sincere desire for the acquisition of knowledge: Sir: "VVill you tell us whether Gladstone, the Premier of Eng- land, is a greater statesman than our own Blaine? How d ) they compare in all-arouiid intelligence, by which I mean scholarly attain- ments, as leaders of political part- ies, thinkers, writers, orators, and men? These questions are 1’. re re- sult of several arguments by two of THE SI':\"s readers, and, to settle the matter, we have decided to abide by your decision. Itespectfully. STILL ALARM. Alas! how could we find time to; answer these comprehensive ques— ; tions in a satisfactory way? cannot. In statesmanship the American takes rank with the Englishman. They both possess political ability of a high order. In their mental qualities the two men do not re- seinble each other. \Vc areinclin- ed to think that if Blaine had been in Gladstone"s place his manship would have been better and stronger than We ‘ do “the gates of Castle Garden swing open inwardly only?” As a result of an investigation into the condition of labor in con- nection with the United States census of 1880, Mr. Edward Atkin- son, the economist, reports that in twenty years the yearly wages of skilled labor rose from an average of $460 to $720. If the cost of liv- ing increased in the same ratio, the wage earner was not benefited by the advance in wages. Did it? 011 the contrary the same autlior- , ity tells us that instead of a rise in the prices of the necessaries of life there was a fall along the line, ranging from twenty six to forty- six per cent. Assuming the aver- age decline to be thirty per cent. the purchasing power of a day’s labor in 1880 was more than twice as great as it was in 1860. “ihat $460, the entire yearly wages of skilled labor, would buy of the necessaries in 1860 cost only $322 in 1880, when the yearly wages Lhad advanced to $720. From 1880 states- 9 Gladstonc’s, . and that if Gladstone had been in § Bla1ne’s place his statesmanship. would have been inferior to Blaine’s. In party leadership, both Glad- stone aiid Blaine are shrewd and= skillful. Gladstone is a more patient and less impulsive man than Blaine, who has a holder and more ardent spirit than Gladstone. Gladstone, whose career has been far longer than Blaine’s, has often been placed in more trying situa- tions, as a politician, than Blaine was ever placed in. Blaine has made some blunders in his career; Gladstone has made ten times as many. As a party leader, Blaine has had a more enthusiastic body of adherents than Gladstone ever had at any time of his life. In party leadership as well as in statesmanship, Blaine is the peer of Gladstone. As speech-makers both Blaine and Gladstone stand well, or about on a level. Both of them are ready debaters. Blaine’s oratory is more rosy at times than Gladstone’s. In addressing a “miscellaneous audience,” Gladstone’s speech is less swaying than Blaine’s. Gladstone and Blaine are both able writers; that is to say, can write in an intelligible and impressive way; but neither of them takes tank with the masters of the liter- ary art. In what our correspondent calls “all-around intelligence or scholar- ly attainments,” Gladstone is greatly the superior of Blaine. In many branches of knowledge about which Blaine knows nothing, or hardly anything, Gladstone is a learned man. As an all-around scholar he is unsurpassed by any man in the world, and perhaps he is the foremost living man, a man without an equal, in general scholar- ship, a man who, in that respect, stands superior to any other poli- tician who ever lived. Our