ISSUED SEM I.

‘SEE EXECUTIVE

[Kalamazoo Publishing Go.‘s Prlnt.]

Michigan State

VOL. 4,—No. 24
WHOLE No 80.

MONTHLY

COMMITTEE 

Grange, P. of H,

SCHOOLCRAFT, DECEMBER 15:11, 1879.

,2 Y_OUn Susscmrrron
will Expire with N o,

Entered at the Post Office at School-
cratt as Second Class matter.

(ii-mt’vi: Giant. 4-ljcpartmcnt.

THE GRANGE VISITOR,

Is Published on the First and Fifteenth of
every Month
AT FIFTY CENTS PER ANNUM,

invariably in Advance.

J. T. COBB.
To whom all communications should be ad-
dressed, at Schoolcraft, Mich.

Remittances should be by Registered Letter,
Money Order or Draft.

Editor and Manager.

Runs on ADVERTISING:
Acceptable advertisements inserted at the
rate of 81.00 per square, for each insertion.

A Liberal discount will be made on standing
advertisements of three months or more.

Wafiicers National Grange.

Mxsrnn-J. J. WOODMAN, Michigan.
0VEBSEEB— PUT. DARDEN, Mississippi.
LEcTuEnn——HENRY ESHBAUGH, Mo.
S'l'EWAED—A. J. VAUGHN . Miss.

Assr. STEWABD—WILLIAM SIMS, Kansas.
ClIAPLAIN—S. H. ELLIS, Ohio.
TnEAsuREB.—F. M. MCDOWELL, N. Y.
SEcnnTAnY—Wm. M. IRELAND,Wash’ton,D.C.
GATE-KEEi>sR—-0. DINWIDDIE, Indiana.
CEsEs——Mss. J . J. WOODMAN, Mich.
POMONA-MR5. PUT. DARDEN, Mississippi.
FLOBA—MBS. J. W. NICHOLS, N. J.

LADY Assrisuxr STEWABD-—MRB. WILLIAM

SIMS, Kansas.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE :

D. Wr.s.'ri' AKIN, So. Carolina; H. JAMES, Ind.;
W. G. WAYNE, New York.

officers Michigan State Grange.
Paw Paw.
- Adrian.

M.—J. J. WOODMAN, - -
0.—THOS. F. MOORE, - -
L.—-C. L. WHITNEY, - - Muskegon.
S.——S. A. TOOKER, - - - Lansing.
A. S.—A. E. GREEN, - - Farmington.
C.—SALMON STEEL, Monroe Cen. Gr. Tr.Co
'I‘.—S. F. BROWN, - - Schoolcraft.
SEc.—J. T. COBB, - - - “
G. K.—A. N. WOODRUFF, - Watervliet.
CEBEs.—Mns. C. L. WHITNEY, Muskegon.
POMONA—MBS. GaW. EWING, Ross, Kent Co.
FLoi2A—Mizs. J. J. WOODMAN, Paw Paw.
L. A. S.——MB.S. A. E. GREEN, Farmington.

Executive committee-

-I. WEBSTER CHILDS, Chairman, Ypsilanti.
F. M. HOLLOWAY, - - Hillsdale.
C. G. LUCE, - - Gilead, Branch 00.
WESTBROOK DIVINE, Belding, Ionia Co.
THOMAS MARS, Berrien Center, Berrien Co.
WM. SATTERLEE, Birmingham, Oakland Co.
J. Q. A. BURRINGTON, Tuscola, Tuscola 00.
J. J. WOODMAN, J. T. COBB, - Ex. Ofiicio.

State Business Agents,

GEO. W. HILL & co., - -
THOMAS MASON, - — -

Detroit.
Chicago.

General Deputy.

C. L. WHITNEY, ’ - - - Muskegon.

Special Lecturers.

Thos. er. Moore, .... ..Adrian,. ....Lenawee Co
(,}°°- W. Woodward. .Shelby. . . . . . . .Oceana _Co
Nmuel Laiigdon, ..Bowen Station,...Kent Co
E. C. Harrington, . . .Four I‘owns,. .Oakland 00
M. L. Stevens, . . . . . . .Perry,.. . . Shiawasseé Co
' 3- Bl'0W11..... awsonville,..Washtenaw Co
Andrew Ca.mpbell,. .Ypsilanti,. . “ “
Mrs. S. Steele,..Monr0e Centre.. .G.Tra.v’se Co

WI-2 want to print a list of the

ranges in Michigan, with the names
01' Master and Secretary-elect for
l_880.and their post-oflice, at the ear-
liest moment practicable. This is so
°“‘-‘H neglected that we wish to call
the attention of Masters to this mat-
ter. and ask them to see to it that the
“lines are promptly reported.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COM-
MI’I'l.‘EE

To the jllaster and Members of the 1lIich-
igan State Grange :

In presenting the seventh annual
report of the Executive Committee‘, we
have depart-ed somewhat from former
custom, for the purpose of avoiding
repetition and sameness with reports
from ofiicers of the State Grange.

The law creating and defining the
duties of the Executive Committee con-
templates a general supervision only,of
the work enjoined on the officers of the
Grange, and to look after and provide
for the wants and necessities of the 01'-
der in the State during recess of the
Grange.

VVe will not rehearse to you a long
financial report as heretofore, but give
you facts as they have transpired before
us, and the legitimate deductions de-
rived therefrom.

Our Committee was organized in the
cloak room of this hall December 13th,
1878, at the close of the State Grange.

\Ve were not unmindful of the fact
that almost every petition or resolution
presented to the State Grange pertain-
ing to legislation, State or National,
had been referred to the Executive
Committee, for them to take action for
carrying the several matters so referred
into effect.

VVith a desire to meet the wishes of
as many of our Order as possible we
caused petitions to be drafted, printed
and forwarded to every Grange in the
State, covering the oil question, appeal
from justice courts, fees in foreclosure
of mortgages, probate court proceed-
ings, interest, assesment laws, railroad
restrictions and provisions for ladies at
the Agricultural College. These peti-
tions were signed with a unaniminity
unprecedented, and promptly returned
to the Legislature.

So prompt, indeed, and with such
numerical strength from all parts of the
State, that many members in both

ranches of that body, who were not
members of our Order, saw the force of
the evils complained of, and with zeal
and fidelity for the right, labored un-
ceasingly in the interest of the peti-
tions, and we doubt not that all such
personal efforts will be appreciated by
members of the Order coming. from
whom they may, whether within or
without the Gates.

Yourcommittee are impressed with
the belief that the Grange erred in ask-
ing for so many things at once. Had
they confined their Work to three or four
of the most oppressive burdens they
would have been more successful ; as it
now stands,they have only the chill test
law on illuminating oils repealed, and in

its stead a flash test of 120° Earenheit.

Our petitions to the National legisla-
ture, are, so far as we know sleeping the
sleep that knows no waking. _ _

Your committee received notice April
6th from J. M. (jhidester, State Agent at
Detroit, that he would be obliged to
throw up the Agency on the 1st of May
to engage in other business, and on his
recommendation the Agency was trans-
ferred to Geo. VV. Hall and Alphonso
Platt, under the firm name of G. W.
Hall & Co. Bonds were taken in the
sum of $10,000 for the faithful discharge
of the trusts confided to_ them. The
terms of the contract were in all particu-
lars the same as made with Mr. Chides-

ter. .

The Chicago _Agency remains the
same aslast year in the management Of
Bro Thomas Mason. Neil-he!‘ 01' 'f-11939
A ehcles is doing as much business fol‘
thge Order in the State as their merit de-
mands. It isnot their fault, nor is it a

lack of confidence in the men, but from
the ever changing methods of the
American people in doing business.
The practices in vogue a few years ago
when prices were all unsettled left the
farmers at the mercy of speculators,
middlemen and monopolies. Another
cause operating again st the business
of the Agencies may be found in
the many co-operative stores that have
sprung up in the State since the Grange
movement began. These are increas-
ing yearly, and are a great convenience,
especially when connected with a good
Grange hall, in which case they prove
nearly inexpensive. and become the
medium ofexchange for many neigh-
borhoods.

Ourcontract with Messrs Day &. Tay-
lor for plaster expired with the last plas-
ter season. VVe are pleased to announce
to you that we have closed another con-
tract with the same parties for 9. term of
five years. This is based on a sliding
scale: for the first year it is not to ex-
ceed $1.50 per ton aboard cars at the
mill or at Grand Rapids. This is a sav-
ing to the purchaser: (if his plaster has
to be run through the city), over the
con tract of the last two years of one dol-
lar per ton. It will operate the same
with all parties living along the line of
the Michigan Southern Railroad if they
will order their plaster shipped from
Grandville station on said road.

For the next four years the maximum
price shall not exceed $2.50 at the mill,
aboard cars, or at Grand Rapids, or
Grandville station, being the same that
it has;‘cost for the two years past. \Vhat
the minimum price may be in any of
these years for which the contract runs
no one can tell.

Our Brothers, Day & Taylor, went in-
to this business at the instigation of this
Executive Committee to break down
one ofthe most uncalled for monopolies
that was ever undertaked to be formed
in the State. The fight has been kept
up to the present, how much longer it
will continue, none can tell.

It gives us little concern as to their
next move. If they offer you plaster at
one dollar a ton as they have to some
in the past, we believe you will treat all
such offers with silent contempt.
Their siren songs, sung never so sweetly
will have no charms to captivate a true
Patron, whose every pulse beats with
fidelity to the noble aims and purposes
of our Order.

In our last report We stated that
there was yet due and unpaid from J.
H. Gardnei',former State Agent,the sum
of $249.35. This sum. he refused to pay
except in goods. This treatment of an
honest debt in, the face of a specific con-
tract, caused surprise on the part of
those who had the business in charge,
and they referred the whole matter to
the last State Grange. 1 our committee
were instructed by resolution from that
body to effect a compromise with Bro.
Gardner. _

After labored efforts and expense in
time and travel we secured a settlement
on the basis of his paying half cash and
half goods, at his purchasing price two
years before. The total amount due
from Bro. Gardner Dec. 1st, 1848, was
$1,640.80, of which amount $1,011.21 was
received and included in the accounts
of last year,leavin2 a balance Of $39-3-39.
which was disposed as follows:
Paid Gardner for services . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash paid Holloway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash for goods taken and sold . . . . . . . . 69 66

Discount on goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 628 89

8 250 00
118 64
I90 69

Total...,..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

VVe desire to call your attention _to
what is known asfihe Patent 8395 5W‘“'
die, as it is a strlklllg example Illustra-
ting thorough and efficient co-OPS“;
tlon. Unprincipled men wlig set:-etwo
living without work, got ho 0 h
old patents issued many 39375 38° -‘7

the Patent Office on a species of sliding
gate. They commenced collecting roy.
alty on the same in the Eastern part of
the State, and moved along cheerfully
until they came upon members of our
Order. There they ran foul, and the
result was twenty-seven suits in the one
case on the Lee patent, and two in the
other on the Teal patent, all in the
United States Court in the city of De-
troit.

To meet this emergency, members of
our Order and others interested, formed
themselves into a mutual defense asso-
ciation in the city of Ypsilanti taxed
themselves heavily for funds to,defend
these suits, believing they were but a,
species of blackmailing, and at our last
State Grange called upon the Order in
the State to back them up, and, if nee-
essary, assist in the defense. Your
Committe at once called on County and
Subordinate Granges to appropriate
from their treasuries such sums as were
p_i'opQto be drawn upon if necessary to
aid in the defense. In response to our
call a large number of Granges respon-
ded, and a large amount was pledged.

In February last, a test case was tried
on the Lee patent, and decided in favor
of the defendants, on aplan of the same
published in the Amer-iccm Agricultur-
ist eleven months prior to date of pat-
ent.

In the Teal case it was tried in Sep-
temper last, and decided in favor of the
defendants on the ground of previous
use.

VVe learn that the expense of this de-
fense has been fully met by the defense
association, and that the Granges com-
ing to their aid are fully relieved from
their pledges made. -

VVe have made a prudent estimate of
the money that would have been taken
from the farmers of the State on these
two swindling claims, had they been
successful in their plan, of nearly half
a. million dollars. Is not this a sample
of co-operation worthy of the Order? Is
it not the carrying out in full of our
Declaration of Purposes ?

As sentinels placed on the out-posts
to guard every material interest of the
Order, We are gratified to know that
prosperity follows in the track of thor-
ough Grange Work; Our people are
fast learning the value of co-operation ;
that it means more than mere buying
and selling of commodities; that it
reaches even to our social and intellec-
tual wants, and wherever it has been
applied in its fullest significance, there
we see the Grange in all of its beauty
and strength contending for the right,
ang winnin g laurels to itself from __day
to ay.

But we would be unmindful of our
duty did we not look on both sides of
the picture. In our lastVIsI'roR we find
no less than 121 Secretaries who have
failed to make their quarterly returns
to the State oflice, some for three, others
for five and some for a dozen quarters,
some we found square on the books,
who had closed up as many as six quar-
ters at one time, others fail to make re-
turns of delegates elected to the State
Grange. These are practices, or rather
neglects that should not be longer tol-
erated. No brother or sister should ac-
cept a position in the Grange officially,
and take the solemn pledge to discharge
the duties of the office according to their
ability without living up to that pledge.
Better resign the office at once, than to
thus tamper with a known duty.

The perplexities springing from
such mismanagement to the State
Secretary are trying in the extreme.
If he charges up the dues every quarter
as required by the by-laws of the
Grange, he has to guess at the amount
and the chances are that it will not so-
cord with the report when it is received,
if it ever is. Another evil from this
neglect, he can ‘never know the true


2

standing ofthe Order in the State, a
certain number can be given, for their
returns are always on time, others are
wanting; what per cent. shall be count-
ed and what not is purely hypothetical.
May we not look for a better future in
the method of doing our official busi-
ness.

The publication of the VISITOR has
become an item of deep solicitation to
your committee. Prior to 1878 it was
deemed a work of necessity to dissemi-
nate business information, principally
to the members of the Order. Since
then it has not only served its original
purpose, but assumed and become an
activeand efiicientworker in the field
of literature, science and art, ranking
so far as its limited means will allow,
with the very best in the land. If we
consider it as a means of the Order for
the accomplishment of noble ends it
has been a success from the beginning.

If only in the light of dollars and cents,
a non-paying enterprise. VVho that
believes its mission to cater to these
mercenary motives.

From the Secretary’s report, which
has been fully verified by us, we find it
has made a saving of $464, if we do not
charge it with the expense of editing,
and your committee are not inclined
to make this charge against it, from the

fact that the difference in the salary
of the Secretary between editing or
not editing would hardly compensate
for the great benefits accruing to the Or-
der by its publication.

'l‘o your committee the Visrron looks
as though it was one of the strong
bands that holds us in fraternal
friendship, one of the agencies
brought into action for the advance-
ment of higher and nobler purposes,
through which our calling in life is made
equal with any other, we therefore rec-
ommend another enlargement for the
next volume equal to the savings of the
year just closed. This will add almost
a third to the size of the paper, which
would be devoted to reading matter, giv-
ing a fine field for contributors, and
making it equal in its selected matter to
any paper in the State. This plan seems
most favorable to your Committee.
It will not do to undertake a weekly
without doubling the subscription
price. To do this would defeat the pur-
pose sought-, by the falling off of sub-
scribers so much that but little, if any
addition would be made to the funds,
and it would require eithera new editor
or Secretary, as no one man could do the
work for both places, and do it well.

Your Conin1ittee,through their chair-
man, have verified the books and ac-
counts of Secretary Cobb for the fiscal
year, ending November 29th, and we
find them in all particulars correct and
agreeing with the report made to you
yesterday. And" we further find the
same system and order in his oflice and
with his books that we have heretofore
commended in him.

\Ve further find that Treasurer
Brown keeps the money coming into
his hands from the Secretary of the
Grange carefully deposited in bank, and
only draws on the same to meet regular
attested orders of Master countersigned
by the Secretary. _

In conclusion, your Committee feel to
congratulate the oflicers and members
of the Order in the State on the general
revival of the work in the Order.

There is a steady growing interest in
our GRANGE Vrsrron, requiring about
4,000 copies to fill the list on the mail-
ing books, showing conclusively that
our people are taking more and more
interest in the work of the Order.

Ithas been a year of great harmony
and peacein the Order, but one com-
plaint has been made which called for
action by your Committee. There was
nothing gross or criminal in this, a
mistake in action easily rectified.

There has been a growing interest on
the part of the leading members in the
Subordinate Grange, for its prosperity,
and the result is seen, with some finan-
cially, with others in social improve-
ments, and still others availing them-
selves of both. _

The more the Declaration of Purpos-
es is studied by us, the closer we govern
our actions by the rules of the Order,
the more beautiful to the senses appear
those graces, Faith, Hope; Charity, and
Fidelity, the corner stones on which
rests the super sructure of our Order.

Respectfully submitted.
’I‘. M. HoLLowAY,
Chairman of Committee.
j~<j 

v 1. ’ this would be a bad day
I0:EI1‘l:ll§£l:1[q)lf tl; drive pigs to market.———
The  reports “pork flrlrl.”

. ;..s.=-.....».n.s»«».l... —. ...

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

A TALE OF TWO BUCKETS.

Two buckets in an ancient well got talking
once together, '

And after sundry wise remarks, no doubt
about the weather-

“ Look here,” quoth one, “ this life we lead I
don’t exactly like ;

Upon my word I’m half inclined to venture on
a strike ;

For-do you mind? however full we both
come up the well,

We go down empty—-always shall, for aught
that I can tell.” '

"That's true,” the other said, “but then th
way it looks to me—-

However empty we go down, we come up full,
you see. ’

Wise little bucket !
life that way,

Would dwarf its ills and magnify its blessings
day by day. _ _

The world would be a happier place, since we
should all decide

Only the buckets full to count, and let the
empty slide.

If we each would look at

Qiummuuiratiunfi.

The Curse of Fashion and Iiitemperance.

Worthy Bro. Cobb: '

One wise and important feature, of
the Declaration ofPurposes adopted at
St. Louis by the National Grange, was
to discountenance the fashion system.

In no one sphere of life is there a
greater need of reform than in fashion ;
and I have been expecting for some
time that some of our good, sensible sis-
ters would agitate this question, and
try to inaugurate a reform in this re-
spect, but as little has been heard from
them I have concluded to offer a few
remarks on that question, hoping that
I may arouse others to act, and by

their influence a reform may finally be
effected.

Afew years ago this question was
discussed in the Grange, and members
generally comdemned it in strong lan-
guage as foolish, expensive, and injuri-
ous to the health and happiness of
those who support it.

Only a few days since I heard some
wives of farmers talking on this sub-
ject. One said: “I wish the fashion
would change so that eight. yards
would be sutficient for a dress, 1 want
to get rid of so many ruflies, so much
pleating, so much fixing that takes
so much time, attention, labor, and
expense.” “ Yes, I really do wish the
fashion would change,” remarked the
second lady. “we would all be better
for it.” “But,” says the third, “as
long as the fashions remain as they are
we will follow them more or less.”
VVhile these remarks were being made
the first speaker was fixing and fussing
and working at a dress that was coni-
posed partly of silk, and partly of some
other costly material. It was started
in adress-maker’s shop. It was ruf-
fled, plaited, and puckered, and gegaw-
ed. Days had been spent upon it, and
every few minutes the owner would
hold it up and ask, “ well, how does it
look ?” “will this answer? ” etc. And
after all the ex ense and time, it was a
hideous, home y shaped, inconvenient,
unhealthy article of dress.

These ladies, like the thousands of
others, were mere slaves to a fashion of
dress that they denounced in severe
terms as wrong, unwise, and pernicious
in its influence. They, like hundreds
of thousands of others, have not the
moral courage to do what they acknowl-
edge as wrong. Never were men more
completly under the control of King
Rum, than are women and some men
under the control of the tyrant fashion.

Thousands of women complain, and
justlv to, of men spending their time in
gambling dens, and squandering mon-
ey for poisonous whiskey which is
needed for the support of the family,all
which is true, but not a word is said by
them, or any complaint made about
the money that is squandered for the
tomfoolery of dress, of the time spent
in the process of putting together
that complicated article, and then in
as many instances before the article
is hardly soiled, rip it to pieces,
reconstruct it, requiring additional ex-
pense and time; and frequently fault-
finding, growling and ill words are
used, and nearly all for the sake of fash-
ionable dress. -

While men waste their time and
money in saloons, and drinking whis-
key, women, more than men, waste
their time and squander money follow-
the silly fashions. VVhile men are
poisoning their systems, creating dis-
ease by drinking whiskey, women are

poisoning themselves and producing

disease by an improper and unhealthy
style of dress. Neither can escape the
penalty of violating the physical law
which has been laid down by the Cr_e-
ator. Misery, disease and suffering will
be the consequence. I do not contend
that the fashion system is as pernicious
and injurious as liquor drinking, but
women ought to realize they are wast-
ing time and money uselessly as well as
men. Neither do I say that women
should discard fashionable styles alto-
gether, but they ought to feel it their
dut to dispense to a certain extent
with What they are willing to acknowl-
edge to be wrong and injurious.