corres- pondent will oblige us by taking notice of the words that are here used. As a specialist in any given branch of knowledge, excepting, perhaps, constitutional and parlia- mentary law, Gladstone is far from the foremost rank, but no specialist compasses the great body learning like Gladstone. Blaine and Gladstone are not counterparts; they differ in natural traits and endowments. Each has the advantage of the other in some respects. ' Plutarch, in writing of the great men of old, was fond of drawing “comparisons and contrasts,” and this is something that would need to be done in fully answering our correspondent’s questions. Mr. Blaine may yet have a long public career. He is still in the prime of life. Not until the year 1913 will he be as old as Mr. Glad- stone now is. Before he reaches the end of his career, he may have the opportunity of winning renown above that of any other statesman of his time. SAVINGS OF LABORERS. Why are the laborers of the Old World flockingto our shores? Why to the present time the general trend of wages, and the cost of in-cessai'ies, has been in the same direction an increase in the pur- chasing power of the wages for a day’s labor. But what are skilled workmen doing with the advanc- ing surplus of their earnings over their decreasing expenditures for, necessaiics? First, they are spend- ing more than ever before for arti- cles of comfort. and even luxury: they are living on a higher plane. Articles once considered luxuries liave become necessities. Some, indeed. spend all their earnings on better living. Second, workmen are saving more money than they did a quarter of a century ago. The increasing accumulations in the savings banks of the country attest this. The annual report of the Bureau of Statistics of New Jersey shows that from 1800 to 1891 the number of shareholders in the buildingassociations of that state have increased almost ten percent. During the same year the net assets of the associations increased from $22,013,892 to 325,- 606,373, a gain of over sixteen per cent. Twenty-seven hundred new homes were built by the working people of the state against twenty- one hundred the year previous. Deposits in the savings banks of the state have also greatly increased. These deposits increased from 3532,- 462,603 to $33,807,634 in one year. Including the savings represented in the new homes with the depos- its in building associations and savings banks, the workmen of New Jersey added in one year to their savings of labor about $5,- 000,000. In the savings banks of the state of New York there are ‘ deposited $600,000,000, niiie—tenths or which belong to wage earners. In the last six months these depos- its increased over $10,000,000, and in the last three years they have increased $8-').000,000. In a single year $18,780,720 were added to the deposits in the building and loan associations of the the state. The record of the savings banks of the state of Massachusetts is equally good. The reports of the Senate Finance Committee and the Com- missioners of Labors of the states of Massachusetts and New York all show that wages are increasing and the cost of necessaries is diminish- ing, but a better test of the real condition of labor at the present time is the record of the savings of labor.