Women can adopt a style of dress
reasonably cheap, that looks well, is
neat and tasty, and command the re-
spect and admiration of more people,
and a little better class of people than
those who admire the present style of
dress. These trailing street mops are
a nuisance, and are despised by all sen-
sible people, especially men. Vfomen
have no more moral right to squander
money for such useless appendages
than men have to spend money tor
whiskey.

Not that farmers’ wives have as good
a right as any other class to follow the
fashions, but can they afford it?
Thousands of families who are poor and
destitute to-day might have been in
good circumstances if they had saved
what they have spent foolishly for
games, liquor, or fashionable dress.

Liquor dealers keep their shops for
the purpose of accumulating money.
Fashion mongers and dealers change
the fashions, introduce new syles for
the sole purpose of accumulating mon-
ey. Large profits are put upon the
new styles. \Ve are furnishing the
money fito enrich that class. If we
would live more economically in this
respect and dare to do right, we would
have more time for enjoyment, more
time to visit each other and be better in
the end.

VVill not some of our sisters take hold
of this question, agitate it, and inaugu-
rate a reform, and farmers’ wives es-
tablish a fashion of their own that
will be economical, plain, healthful,
and be free and independent from one
of the greatest tyrants of the age, and
carry out a valuable principle of our
Order. PATRON.

A Dcniand that will be I-[ceded Sometime.
BENGAL GRANGE, 1’
CLINTON Co., Michigan. 1
Wo7'th_y S:ci'etary Cobb .-

I was very glad to see by the last
VISITOR a suggestion from you in refer-
ence to the next Governor of Michigan,
and recommending that he be a farmer.
I second the suggestion most heartily,
and promise that if I ever vote for
Governor again, I will vote for a farm-
er.

For the last one hundred years, the
Government has been run almost ex-
clusively by lawyers, and the sentiment
has been almost universal, that farmers
were not capable of holding office, or
making laws. even to govern them-
selves. But times are changing, and
since the Grange movement started,
farmers have begun to think for them-
selves, and have learned that they have
talent and intellect of as high a grade
as lawycrs—in fact, many of our law-
yers are made up of farmers’ boys who
were too lazy or dishonest to lead a
farmer’s life. And now as we have
quietly allowed them to hold the reins
for so many years, is it not reasonable
that we should take a turn at the
wheel for one term in a life-time? And
if they say we are not competent, let
them compare the delegation of our
State Grange with any legislative body
that has ever convened at the Capitol.
Let them compare the doings of any
State Grange with the wise (?) enact-
ments of our last legislative body, es-
pecially on the liquor bill, the interest
bill, and the mortgage fee bill, where
their own interests predominate, and
the farmer was unthought of and
iincared for—making a law that they
shall have from $25 to $100 for foreclos-
ing a mortgage, when any farmer that
has brains enough to know a spelling
book from a Bible, can do the business
as well as they.

But how are we as Grangers to
change the complexion of our execu-
tive and legislative offices? The two
great political parties that hold domin-
ion over the people, will hold their',con-
ventions as heretofore, and nominate
men that will carry out the principles
of their party, and we Grangers will

hold our nose to the grindstone, and

vote just the ticket ‘they give us. Our
declaration of principles forbids our
holding a nominating convention, or
discussing political topics in the
Grange, and party ties bind men with
such an iron grasp that you cannot
pursuade a Republican to vote for a
Democratic Granger, nor a Democrat to
vote for a Republican Granger. If the
best man in America were nominated
on a ticket labeled and known as 3.
Farmers’ ticket, and the regular party
tickets had lawyer candidates, the
lawyers would get the ofiices.

Unless there can be something done
to break this terrible chain of party, it
would be useless to think of utting a
Granger into the gubernatorial chair.
Under the present state of things, no
man can be elected Governor of Michi-
gan, unless he is elected as a Democrat
or a Republican. I think this question
should be thoroughly discussed by the
State Grange, and some plan should be
adopted and recommended to all the
Subordinate Granges that will induce
farmers and Grangers alike, to support
a government that cares for and protects
our interests. ‘

COURTLA.\'D HILL.

The Agricultural College.

Anomalous as the fact may seem, the
most persistent and strenuous opposcrs
of the Agricultural College in the last
legislature were members who are farin-
ers. In fact they were almost the only
opposers. This should be generally
known in order that the blame may be
placed where it belongs. I notice from
several communications in the VISITOR
that some farmers are disposed to find
fault with the legislature for the nig-
gardly small appropriations made for
that institution in comparison with the
munificent ones made for some others.
I think they find fault justly, for I
consider that College one of the very
best and most worthy institutions in
the State. But the farmer members
were alone to blame, for had they all of
them favored and voted for the com-
paratively small and modest appropri-
ations reccommended and asked for by
the State Board of Agriculture, they
could have all been carried, instead of
being cut down to almost nothing, and
then carried bya small majority. Some
of them undoubtedly voted against the
appropriations on the general plea of
economy, which would lead them to
vote against any and all appropriations,
which are not absolutely necessary to
run the machinery of State, forgetting
or not appreciating the fact that her
great educational,reformatory and chari-
table institutions are what preminently
constitute her a State, and should be
the pride and glory of all her citizens,
evincing, as they do, their enterprise,
intellegence, and prosperity, and that to
cripple any of these great institutions,
by lack of funds to do well and thor-
oughly their work, would be false econ-
omy.

Others were open mouthed and vir-
ulent opposers of the College as an in-
stitution.

Judging from this, I believe that this
spirit of opposition must exist to a con-
siderable extent among the farmers of
the State, for whose especial benefit
the College was established.

In a future article I shall have sonic-
thing to say in regard to some of these
objections. GEORGE PRAY.

VVoodard Lake, No. 190.

 

Programme for Ccntrerille Grange.

At a regular meeting of Centreville
Grange, No. 75, held December 2d, 1879,
the following program _was laid down
by the committee appointed to lay out
work for the three subsequent meet-
in .

lg)Sec. 16. Essay by VVorthy Chaplain
Rev. A. H. Van Vranken, subject,
Kind \Vords. , _

Essay by VVill '1‘. Langley, subject,
Fertilizers, followed by discussion.

Joseph Mosher, subject, Care and
Management of Calves in Winter, fol-
lowed by discussion.

Dec. 30' Essay by Miss Belle Hull,
(subject not given.) Essay by MISS
Mary Titus, (subject not given. Select
reading, Mrs. S. Brenton oberts.
Election of Officers. Music. _

Jan. 13, 1830. Address by \§'ort_b5’
Master Geo. M. Bucknell; music; in-
stallation of Oflicers; feast. Toast,
\Vhere are \Ve Drifting? Response by
\Vm. Hui]. Address by \\"o_rthy Lect-
turer J. H. Gardner. Original poem
by James Yauney. ‘

A. E. Howarm, Sec’y.

 

x3‘;

-A...-.«...x-....


'3
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flccturcrr glrpanmrnt.

C. L. WHITNEY, - - - MUSKEGON.

The I.ecturer’s Program.

Soon after the State Grange, the Leo-
turer, in answer to some solicitations.
will visit Lapeer County and vi-
cinity, to help revive the work of the
Order in that part. All wishing his
services, or who can in any way lend
a helping hand, by way of informa-
tion, are earnestly requested to corres-
pond with him, and as soon as conve-
nient-.

Let everyone who loves the Order in
that vicinity take hold and see what
can be done to put it therein as good
condition as in the western portion of
the State.

Lectiirer’s Appointments.

'l‘he Lecturer is expected to be at the
following places at the dates named,—-
these may be slightly varied, and others
in the vicinity wishing his services
should address him at once, so that
changes, if desirable, may be made. and
other appointments added :

Dec. 17.—Grand Rapids.

Dec. 1S—19.—Greenville.

Dec. 3U—3l.—l\'ewayg0 County (per-
haps).

Jan. 1—1l.——Will spend in Lapeer and
adjoining Counties, if arrangements
can be perfected.

Jan. l3—1S.——In Berrien and Kalama-
zoo Counties.

Jan. :2U~:3l.~—-Grand Rapids. .

Jan. :Z2.—Berlin, Ottawa County.

Field Notes.
November 28th, '79.

It had been raining three days, at
least, and leaving home this morning
we had hoped for fair weather, but
were disappointed. En route for Trav-
erse, we had rain to Big Rapids, and
then snow the rest of the way. At
Traverse City there was fair sleighing,
as Bro. J. S. Ramsdell met us at the
train with his horse and cutter, and we
took our first sleigh-ride to his pleasant
home, over-looking the Bay and City.

A warm supper awaited us, and a
very pleasant evening passed all too
soon.

November29th, ’79.

It still snowed some. After break-
fast we made ready to go to the new
Grange Hall in the City, to dedicate
which was the special order of the day.
’l‘he large sleigh was brought out, and
baskets of provisions, boxes of fruit,
and utensils, were loaded in; then
“ all aboard,” and we were soon at the
hall, which is located on the west side
of the village.

The building lately completed by our
energetic brothers’ and sisters’ effort is
about 224x-50 feet, two stories in height.
The lower room is a store for agricul-
tural implements, while a pleasant
Grange hall, with lateral ante-rooms,
occupies the upper st0ry,—as comfort-
able a Grange home as one could Wish.

Although some had a long distance
to come, yet there was a goodly attend-
ance.

The District Pomona Grange, No. 17,
held a short session in the forenoon.

A bountiful dinner was duly served,
and besides other good things, most
beautifully colored apples, and well-
kept grapes, from Bro. Ramsdell’s fruit
house, were provided in abundance.
All ate and were filled, and a bounti-
ful supply was left.

This new hall of Grand Traverse
Grange was dedicated at 2 P. M., with
the appropriate service of our Order, in
the presence of a goodly number of Pa-
Irons and friends. The address fol-
lowed, and when through, it was time
to go to tea, which we did. '

In the evening the election and in-
Slallation of the oflicers of the Traverse
Pomona Grange, No. 17, took place,
and a large number took the lessons of
the degree of Pomona,- giving this
Grange a strong body to push the work »
0f [be Order in this vicinity.

l\ot having a list of the oflicers-elect
Present, we give from memory :
 ter-—Bro. C. E. Clark, Traverse
i y,

Lecturer—Bro. J. G. Ramsdell, Trav-
"38 City. ‘

S°cretary—Bro. S. A. Gardner, Trav-
el“ City.
pot}: a late hour we sought bed and re-

THE Gfi Is1TOR.

a careful examination of the fruihhouse
‘fol’ the keeplng of fruits from the
extremes of heat and cold, In it we
found several barrels of grapes in an
excellent state of preservation and they
will keep for a long time. Fall apples
are here in just good eating condition.
_Had we time and space, we would
like to describe this excellent method
for the_benefit of every Patron farmer
and fruit-grower——for anyone who has
a. little spare means and some skill can
build himself a house, by the use of
which,_with the presence of plenty of
ice, fruit and all other perishable arti-
cles can be kept along time in a perfect
state of preservation, and be put upon
the market when they will bring the

best price.
Another sleigh-ride to the depot, and
T bade Grand Traverse good-bye, reach-
ing home safely, to find bare ground.
and unfrozen at that.
~ December 3d.

This morning found us at Grand
Rapids, en route for Caledonia station,
where we were met by Bro. Jas. Brock,
who took us home to dinner, and then
to the school-house, where we addressed
the members and friends of Ganges
Grange, No. 479, and gave them;pub-
lie, and afterwards private, instruction
-—to all of which the best of attention
was given. After tea we took the train
for Hastings.
December 4th.

To-day our beloved Order is 12 years
old, and is stronger in the true ele-
ments of strength than ever before in
its history.

At an early hour, in spite of mud,
Patrons of Barry County began to come
in to the meeting. At 10 A. :\.I., the
work of organization began. by the ap-
pointment of temporary oflicers and a
Committee on Credentials, who were
soon able to report 80 members for Bar-
ry Pomona Grange, No. 26, and then
followed the election of officers——whicli
we give from memory :

Master—Bro. A. Luther, Irving.
Secretary—J. A. Robinson, Middle-
ville.

Lecturer-—Bro. Blanchard.

VVe wish we could give all, but we
have mislaid our list.

After the election, a basket dinner
was served in the hall,and then followed
a public meeting and an address, which
was listened to with marked attention.
After the public meeting, the Grange
proceeded to the installation of oflicers
and instruction in the degree of P0-
mona. This County has a strong and,
we hope, an efficient organization.

One accompanying feature of to-day’s
meeting is the reorganization of Hast-
ing Grange, No. 50, with Bro. Peter
Burton, Master, and Bro. VVm. H. Me-
rick, Secretary. Let them move right
onward.

Our day’s field-work done, we ride 10
miles with Bro. Jennings to \Vest
Campbell, in Ionia County, eat an
oyster supper, and then rest for the la-
bors of

December 5th.

This forenoon we visited the public
school near Bro. Jennings’, in company
with our host, and found Sister Leach
doing good work in one of the best
school-houses, for a country district,
we have seen for some time. Our only
criticism was that the teacher should
cause the pupils to rely less upon the
teacher and books, and more upon their
own investigation and research.

The afternoon took us to the Town
Hall, where a public meeting was held,
and we were glad to meet many friends
from South Boston and other Granges.
After tea with Bro. Barnard, we met
again at the hall, and reorganized VVest
Campbell Grange, No. 422, with Bro.
James B. Post as Master,and Sister E.
D. Jennings as Secretary. Vile see no
reason why they cannot have.a. large
and flourishing Grange here, in spite
of all the adverse _elements operating
against them. Unity and efl'ort are all
that is needed.

To reach home the _ next day. We
started from the hospitable home of
Bro. and Sister Jennings at 2 o’clock A.
M. on the morning of the 6th. and rode
to Lowell, just in time to board the
night express, and reached home for
breakfast, satisfied with the fact that
two more subordinate Granges were
upon a solid basis, and.a whole County
put in excellent condition to‘do aggres;
sive work this winter. Let ‘ Forward
be the order to them all.

 

Expectancy.

Kalamazoo, Eaton and Shiawaasee
Patrons are each moving, in the matte!‘

mg circulated in each of said Counties,
and will soon be in the hands of the
Gen. Deputy, asking for the appoint-
ment of a day for the organization of 3
Pomona Grange.

 

Patrons’ Aid Society.

At the late meeting of the State
Grange _the question of a Patrons’ Aid
Society in this State came up, and was
faV0ra_bly reported upon by a special
committee.

The friends of the movement being
called together, a temporary organjza-
tion was duly effected, by chosing Bro.
M.  Hine, of.Austerlitz, Kent Co.,
president, and Bro. C. L. VVhitney,
Muskegon, secretary; who were iii-
structed to place the matter before the
Patrons of the State, and as soon as
sufliicient encouragement had been
given so that a permanent organization
can be eflected, to call a meeting to
effect it.

Brothers and sisters are invited to
send in the names of all who would
like_t0 become members of such an or-
ganization when effected. Address the
secretary. I‘-‘raternally,

M. B. HINE, Pres.

C. L. \VHi'r.\'nv, Sec’y.

 

Itcins.

Diamondale Grange, No, 619, are
buildingahall. which they expect to
have dedicated early in the spring.
Another Grange home will thus be
made permanent.

‘ Om‘ Little Grangers is just the thing
for the children of the farm. VVhy not
subscribe for it, and get the first copies
for a Christmas gift. It will delight
the little folks everywhere.

The members of our Order in this
State will regret to learn that the phys-
1cian’s counsel to Bro. VVhitebead is
that he must stop speaking for some
time, on account of his bad throat.

Hudsonville Grange, N0. 112, Otta-
wa Co., has just purchased a fine organ
for its hall, — a very useful article,
which every Grange needs. May it
ever lead the Grange into harmonious
action, as well as singing.

Subscribe now for the VISITOR.
Everyone who takes it should solicit
everyone who dares not take it to send
for it now, and get the numbers of this
year, with the proceedings of the State
Grange in, and all of next year, for 50
cents. Reading makes a full man.

Ashton Grange. No. 629, of Osceola
Jounty, are building a Grange Hall,
which they expect to have ready to
dedicate in the spring. \Ve congratu-
late the Grange; it will give them an
occasion for a grand turnout of all the
Patrons and farmers of the vicinity.

Business and Social Axioms.

Never fail to be punctual at the time
appointed.

Never read letters which you may
find addressed to others.

Never lend an article you have bor-
rowed, unless you have permission to
do so.

Never borrow money and neglect to
pay. Ifyou do you will soon be known
as a person of no business integrity.
Never write to another asking for in-
formation, or a favor of any kind, with-
out enclosing a postage stamp for the
reply.

Never associate with bad company.
Have good company, or none.

Never look over the shoulder of an-
other who is reading or writing.

Never pass between two persons who
are talking together, without‘an apolo-

gyN ever will a gentleman allude to
conquests which he may have made
with ladies. _
Never be guilty of the contemptible
meanness of opening an letter addressed
to another.

Never enter a room filled with peo-
ple without a slight bow to the compa-
ny when first entering.

Never fail to answer an invitation,
either personally or by letter, within a
week after the invitation is received.
Never should a lady accept of expen-
sive gifts at the hands of a gentleman
not related or engaged to her. Gifts of
flowers. books, music or confectionery
may be acce ted.

Never, w en Walking arm in arm
with a lady, be continually changing
and going to the other side, because of
change of corners. It shows too much

Oil the following morning, we made

of 3 County Grange. Petitions are be-

attention to form.

WHEN I MEAN T0 MARRY.

BY JOHN G. saxrz. '

When do I mean to marry ? — Well,
’Tis idle to dispute with fate ;

But if you choose to hear me tell,
Pray listen while I fix the date.

When daughters haste with eager feet
A mother's daily toil to share,

Can make the puddings which they eat,
And mend the stockings which th' y wear

Vlfhen maidens look upon a man
As in himself what they would marry,
And not as army soldiers scan
A sutler or commissary.

When gentle ladies who have got
The offer of a lover’s hand,

Consent to share his “ earthly lot,”
And do not mean his lot of land.

When young mechanics are allowed
To find and wed the farmers’ girls,

Who don't expect to be endowed
With rubies, diamonds and pearls.

When wives, in short, shall freely give
Their hearts and hands to aid their spouses

And live as they were wont to live,
Within their father’s one story houses.

Then, madam, if I am not too old,
Rejoiced to quit this lonely life,

I'll brush my beaver, cease my scold,
And look about me for 8. wife.

Cc-operation.

On former occasions I have endeavor-
ed to point out the different kinds of co-
operation, and the injurious consequen-
ces of the one, and the beneficial eifects
which might be expected from the oth-
er. I was much scolded, ridiculed, and
almost scurrilously treated for my
pains; and as I could not “reply in
kind,” and did not feel bound to be
“yoked unequally,” I left the field to
my adversaries. The “logic of events”
have vindicated some of my positions
and conclusions, and Mr. Holyoake, an
eminent authorand worker in the Roch-
dale system of co-operation in England,
in a lecture lately delivered in New
York and published in the Tribune,
confirms my opposition to many of the
co-operative stores and operations in
our country, which have failed so of-
ten, wholly or in part. Competitive
co-operation—where the stores strive to
undersell surrounding middlemen, in-
dividual merchants, mechanics, etc.-
this competitive co-operation was first
tried by some who are in the present
Rochdale system, and not only failed,
but brought losses and ruin in many
cases—as most attempts in the face of
the Divine mandate of the Golden Rule
have failed in this country.

But Christian or humane co-opera-
tion, giving all a share in the propor-
tion to purchases—after deducting ex-
penses and interest on capital—and
thus building up the trades and labor
of the vicinity. That has succeeded,
and is succeeding wonderfully._ From
a scanty capital of a few shillings, it
now employs many millions of pounds
sterling. lt carries on many trades,
workshops, as well as stores, and not_
only furnishes pure articles, the best of
goods, and honest measures and truth-
ful representations, but it sells at mar-
ket prices, and pays fair wageél to 3“
whom it employs. Thus it builds_up
each neighborhood instead of injuring
it by sending its custom away to build
up some distant monopolizing mam.-
facturer or mercantile speculator,
and thus it saves for the few instead
of for the many. “A word to the
wjse_” A. B. G.

DR. DRYSDALE said lately that
whereas the death rate among in-
fauts of the comfortable class is 80 per
1,000 in cities such as Liverpool and
Manchester, it is 240 per 1,0_00,_ in some
places even 300, and in Berlin it actual-
ly reaches 500.

 

Jon): B. GOUGH, in a lecture_ in
England, referring to the question
whether alcohol was a food or ‘a _medi-
cine, remarked that, ll'.l'hl_S opinion, it
was “very much like sitting down on
a hornet’s nest—stimulating, but not
nourishing.

1 THINK the first virtue is to restrain
the tongue; he approaches nearest to
the gods who knows how to be silent,
even though he is in the right.——C‘ato.

 

DANIEL DREW was ‘a Methodist by
profession, but a,Drewid by practice.

     
 

   

 

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4

 

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

_.—_..

SCHOOLCRAFT, DEC.15, 1879.

.§uretar;g’a glnmtment.

- SCHOOLCRAFT.