——E.r. AN OPEN LE'l‘TER. Old Jllission, Dec. 3, 18.92. Bno. HENRY VORHEES, DEAR SIR: —To your first question, “Why not tax air, water, etc.,” were they subjects of monopoly, as is the land, the principle would apply. Thank Heaven, they cannot be monopolized, else would the people begin to die on the morrow from inability to pay the air bills. Bear in mind, the object of the single tax is to free the land to the user. If commodities of labor are taxed, they become dear. Tell me why, the more you tax land the more if chcapens‘? Sim- ply, it is a. fixed quantity. Now by the single tax we destroy the incentive to hold land from use. If you wish to purchase land, the tax becomes an important factor in the consideration. You should know that “Econ- omic Rent,” rent for use of land, is constantly taken, and by private individuals for private purposes. This tax is designed to divest this rental value from the individual to the community, or state, and for public purposes, not only dis- couragin r the monopoly of land. but at the same time the commun- ity appropriates what it makes. All selling, or rental values, land val- ues, are made by the present needs and labor of the surrounding com- munity, and should belong to those who create it, not the “dog in the manger,” who keeps from use, for the increase which the community icreates. l Justice to the people requires ithat this value shall go to the jcommunity for common purposes, lschools, bridges. roads, any needed Which we are making. \ 5ou,§ir"° limproveinents. I see that you . fall into the mistake. with other ; %l10neSti11qi1irers, that the farinerj I is the one who owns the land. and lyou at once come to the conclusion I fthat such taxation would be disas-7 .j trons to him, while others of great l, wealth are free from taxation. l The farmers, measured by the l Value of their lands, are the lcusl l /mlrlr-rs of all. The land value of} iliiiigs county, N. Y.. is, more 3 than whole states. ‘ So everywln-i'e an exainination of l lland values in business centcrsl jwill at once dispel the idea that‘ I the burden would be ontl1ef;n~mei-_ 3 I Were the single tax in etfcct today 3 {the cities would pay the bulk of‘, tie taxatioii; as they should, from; their immense land values. lix-i amine for yourself and see what} they pay under the present. system of aiming at everything. 1 By actual returns, Cliicagois; personal property is falling otf. ‘, The farniers have been mislead in this personal proper‘y taxation. ; They vainly imagine that by strin- , gent laws they can reach the wealth t of the cities, but it has ever been a 7 “will 0’ the wisp,” eluding them.‘ But it came home every time, and farmers, whose property is all in sight, have had to pay their share, and more. Read the last report from the Labor Bureau of this state, and carefully study the fig- ures and diagrams, which conclu- sively show that were the farmers of the state of Michigan taxed only on land values, they would be the gainers. \Vhere is the man who can show its falsity? The old Roman power tried tor- ture to make mi.-r. tell what they possessed. Can we, by swearing them, make them tell? The facts of all past experience are against you. You speak of occupations, in‘ which, as you say, all these do not need one fact as a prime factor in their work. \Vliile to the farmer it is all-—everything. Now, why did you not kindly mention some one, just one, of these occupations; will you do so and oblige me? My friend, land is the first consideration in all classes of business, except the one you shall show. The more impor- tant the business as a money mak- ing factor, the more valuable is the land. This value reaches even he who hires a room, and he must pay his tribute to the landlord. This tribute must come, though all else fails. In conclusion, I will say, land—I use the term in its economic sense, the land as Creat- ive power has placed it here—~—is the first factor in all production; the basis of all labor. There can_ be no free labor without freedom of land. A largely increasing num- ber believe with me, that a single tax on land values will strongly tend to destroy land monopoly, the very basis of all other monopoly. Free the land, and men heretofore denied will turn to it, and the slaves of the factories, workshops and mines will disappear. They can employ themselves. Sincerely yours, L. UNDERHILL. Patrons can help keep up the paper R by patronizing our advertisers. STOCK MEETINGS. ‘Vs give notices of meetings of, we have not the programs. The annual meeting of the Micli- ; tion will be held at the Downey in Lansing, Tuesday Dec. 20 at 2 p. m. Breeders of Improved Live Stock met in Senate chamber Tuesday, Dec. 20, 9 a. 111. Jersey Association meets at Hud- son House, Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 2 p. m. The Ho1stein—Friesian association Monday, the 19th at 7.30 p. In. in Capitol. Red Polled Cat- tle Association the 21st. various stock associations of which i _ , igan Galloway Breeders Associa-l Hotel‘ . it , cf -.>t‘"'“D £4 * , ~iz CHARLES I5 FINE l6€l0ll6l°§ dllll EV6l°llll0llU We want to call your attention to the PREMIUM OFFERS Pick out what _von want most and go to work for it at once. A NEW Illustrated Set DIGKTENSTWORKS CLOTH VOLUMES. At the Price of Paper Covers ll HIS hanclsomc set of books is )l'lIll.l.'(l on rim ):l icr from clear . . l , . .1 l . clectrotypc plates and tinely illustrated. lhc lmidiiig is executed in the most handsome andsulistantizil manner. The l).:sl. binders‘ cloth is used and the embossing is in ink and gold, from original ilesign. Charles Dickens is eminently the novelist of the people. His works tccni with sliafts of sparkling wit, touches of pathos, thrusts of satire; his characters are original and real as well as quaint and grotesque; he uninasks vice in all its forms. shadows of life are delineated in a thrilling and (lrziniatic style. The li».hi~; and "lb own :1 coinplctc set of his incomparable books is to he possessed of an in»xhuustil»lc mine of interesting literature. No erson is well read who has not erused them. P P Oi.lviiR ’l‘wisr, l\'l.>\R'l‘lN‘ ('m'z7.i,i=,wi'r, 'l'Ar.i~:oi= 'l‘\vo Cirii-;s, l\'l<‘.l’l\'l.\"l’l-ll) l’ii«:cr'.s, 1’ici<\\'ici{ PM-i-:i2t‘. Blurry facloi'ics thus l1]lll{(*('l1('+*.\‘('2lll(l but- let‘ Ilillly duriii_<_; the sniiinicr. and butter, only. 01‘ ll(‘lll1(‘l' (lurin<_r the winter‘. In (i(‘l)l‘f_{l?l it is perfectly pmcticzililo to niake cliccsc 01' but- ter, or both. iir~i-lf_, . WM.SiAHL,0uin0y,lll‘ 5 $100.00 run $l.00 This is no green goods nnr loth-ry F('llein(‘. but (I fair business proposition. which we eiirry out as follows: Toimy person sutferingtrom l'll.llS in iuiy form . we offal‘ the new l.1IS(‘0Vt'|'y in in(‘lli('lllI‘. :i euiiihined external and internal treatinent known as tho PYRAMID PILE Gilli nn absoliiteiy certain cure for Bi.i.\'D. Ri.F5F.DlSll. I’l‘l‘llllIG Ind PRIYTIKUDING l'H.IC.‘l. Gives lN.‘l'l‘.\.\"|' Rlililltli. A l’|ilUlASil.\"l‘ l'l.'lH<:. So iiiiriiilt-ss. it (‘till he used by it child with pi-i'fo-I-tsiifl-Iy. mid 1vil(‘[)lI1'kiIL{t‘ on-link ONE DOLLAR WILL 00 V01‘ ONE IIl‘l\'l)lllCl) IKILLARS WOIITII OF H000. at least this is the lioiii-stly o.\'prl>s.se«l opiiiioii oi‘ hundreds who have luwii viii-i-d by it in the past year DU MY!‘ SL1‘!-‘itit A DAY l.0.\'<.‘l<:R. hut. risk your drum:ist !orit,or we will send it pus aid for $1.00. or asmim triiilpiickane I-‘ltlcl-I fur moi-. iil.Nli|in|iN' uisoeivaluable hook teillni: all .