J. r. coma, - - -

Omcers and members of Subordinate Grange:
in corresponding with this oflice, will please
always give the Number of their Grange.

To Contributors.

As the Vrsrron now bears date the 1st and
16th of each month, to insure insertion in the
next issue, Communications must be received
by the 10th and 25th of each month.

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

Br onnna or THE EXECUTIVE con-
MITTEE IS TO BE nnmnoun rrrrr
run CENT. WI'l‘HOU'I‘ INCREASE or

PRICE.

And that Enlargement will Take Place
with the next No., Jan. 1st. 1880-

When this matter came up at the
annual session two years ago, then
as now, there was a very general
expression in favor of making the
paper a weekly as soon as practi-
cable,and afterconsiderable discus-
sion, it was decided to commit
the whole matter to the Execu-

G tive Committee. Their determina-
tion made it a semi-monthly, and
increased its size fifty per cent.

But these Michigan Patrons were
not satisfied, and they came up to
the State Grange last Week, and
with entire unanimity repeated
the demand of two years ago. This
time, as before, the whole matter
was turned over to the Executive
Committee, and now the Commit-
tee propose to try it one year as
before stated, again enlarging the
paper fifty per cent, charging only
the former price of fifty cents a
year.

The paper has looked small by

the side of Weeklies costing from
$1.00 to $1.50 per annum, but all
careful observers have noted the
fact that there is as much reading
matter as very many of these large
papers furnish that are more pre-
tentions in size. The Executive
Committee of the State Grange
have a well established reputation
for prudent and judicious manage-
ment of all business matters, and
we believe have the entire confi-
dence of the Patrons of the State;
and the Committee are quite as
anxious to see the Vrsrron issued a
good sized weekly, as are our
brothers and sisters who write us
often upon this subject, and who at
the late session pressed the sub-
ject so often and vigorously upon
the attention of the body.

By all the Vrsrron was pro-
nounced every Way a success. But
the only thing that we really cared
for as especially complimentary,
was the character it has obtained
for independence in attacking any
abuse, or. trespass upon the rights
of the people.

This perhaps is best accounted

for by saying that we_followed the

plow until near fifty years old, and

therefore when called into this new
field of labor, we were wholly un-

acquainted with not only the busi_
ness of managing a paper, but also
with the policy which fetters and
controls almost the entire press of
the country—a press which so of-

ten calls black, white—seldom ex-

poses the Weakness or wickedness

of its party friends, or hesitates to

suppress or exaggerate the truth

about its enemies, and is practi-

cally indifferent to the evils of ex-
isting laws, the expensiveness and

inefficiency of courts, and the re-
misness of officials in any depart-
ment of government. Not being a

professional, and not having been
set to work by men of experience
in this department of business, we
have so far simply followed our
own convictions, and endeavored
by pointing out what to us seemed
quite wrong, to awaken such an
interest in the minds of our read-
ers as shall induce such action as
shall lead to a correction of the
evils complained of, and so long as
the make-up of the VISITOR de-
pends on our judgement, our read-
ers may rely on having an inde-
pendent paper in sympathy with
the people as a whole, but more
particularly the great agricultural
class who have undertaken through
organized effort, to improve their
moral, social, educational" and po-
litical condition.

We mean to make a paper that
shall be read and approved by
those outside the gate. Those
questions of transportation, patent
rights, and taxation that so imper-
atively need legislative action, we
intend to keep prominently before
our readers. This government,
republican in form, we hope, has
not yet got beyond the reach of
the people whose vital interests
are so largely affected by laws and
usages of those in authority. Need-
ed legislation, we shall never get,
if the people are not aroused to
the necessity of protecting them-
selves from the rapacity of capital
which covertly escapes taxation; of
railroad companies that fix their
freight rates upon the basis of
what a product or business will
bear, rather than What will be a
fair return on capital invested; of
patent right swindlers who rob
their victims under cover of a law
that is a disgrace to our civiliza-
tion.

May we not expect that Michi-
gan Patrons will more generally
subscribe for and work for their
paper. It is certainly cheap enough,
and we mean to make it worth more

than its price.

We have no jack knives or other
traps to offer subscribers, but shall
venture the offer of a copy free to
any person who sends us ten names
and five dollars. _

We expect to print editions in
Jan. and Feb. large-enough to sup-
ply all who subscribe before March
1st, with back Nos. Bno. Parsons,
what will you do for the VISITOR
of 1880.

THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE
MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE

Has been held, and pronounced a
success. The attendance was good,
though the pouring rain of Tuesday
and Wednesday, all over the State,
prevented many from visiting Lans-
ing who had arranged to go.

Our railroad arrangements were
satisfactory. Those who came over
the Central were all accommodated,
as by the arrangement, a certificate
signed by the holder, and verified by
me, entitled the party to a return
ticket, issued by the Lansing agent,
at one cent per mile to the point of
starting.

Several dozen Patrons came to our
desk during the session who had paid
full fare to Lansing, to enquire how
they could get home at reduced
rates.

These came over roads that sold
round trip tickets at two cents per
mile, and the parties, from ignorance
of the arrangement, or some other
cause, failed to get a ticket at the
point of starting. But there was no
complaining. Several over the L. S. '&
M. S. Road, after reading the VISITOR
of Dec. 1st, supposed the matter was
closed up, made no enquiry, but paid
their fare in full; while several others
living on other roads, who did not
take the Vrsrron, ignorant of any at
rangement, paid full fare to Lansing.
Several such subscribed for the Vis-
ITOR during the session, and cheerful-
ly owned up that they could not, as
Patrons, aford to do without it.

The session was harmonious and
the work done, will, we think, reflect
credit upon the body of intelligent
farmers assembled in our new Capitol
building.

We who have been present at every
session can see a marked improve-
ment from year to year.

The educational work of the
subordinate Grange, shows itself at
our annual sessions.

It has come to be understood that
some farmers not only have ideas, but
can express them.

The open Grange session of Thurs-
day evening was every way creditable
to all concerned.

At seven o’clock the doors were
opened, and the gallery was soon filled
with citizens of Lansing. The floor
of the hall was shortly occupied by
members of the Order, nearly all
wearing their regalia.

Bro. VVhitney had taken good care
to provide the beautiful regalia of the
Pomona Grange, borrowed of the
County Granges of the State for the
use of all the voting members. These
were worn during the four days’ ses
sion, and on this occasion the rich
green and {gold added much to the
beauty of the ‘scene.

The desks of the Worthy Master,
Overseer, and Secretaries §were deco-
rated with fruit, flowers and grain, in
a suitable manner.

The music was all that could be de-
sired—though not’ a judge-—it seems
to me the best we have ever had, per-
haps because last heard.

Worthy Master VVoodman delivered
an address of welcome, which was re-
sponded to in behalf of the State oili-
cers by C. A. Gower, of Saginaw,
Supt. of Pub. Inst., in a very neat
speech. .

,He made some happy hits when re-
ferring to the Declaration of Pur-
poses, touching. salaries of public ofll-
cers, a part of the Declaration having
been read and presented as a basis for
the evening’s talk.

We had never seen this gentleman
before, but after his excellent‘ practical
speech, we were well satisfied that
Michigan has an oflicer ‘at the head of
her educational department well suit-

ed to his position.

Most excellent speeches were made
by Bro. Moore, Overseer of the State
Grange, and Bro. Chas. E. Mickley, or
Adrian.

A note from the Mayor of Lansing
explained his absence and that of the
Common Council, on account of a
meeting of that body having been

-appointed before receiving the_invita-

tion to be present at this open ses-
sion.

S. D. Bingham responded in behalf
of the city authorities, in a lively
speech, racy with humor.~ He had
done good work on a farm when a
boy, and been defrauded of the re-
ward of diligent labor in the care of
a calf, given him by his father, by its
sale, when increased value made it a
coveted object of’ paternal regard. He
said if that did not make him leave
the farm, that sort of treatment has
made many other boys turn their
back on home, to seek their fortunes
in cities. Farnzers, be honest with
your bags, if you would keep them’ on
the farm.

W. S. George, of the Lansing 1/Be-
publican, referred to the greater influ-
ence of lawyers in legislative bodies
on account of their “ gift of gab,” and
said that he was glad to know that
the Grange was developing the talk-
ing capacity of farmers, manyj of
whom had an abundance of practical
ideas, but habit had repressed their
utterance. He closed by saying, "the
Grange is a grand institution.”

Bro. Childs made one of his best
speeches, and Bro. Trowbridge im-
proved the little time allotted to each,
in a suitable manner.

0. M. Barnes, who occupied a seat
on the platform, by the side of the
VVorthy Master, complimented the
Grange on the good work it is doing,
and from the tenor of his remarks
showed that he very fully compre-
hended its objects, and was entirely
free from any prejudice against it.

We present to our readers the Mas-
ter’s address, and such other papers
as we find room for, by adding a sup-
plement to our regular issue.

Our next number, third series, en-
larged size, will give some valuable
committee reports, which we are sure
will be read with interest and profit
by our friends. We have not time to
give such a summary of the proceed-
ings as we should be glad to in this
number.

The people of Lansing have come
to regard the annual session of the
State Grange as an institution, and
from the first the Grange has been
treated by the people of our Capital
city with respect and attention.

Few State Granges have been so
highly favored as Michigan at their
annual meetings; and, we apprehend,
few assemble such a body of “fair
women and brave men” as compose
the Michigan State Grange and its
visiting friends. _ '

THE following Granges are delin-
quent in reports and payments of dues
to the State Grange for some one
of the quarters of 1878 or of 1879.

Some of them are undoubtedly dead
or dormant beyond hope of resurrec-
tion while a considerable ,,_number of
them are delinquent on account of the
remisness of their Secretaries.

3,16, 21, 22, 32, 41, 47, 51, 52, 61, 63.
69, 81, 82, 86, 94, 126, 128, 144, 147, 157,
168, 172, 214,‘ 229, 236, 239, 241, 245, 256,
261, 263, 264, 268, 289, 310, 317, 321, 334,
342, 364, 381, 383, 385, 394, 402, 409, 422,
425, 426, 436, 452, 456, 457, 460, 465, 470.
482, 485, 487, 499, 514, 418, 521, 523, 528,
539, 553, 554, 562, 589,'590, 592, 606, 614,
616. ' '

VVe give the readers of the Visiron,
in the Supplement accompanyingflllfl
number, even more than a “ fifty per
cent —increase,’’ which causes 9. little

delay in its issue. '-

 

 


  

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... ..- ,. _. __._

THE GRANGE VISI'l‘OR.

5

SECRETARPS REPORT.

 

Worthgj Master and Fellow Patrons : »

The return of another annual session
of the Michigan State Grange renews a
duty on my part that I discharge with
the greatest pleasure, on account of the
favorable circumstances under which
the representatives of the Order of Pa-
trons of Husbandry meet together in
their legislative capacity, for the sev-
enth time in Michigan, in fraternal
council.

As I was early apprised that the
VVorthy Master and the Executive
Committee, through its chairman, had
each prepared elaborate reports, and
from their respective standpoints, the
present condition and future prospects
of the Order in this jurisdiction had by
them been ascertained and would be
presented, I have determined in pre-
senting my report at this time, to con-
fine it almost entirely to a statement of
such facts and figures as pertain to my
ofiice, and the additional duties devolv-
upon me by the Executive Committee.

VVe herewith -‘present a statement of
receipts and disbursements for the fiscal
year 1879, compiled from our books:

SECRETARY STATE GRANGE, DR.

To fees and dues collected from‘ 
Subordinate Granges, ____ __;Sl920 53: ______ __
To fees collected by organiza-, g
tioii ofone County Grange,_1 3 00. ______ --
To amount. received for supplies, '
sold, ........................ _—:
To amount of subscription to’ 9
Visitor  1067 43;
To ani't collected for a.dv’tising,I; 190 i
To cash rec‘d fin F.M.Hollowa_v,

 

on ac‘t of St. Agt. Gnrdner,_; 118 641 ______ __
To cash for goods sold on Gard-,1 ;
iier account, _________________ .3 190 59 ______ ._
Total receipts, ________________ __‘-$7317 05‘ ______ __
COSTR.-\, on.  _
By paid supply bills ___________ _-? ...... __ :3 176 80
By sundry deposits to account; j
of Trees. Brown, in Bank, ,-
for which I hold his receipt. : ______ __‘ 71-10 23
, _‘, 317 05
5 ‘$7110 25

To this amount of deposits ol'__
‘May be added balance of cashi

 

  

in treasury,Dec. 1st, 1579, of_!_______.‘ $41 45
And we have a total of _____ _-i ...... -.‘$9SSl 70
«
During the year 40 orders
have been drawn on the
Treasurer, for purposes as;
follows: i
For expenses of State Grange
Session of 1878, _____________ __ $1410 32 ______ --
For expenses of Ex. C0lIl"[8E,_-'  69 ______ __
For printing (500 copies of Pro-,
ceedings and Misc. Matter.-s 162 50- ...... __
For dues to Sat. Gr. 4 quarters“? 772 87' ______ --
For salary of Master, __________ ._l 400 00 ______ __
For expense act of Master,____1 50 60
For salary of Secretary, .... _-i 1000 00
For stationery of Sec'y‘s ,oflice,1 36 3-1
For postage " “ “ , 122 90
For rent, “ “ “ i 30 00
For traveling exp’s .9 fr't paid,-} 8 35
For salary of Treasurer, _______ -_§ 50 O0 ._--_-__
For special appropriations,_ _-! 70 00 ______ _-
For bills ofl.ecturers _______ -_ I 35 01 ...... __
For publication of Vls'itor,_ --,i 1026 50', ______ __
For postage of Visitor, ........ _-l lll 30 ______ --

For traveling expenses, wrap-;
Plng paper, and expenses of
folding and mailing,__

Total amount of orders,

  

Balance in Treasury at close;
of fiscal year, lS79,___-_--;_.-.---- $3915 22

VAs the receipts on account of the
VIsi_roR make up a very considerable
portion of the foregoing account, and as
the paper itself has become an impor-
tant factor in the work of the Order, we
present a statement of its finances apart
from the other business of the State
Grange:

GRANGE VISITOR, CR.

 

 

by cash read on subscription, ______ _-‘l$l6b7 48
“ “ for nclvertising,_ -___ -} 190 -14
Total receipts, _____________  _fsis57 91
Din. 1:9 cost or publicat n, 131026 .5o_ ______ __
postage, ________________ __ 114 30‘ ______ -_

“ to all other expenses at-

tending its publication and
mailing, ___________________ __ 252 60 1393 40
ml-e**i'1igsurp1us   $464 51

This. for the VIS['BOR, is a much
better showing than we have been able
to make for any former year of its
publication.

The balance sheet of 1877 showed a
surplus of $240.89, while the balance of
1878 was but $3.47.

This difference between 1878 and 1879
is not so much owing to the greater
number of subscribers, as to the less
cost of publication. VVe had on the
1st inst. 3,522 subscribers, being 674
more than one year before. .

e have in Michigan some 20,000
Patrons, and if all these copies were
taken in this State (and they are 1100.
‘'9 can see at a glance that one-half our
membership areiiot its readers. With

the largo number 0! papers that are

C

constantly being pressed upon the at-
tention of the people, there is a feeling
that, when invited to subscribe for the
V is1'roR,oft-en finds expression in about
these words, “.I’m taking more papers
now than Ican read.” And this, too,
frequently from men that mean to be
good Grapgers.

The circulation of any periodical
depends largely upon the activity of
its friends. The many must have their
attention called to the matter of renew-
ing their subscription, or when their
time runs out, the paper stops, and has
lost a subscriber. Some, of course,
renew of their own motion, and upon
tl_:iat_ class, the paper must depend for
aid in securing renewals, as well as for
an increase, of the number of its
patrons. VVith the next number ends
the current volume, and also a large
number of our present subscriptions.

\Vhether the present number shall be
maintained or increased, depends more
upon the few who are willing to devote
some time and effort in behalf of this
interest, than upon the many who are
to-day its readers.

If, as has been assumed, the VISI'1‘OR
has become so far identified with the
Order in this State that its continu-
ance is essential, then with the facts
already presented, what changes, if
any, shall be made in its size, frequency
of issue, price, and management, be-
come questions for determination
before the commencement of another
volume.

\Vith the experience afforded by our
connection with the VISITOR (and we
have no other in kind), we are not so
fully satisfied of our adaptation to
editorial work, but what we should
very cheerfully resign this business to
other hands.

As an Order, we have but just barely
entered upon a broad field, the boun-
daries of which we cannot see. The
work of its cultivation devolves upon
the progressive, earnest laborers, and
by the aid of the press, which scatters
the thoughts of all with such a liberal
hand, must the Patrons expect to ac-
complish for the agricultural class the
grand work so fully and beautifully
outlined in “the Declaration of Pur-
poses,” adopted by the National
Grange at its seventh annual session.

On those who are anxious alike for
the prosperity of the Order, and the
advancement and elevation of the
American farmer, devolves this vast
amount of work and self-assumed
responsibility.

That such men, aided and encour-
aged by earnest aiid determined wo-
men, are equal to the work, no one
who has noted well the progress made
in the last ten years can doubt.

Our Organization has undertaken an
immense work. All its aims and
objects may never be fully realized,
and probably never will be in accor-
dance with any program ever yet made.

Be this as it may, the work remains,
and not much different in kind, and it
must and will be done; and among the
agencies employed the press will
always be included. Believing this,
we feel that no reasonable effort should
be spared to encourage the reading of
papers devoted;to the improvement of
the agricultural class.

That farmers have heretofore borne
more than an equitable share of the
public burdens,with but little represen-
tation and less influence in legislative
bodies, is now a recognized fact. That
their rights have been disregarded and
their interests sacrificed is undoubtedly
true. These and kindred facts are be-
ing discussed in the Grange, and by
Patrons thrust upon public attention to
some extent through Grange pape_rs,and
the more such papers are circula-
ted, the more read, the sooner justice
will be accorded to the farmer class,
who, for all these years, has consented
to occupy a secondary place in the
business of the country, and the affairs
of government.

These truths should inspire all to‘

more earnest work to provide instruct-
tive material with which _to make up a
valuable paper for Michigan Patrons.
Truths once told must be often repeated,
presented in a difl‘e_rent way by dlflerellt
persons,line upon line,and precept upon
precept, to move forward to asuccesslul
issue the great work of the _Order._ I _
If the little paper under considera-
tion has done any good work we all
know that in the same field far more
remains to be done, and with the im-
roved condition and prospect‘! Of the
l)’atrons of Michigan, may not we res;
sonably expect a more liberal sfuppoi
for th0’VISI'l‘0R for the year be ore us
than at any time in the pnst,and t seems

to_me that any action by this body that
will conduce to an improvement in the
paper itself and to a large increase in
its circulation, will be quite as likely
to promote the general objects of the
Order as time and labor given to any
other purpose in any direction.

_ The year before us will be full of po-
litical talk and party action, and now
that the farmer is awakened to the fact
that, while he is busy providing food
for the _world, the politicians are busy
governing itwwith little regard for his
interests or his rights shall we not
seize upon this as an opportune time to
force upon public attention the fact
that the agricultural interests of the
country not only need, but demand
representation and influence in gov-
ernmental affairs‘?

Discussion in the Grange and friend-
ly social talk among members is exert-
inga powerful influence in the right
direction, but the potent influence of
the press and its disseminating power
must be relied upon in this work

Our observation satisfies us that we
cannot expect aid from a partisan
press.

Permit. us then to enjoin upon each
and every one present the duty of
making a personal effort to give the
organ of the Order in this State, more
contributors and more readers.

A careful analysis of the work of the
Order, as indicated by the reports and
payment of dues is not  satisfactory
as we could wish.

Of the 6338 Granges that have been
organized in Michigan, quite a num-
ber had but a. nominal existence, sev-
eral never having made a report, or
paid dues at all, and others but once or
twice.

‘We find that for the three expired
quarters of this year, 320 Graiiges have
reported and paid for one or more
quarters; that 71 that reported in 1878
have not since reported; and that or
those reporting in 1877, 50 have fallen
into a dormant condition.

All Granges delinquent in reports
and payment of dues prior to Jan-
uary, 1577, have been suspended by the
action of the Executive Committee.

A financial comparison, however,
makes a much more favorable exhibit,
the receipts from fees and dues being
but S2910-i less in 1879 than in 1878,
and in profit on supplies sold but
 51, or it total loss from these two
sources of r330~l 55, while the increased
net receipts from the VISITOR were
$461 51.

The expenses of the last session were
less by $448 :3 than the preceding one;
and the total expenses of the fiscal
year 1879, exclusive of Visiroa and
supply accounts were less by 556-15 03,
with an improved treasury balance at
the beginning of the present year over
that of one year ago of $1,203 77.