-iluiiit ]l|ll'-I HI‘!!! fr:-i-. Address l{.~\.\lll) (1).. Al.l3l0.\. MICE in writing: iii:-iition THE til{\.\'iiii1 \'isi'i'ou. MOSCOW, MICHIGAN BAY CITY, MICK Iiiipuirti-r and nY('(‘lll'l' «.1 HEREFORD CATTLE and SHROPSHIRE SHEEP lllllL'(‘ stock of both kinds fnrs.Ilt'. l’l‘li'&‘~ l'<'i|*'I|l- able. ('1ii'i'i-spiiiiiliiiirr solicit:-il. \\ c now offer Fifty IllI]iUi'l.£'(l Yr-.irliii«_1 l‘.\\'(:\‘ from the lies! liiiglisli l“ln:'l\s. l‘l'('|l li<'f-ire lt.‘Zl\lii_‘_[ l‘:iIgl:lllll,( t. HI, to .~I|lll\‘ of tin lwsi stock rziins iii l‘.ll‘_;’i1lllll. .\l:-ii :i ft-\\ j_-i.iiul \ i)(‘l\' rams. ‘ THE WILLOWS PAW PAW, MICK N0ll.l‘lAl. (‘.0l.l.l§GE F l l\"l‘ A 1 A .\.\'D liIlSlNl€SlS IN!-l'['I'l‘U'I‘E Is the place to l*Idiir‘:itc- your Boys and Girls. JAMES M. TURNER, Prop Ni-iul for lrlli‘ lliltbli. ti. ll. Sll'.lllTllill'T. I. .ll.. l'l'lllt’l[liil. in writing inentinii ’l‘iii«; (ili:\.\’i'il«1 Vit~‘i'I‘()l£ nd Shropshire Sheep 1 4 ' 1 FOR sALE\_—- .\ fr\\' 1_f4|(7(l1Il§_">l-l‘l|iI\ lllI' llil|sll.ili- (‘uiililvi llirilnl Polaiill ('hin;i Hogs. (an flll'ill\ll‘ pairs or trims ll(l[2tl\lll. liispt-rtioii of (Illl'liL'l'll‘ ~Hll('l1t‘il. or \\ri1i-. tlusrribiiig (‘lH.\I‘l\ \\h:it ‘ l you \\':int. and \.|ll\flll'llllli \\ iil l\t' '_vn:ir.iiitvt-ll. Lansi ng, Mich. \'t..rl\ i‘:-I-mill-ti in U. l’. C. li. -‘ JOHN BOwDITCHl I-Iillsdale, Michigan ,1 l’irt~t-cli-i‘ of Shoi-thorn Cattlei American Merinol and Shropshire Sheep H. A. BOWIE Proprietor PUT YOUR iNouia,,§,EjSf".I, The and TRAVERSE BAY wR,.,.,NG AND SEND-T Peopleas L ofi - ‘ ‘ ‘ - ' ' . ans n BPSORTS _GEO..DeHAVE , GE”“"“““-‘°“-" Savlngs Michg CHICAGO ' Bank and WEST MICHIGAN _ _ M lilustrahsd H_, A x Q DETROIT 9 QQV Capital, $15o.ooo.oo LANSING 4 .4‘ " Q V Q‘ : __ and NORTHERN -- ~ Q Q § .w BM, P _d_t RAILROAD 3T0" $35-°““""°'v-"w"'°'““””°'= A.‘ VV’4I‘LI‘3‘UR,reS\lr'i:::] President The West Michigan is now in opera- tion to Bay View, and is the ONLY ALL RAIL LINE T0 GHARLEVOIX Through sleeping and parlor car ser- vice from Chicago, Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids to Petoskey and Bay View. THE SCENIC. LINE (ii AN TRIAL-FREIGHT PAID-WARRANTEI JSGOUD & THOMPSON, Binghamfan. N. l I Address J. C. GOULD, Ag‘t, Paw Paw, Mich. I WIRE STRETCHERS. Fence costs 25 cents per rod. Write for circular. I ic. H. OSBAND, Cashier eneral li:|lIkliiL’l)uS1i]ESS. Pay eposits. If you have any bank- . . i “Xe traiisact :1 In writing mentlon THE GRANGE VISITOR. 3 interest on time ‘- l ing liiisiiiess come and see us. $ ADA‘r(Fm.me,. preferred) In writing mention THE GRANGE VISITOR. in each county. selling 5——- IANT WIRE I-‘E.\'CE and T. J. ANDRE. Wanseon, 0. Over forty miles of beautiful lake and river views north of Traverse City. Try it when you go north this summer FRANK TOWNSEND, GEO. Di«:H.AvI:N_. Agent, Lansing ,5 ‘._Gen’l Pass’r Agt., Grand Rapids. Hatch chickens by steam. IMPROVED EXCELSIUB IIICIJBATOB Willdolt Thonsondain . Iuooeufnu oper- ation. Simple, P-»rI‘ecmml .\‘rIr‘.I(e_qum(ing. ,,c Lowest-pnoed first-cine Hatchet mad: ml nu Guaranteed to hatch ll 1 1- percentage of fertile sags at less cost. t an my other. Sand 60. for min. Olhlog. um. 11. s'niu., Quincy. lll. PRESSES OF ROBERT SMITH 8: CO., LANSING, MICE. HOTEL I DOWNEY Lansing, Mich. ,iAGENTS WANTED The Little Giant Educator §’1‘he Greatest Novelty Out I *Agents’ Sales now running $Ioo to $275 Headquarters per week for the Grange Address l POWERS BROTHERS CHICAGO, ILL , Va.1I7l§I1‘i-sen St ‘ In writing mention THE GRANGE Vrsrron