VVhile the fact that we have many
dormant Granges cannot be denied, yet
to the reinisness of Secretaries in
making reports may be charged a part
of this apparent loss of working
Granges; and may 1. not here say that
we cannot hold the Masters of Subordi-
nate Granges entirely irresponsible for
this condition of things. To us it
seems within the line of official duty
of the Masters to know that the Score-
tary of the Grange over which he
presides, and the interests of which, for
the time being, are committed to his
care, discharges the duties which he
has assumed with promptness and
fidelity

In compliance with the action of the
State Grange at its last session we had
petitions prepared, asking for Legisla-
tive action upon several subjects which
the State Grange had considered and
deemed important for the welfare of
the people of the State. These peti-
tions were distributed, numerously
signed and forwarded from time to
time to members of the Legislature for
presentation and action. The result
was not what we had a right to expect;

Although the farmers of the State
had quite a representation in these
halls, and of the number were men of
industry, integrity and talent second
to no other class, who labored faithful-
ly and well to carry out the wishes of
their constituents, and accomplish for
the people some positive good, yet the
results of five weary months of legisla-
tion were mainly unsatisfactory.

That failure should not discourage
but serve to stimulate to renewed ef-
forts. The brazen .and impudent at-
tempt of members of the legal profes-
sion in that Legislature to secure a
monopoly of the business of foreclosing
mor-tg es at an exorbitant price for
the ‘war done, and otheracts of like

character should arouse us to the dan-
ger of electing smart lawyers to legis-
late for us. Legislation is expensive,
it should be of value to the whole peo-
ple, and farmers must learn that it is
unsafeto commit all the interests they
have in good government into the
hands of men who live and fatten on
the follies or wickedness of others.
PLASTER.

'lhe plaster war inaugurated nearly
five years ago has not reached a final
settlement. The antagonism of other
manufacturers to the Grange mill of
Day «it Taylor, gives cheap plaster not
only to Patrons but to the farmers of
Michigan and neighboring States. The
situation is now so well understood
that we_nc-ed spend but little time on
this subject.

_Messrs Day_  Taylor have, in spite
of all opposition and some reverses,
kept_1n the held, and are prepared to
furnish pure plaster to Patrons, when
Wanfied. _0he_aper than ever before.
Their facilities for supplying all de.
mands are very much better than here-
to fore, and there is no duty more iii-
cumbent on the Order in this State
than that of giving our entire patron-
age t—0_Day & Taylor. Nor should we
be satisfied by simply ordering what
we need ourselves, but should solicit
ourfar_mer friends outside the gate to
join with us in ordering of this firm.

RAILROAD TRANSPOR’1‘A’1‘ION.

The Executive Committee at its
meeting ih November last directed me
to make arrangements with the agents
of the several roads centering in Lan-
sing for commutation rates for all
1’at-.rons who might wish to attend this
session of the State Grange. The ar-
rangements were completed with less
trouble than at any former session.
The only road not making favorable
answer to my application being the
L. S. &. M. S., whose Gen. Pass. Agt.
at first declined to make the reduction
of one cent per mile which the “ Pass-
enger_ Department of the Railroad
Association of Michigan had adopted
for the year 1879, for all public gather-
ings where reduced rates are given.”

On a farther presentation of facts to
the passenger agent of this road, he
acceeded to our request, and on account
of so little time intervening before the
meeting, set aside the usages of the
company requiring certificates, or evi-
dence of membership, to entitle the
applicant to commutation rates.

lt is some satisfaction as we review
the past-, and note the improvement
and growing importance of the agricul-
tural class which ten short years have
witnessed, to feel and know that the
reasonable demands of farmers are
being more and more recognized, and
that each succeeding year the class so
honorably and largely represented
in this Hall to-day of “fair women
and brave men,” as they are better
known, are better appreciated; and
may we not reasonably hope. that
if true to our best interests—-if true
to the agricultural class, which
our Order represents, that the time is
not far distant when “nothing buta
farmer ! ” will no longer be a reproach,
for the farmer will be the peer of any
man of any class.

Fellow Patrons, you have not come
here wholly and solely to see this
beautiful Capitol building, and greet
your brothers and sisters here assem-
bled from different parts of our beloved
State. but in addition to this, we trust
you have at heart the great objects pro-
claimed to the world in that grand
Declaration of Purposes, so beautifully
expressed, so pure, noble, and elevating
in its objects, that from its first
announcement, it secured the love and
admiration of its friends, and against
which no word of cavil or reproach
has been uttered by its enemies. This
large gathering of Patrons, with these
pleasant surroundings, is inspiring,
and cannot but stimulate each one of
us to increased diligence in the great
work which we have undertaken——a
work that will require great and pro-
longed effort for its accomplishment.

All of you who have engaged in
this cause have the satisfaction of
knowing that much has already been
accomplished, and that the prosecution

present enjoyment. .

Tins No. colses the second Vol. of
the VISITOR of this size. Those who can
supply Nos. 33,42, 43, 46,47, can have
the two Vols. bound in book-form lor
600., by sending me these Nos. We

have a full supply of all others.

of this work affords a fruitful source of .

/All-nflf“ 

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-i.—--..... n...._:...._. _.__ , . ‘ ., 
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. _ _, ,..._.:.._

.. »......... --.~n-vREV'{‘?§1_\"“V .

gig.-Vaxiits’ flepartment.
.___I____________

- Our Homes.

Our homes are just what we make
them, I don’t mean the construction
of our houses, of course they can be
made very beautiful, elegantly finished
with all the modern appliances to make
them convenient; in fact everything
that money can supply can be obtained

if only one has this much needed com-

modity. But, alas how many dwell-
ings that could be thus described, are
merely looked upon as places where we
can eat and sleep. All those hallowed
associations that should cluster around
a happy home are wanting. And
why ‘I Simply because true love is not
there. Too much selfishness is indulg-
ed in, we neglect those little attentions
to one another, a simple “thank you ”
for asniall favor received, or, “ will you
please assist me,” little things, so sim-
ple in themselves, yet how important.
A vast amount of discord and strife
would never be known if we would on-
ly accustom ourselves to these little
polite attentions. Don’t save all these
for your company manners, for if we
neglect them in the home circle, we
are most apt to neglect them when we
most wish to remember them. So you
see, “ this world is not so bad a world
as some are apt to make it.”, And as
there are some of our number who have
not made homes for themselves we
would give them a Word of advice, as a
word fltly spoken may be the means of
helping themin the choice of a. com-
panion for life.

\Vould you make your choice for life,
Choose some good adviser,

Take your friends. they are wise,
VVisi~.~ as you, and wiser.

They will counsel you for good,
They sincerely love you,

Should your heart their counsel heed
Heaven will smile above you.

But if you their counsel spurn,
Think not strange, if sorrow}

O'er your sun, so bright to-day,
Hang her veil tomorrow.

For ’tis business which requires
Careful circumspection ;

So our worthy mothers say,
After due reflection.

Once then, listen to my words,
Let me say there’s danger

VVhen a maiden finds her heart
Yearning for a stranger,

Though he have a pleasant voice,
Though he be good looking,

Have a bright and sparkling eye,
Nose a little hooking.

But beware you do not think,
“ Never saw his equal.”

Learn his history hitherto,
Ere you try the sequel.

N ever choose a silly friend,
Such are quite too plenty ;

Many virtues, sterling worth,
Scarce has one in twenty.

Do not choose a man all work,
Nor a man all idle ;

Not a temper all too slack,
Nor one that needs a bridle.

Neither get a lad too young,
Nor a. rich old miser,

Be not bribed by paltry gold,
Maidens, do be wiser.

Choose no man of goatee chin,
Clad in costly raiment,

’Till you’ve seen his tailor’s bill
Signed received payment.

Do not choose a handsome man
Merely for his beauty,

But. select an honest mind
Bent on trut/2 and duty.

Unto him, your heart incline ;
Should you be invited,

Offers made by such a friend
Never should be slighted.

He will not advance too soon,
Not too long will tarry;

But with wisdom will he choose
The proper time to marry.

Better first our itla consult,
Ask your I’a’s permission ;

These preliminaries fixed,
Trust to his discretion.

Hand in hand with him unite,
His love will not falter

When you’r joined in hymen's bands
At the nuptial altar.

Now, should my advice seem good,
Then, I trust you'll try it,

And be this my fervent prayer,
May you profit by it.

For, alas, your future years.
Might be sorrow laden,

Should some wild and wortliless rake
Win your heart, young maiden.

Should you choose a companion like
the one here described, your home will
ban pleasant and happy one. and We
shall tool that our labor has not been in

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

Kain. Accept this advice kindly given

y ATE.
Wiirrn LAKE, Nov. 11, 1879.

 

Ancient and Modern Accomplishments.

FOR THE VISITOR-—BY LETTIE LESTER.

Is there anyone who would like to see
the world go back to where it was 75 or
100 years ago! I hardly think there is
anyone who really wishes it, and yet
We hear so much about “ the good old
times.” Could some of those who be-
gan their last long sleep in those days
awaken now, I think they would be
surprised at some things they would
see here.

The spinning-wheel and loom have
given place to large factories, the sickle
to mowing and reaping machines, the
flail to large threshing machines, run
by steam power.

In almost every thnig are like changes
perceptible. On everything is written
the word “advance.”

Our great-grandmothers used to make
their own cloth of linen or wool, and a
young lady who con-id not spin and
weave was not considered fit to take the
helm in any man’s household.

In tiie autumn of the Centennial
year, at our County fair were exhibited
a ‘lot of old as well as newithings.
Among other things exhibited was a
piece of linen toweling, made by an
old lady living in the County, several
years ago, and while examining it I
overheard one old gentleman remark to
another, “I wonder if one of the girls
now-a-days would know what a spin-
ning wheel was if she would see one.”

None who attended that fair need be
in ignorance as to how they look, for
they had one there, and a woman to
run in.

But, in all candor, I would like to ask
of those who talk about “ the good old
times ”_:_ Would you like to see them
return 2’ I don’t think you could, truth-
fully, say yes. to this question. This is
decidedly a fast age, and still our motto
is “ onward and upward.” Now we
have enterprising men and women who
carry on manufactures of all kinds,and
for a few cents you can buy at a store
what it would take us days to make, and
which would be of an inferior quality
and poorly made at that.

And how rude and bare of ornament
their homes must have been in those
days! VVhat woman would like to give
up her neat convenient cook-stove, and
cook by a fire-place?

Our people are becoming better edu-
cate_d and more refined with every gen-
eration. . In our houses are found
books, pictures and music. Our coun-
try is overflowing with instructors of
all kinds, ready, for a reasonable coin-
pensation, to teach all the common
branches, besides drawing, painting,
music, the languages, and many other
things. The cultivation of flowers is
becomingascience, as well as an art.
The homes where onesees no flowers
are very few. and still the love for them
increases.

VVhat_ man is there who would like
to see his wife and daughters clothed in
coarse home-made and home -colored
linen or flannel dresses of our grand-
mothers? I don’t think there are many,
though they do scold when the bill for
dry-goods is handed in.

Who would see the piano or sewing-
machine in his home replaced by a
spinning-wheel or loom? Who wants
to saw all his wood with a buck-saw on
thresh all of his grain with a flail ? If
there are any such, they are at liberty
to do so.

I think the Grange is helping to do
away with these old-fashioned notions ;
and if the_ people of the rising genera-
tion are wiser, better, and more refined
than those who have preceded them,
the Grange should receive its share of
praise.

Let us work, in the Grange and out
of it, to accomplish this end.

_._____________.__

- The Other Side.

Ifwe find a pebble, we‘stop, pick it
up, turnit over, and examine it thor-
oughly on every side; but the impor-
tant things of life we pass by without
giving them asecond thought. Why is
it that we regret doing so many things
that we have done? Whyare we ever
lamenting misdeeds, or signing because
we do not accomplish more? It is be-
cause we did not thoroughly examine
what we were going to do. In our
pleasures we have not been careful to
select such as when “ pant were a.pleas-

ure still." In our work we have done

what was easiest, and did not stop to
think whether ourpart of the work was
not a little harder. \Ve did not exam-
ine it on every side. _

Our opinions, actions and tastes dif-
fer. For example, (I ‘may myselfbc
liable to censure for saying it, but I will,
regardless of the fact that you may
think it sounds heathenish,) When I
go to church I do not care to hear what
Melchis'edec, or any of those men with
unpronouncable names, have done,-—I
can read about them, but I want to
know what Iought to do, andglzow to do
it, t‘. e. the minister’s view of it. I do
not care whether Joseph had two wives
or ten. In short, I want a practical
sermon from a human minister. What
I mean by a practical sermon is one
that helps to teach me how to live, and
I mean a great deal when I say how to
live. By a human minister I mean one
that has trials and temptations, and all
that we have to contend with. He can
understand and sympathize with us. I
always did maintain that it was no cred-
it for any one who has no temptations
to be good. Every one has his or her
idea about everything, and I am will-
ing they should. I think as much of
them as though they thought the same
as Ido. What I want, and all I care
aboutit is that they should look at it in
thesame way, and grant me the same
liberty of opinion. Men and women
think differently about the same ques-
tion because men look at it from their
standpoint,and women from theirs. Be-
fore either condemns the other, it
wouid be well at least to put your.-;elf in
the other’s place.

In order that the ladies might keep
this in mind, they might put it in writ-
ing, and paste it in their looking glasses.
The gentlemen might put their copy,-
where? Thatqiiestion has never been
answered, but I’ll venture to suggest
tobacco box or pipe.

Ifwecould only see as others do, if
we only knew the motive, we would not
judge others so harshly. I knew a iady
whose acts were judged harshly by
nearly all who knew her. VVhile talk-
ing with her one day she spoke about
the doings of some people, that had
been condemned by those who had
heard about them. VVith quivering lip
she said, “Perhaps if we only knew how
they tried to do right; if we knew what
habits they formed in youth when they
were too young to know for themselves,
and had no one to properly direct them,
how much they had tried to govern a
temper that had become too strong for
the will, and knew of their many
temptations, we would not be so ready
tojudge.” Since then I have been
more careful. I1’ we could only stand
in other people’s places and see with
their eyes, before we formed an opin-
ion, and think whether we would do
any better were we in their place had
we their temptations. Even in the
small places where we succeed, where
we stand firm while others stumble, is
it because we are better than they ?
If we are not,wliat is the reason 2’ It is
because He hears the feeble prayer,
“ Lead us not into temptation.”

Let us all think about everything, and
be sure we find the right side. When
we pass over to the other side of death,
there will be a left and a right side
there. We must find the right side
here in order to have “ well done ”
over there.

0. A. M.

VVHi'rE LAKE, Mich.

 

Want of Courage.

BY MRS. T. CLARK.

A great deal of talent is lost in the
world for the want of courage. Every
day sends to the grave, obscure men
and women who have remained in
obscurity because their timidity has
prevented them from making their
first effort, and who, had they been
induced to begin, would have gone
great lengths in the career of fame.
The fact is, in order to do anything in
this World that is worth doing, we
must not stand trembling, and saying,
“I can’t,” but overcome this timidity
by an undaunted resolution to meet
and conquer all difficulties that may
arise. It is fear unrestrained that pre-
vents us from accomplishing very
much that is in our power. VVe may
imagine that in these days of peace,
courage is unnecessary. This isa mis-
take. Courage is as necessary to-day as
in times of waror martyrdom. It is
not battle-fields or the stake _alone that
try the soul and demand courage,

neither does it require extraordinary
circumstances to learn to practice

 

courage. If it did we might dispair of
acquiring it. Every day life calls loud-
lv for its exercise. Does it require
no courage to stand firmly in the
principles of right and truth ; no cour-
age to meet the opposition to our Order
as a Grange; and does it not require a
strong, undaunted courageous spirit to
prepare and read our essays before this
refined and intelligent society. And it
is for the want of courage that our
programs have so often been a fail-
ure. No doubt very much talent lies
hidden under timidity which only
needsa little moral courage to present
to the world as biight a talent as has
ever been found in history.

 

“ Excelsior ” Reproved.
BERLIN, Mich., Nov. 24, 1879.
Bro. J. T, Cobb .-

I don’t know but I am presuinptiuus
in addressing you, never having writ-
ten a newspaper article, but- I wish to
say a few words in reply to an article
which appeared in your paper a few
weeks ago, signed “Excelsior.” I do
not know what his object could have
been in writing as he did, whether it
was to provoke con troversy,or whether
he wrote out his honest convictions.
If he did, I pity him and his wife too,
it’ he has one. He, because of the sel-
fish views he takes of humanity at
large. She, if she is a woman of ordi-
nary intellect, because she has to be tied
to suchga narrow, contracted mind. 1
do not believe he belongs to the Grange,
or else he has not been rightly instruct-
ed in the beautiful lessons taught in
our ritual. I think if he thinks so
much of England’s laws, he had better
emigrate there for this country’s good,
for he can rest assured that in this glo-
rious Republic there will be no such
thing as American nobility established.
And another thing perhaps, there he
could find his proper place which I am
sure would not entitle him to more than
one vote, if any at all, according to his
ideas of voting.

I know there are many of our laws
that need reforming, but I do not sup-
pose it will ever be done so long as man
holds the ballot exclusively, for “men
seldom improve when they have no
other models but themselves to copy
after.” It is a good thing that “Excel-
sior,” as he styles himself, is not a
member of the Legislature, and will not
have the framing of the prohibitory
law. I wonder if he thinks there is a
woman in the State of Michigan that
would be fool enough to vote for such
a law if she had the chance, as he would
like to have. If he does, Ican tell him
there is not, for they do not believe in
praying for the cause of temperance,
and then go and vote for the whisky
and beer saloons, as many of you of the
nobler sex do. .

Nobler sex, indeed, I wonder where
“Excelsior” thought he would go
when he wrote that. I am glad Mr.
Editor you did not print his communi-
cation in the Ladies’ Department, for I
think it is a disgrace to any place. “Ex-
celsior ” seems to think that the man
with the most money should cast the
votes and thus build up a great monied
monopoly to the detriment of all but
the rich. I wonder if he would think
so if he was not worth a dollar.

Just let him wait till suffrage is grant-
ed, as it surely will be, then we will see
whether it is money or brains that
rule. One of the first laws that will be
enforced, will be that no one shall vote
unless they can read and write and
qualify themselves to become voters.
There would not be so many whisky
votes polled if all were rightly educat-
ed. 1 fear my communication is al-
ready to long, but if this meets with
approval I may write again.

EQUALITY.

VVORTH REMEMBERING.-—It is not
what we earn, but what we save, that
makes us rich. It is not what we eat, but
what we digest, that makes us fat. It
is not what we read, but what we re-
member, that makes us learned. All
this is very simple, but it is worth
remembering.

Bro. Mortimer Whitehead’s address
before the National Grange was a wor-
thy effort, and does him and the Order
credit. All our readers will look for it
in the proceedings of the N8»ti0D3»1
Grange, when published.

..___._________.________..

SNAKE stories should not general] ,
be ‘credited, unless the name and res -
deuce of the snake is given. ,

I

 


~'.~..,.‘v’%(inl!lI£hsr¢Ynig~v*rw-».-«~»»~m

   

HOW A PAPER IS MADE.

“Pray, how is a newspaper made ?"
The question is easy to ask,
But to answer it fully, my dear,
Were rather a. difiicult task ;
And yet in a bantering way,
As the whippoorwill sings in the glade,
I’ll venture a bit of a lay,
To tell how a paper is made.

An editor sits at his desk,
And ponders the things that appear

To be claiming the thoughts of the worl«l—
Things solemn, and comic, and queer—-

And when he has hit on a theme
He judges it well to parade,

He writes, and he writes, and he writes,
And that’s how it paper is made.

An editor sits at his desk,
And puzzles his brain to make out
“ Telegraphic” so squabbled and mixed.
It’s hard to tell what it’s about.
Exchniiges are-lying around,
\Yhile waiting dispatches delayed,
He clips, and he clips. and he clips,
And that's how a paper is made.

An editor out in the town.
In search of the things that are new--
The things the people have done,
The things they’re intending to do——-
Goes peering and prying about
For items of many a grade,
He tramps, and he tramps, and he tramps,
And that’s how a paper is made.

And all that these workers prepare,
Of every conceivable stripe,

Is sent to the printer, and he
Proceecleth to stick it in type.

His lines, all respecting his will,
In slow-moving columns parade—

He sticks, and he sticks, and he Sl.lCl§F,
And that's how a paper is made.

In short, when the type is all set,
And errors cleared up more or less,

'Tis “locked up in a form,” as we say,
And hurried away to the press j.

The pressnian arranges his sheet,
His ink gives the requisite shade,

Then he prints, and he prints,and he prints,
And that's how a paper is made.

ltlnuiitiiiuitatiniis.

Letter from Gov. Sessions,—No. 5.

Bonn, Nov. 2-1, 1879.
Bro. J. T. Cobb:

Any of your readers who will take
time to look over the statutes of Micli.,
will find: 1. A general law providing
for the organization of cities. 2. A
general law providing for the organiza-
tion of villages. I shall not undertake
to decide whether these general laws
are as liberal as they should be, or
whether they are properly limited. If
there ai‘e.any defects in them in either
regard it would seem easy to point to
them and provide a remedy.

The constitution prohibits the crea-
tion of corporatioiis by special act, ex-
cept for municipal purposes. \Vhy
this exception was made does not seem
clear, but it is certain that great ex-
pense of time and money is occasioned
by special acts of incorporation, and
they occasion much trouble, inequality
and injustice.

The constitutional provision relating
to the power and duty of the legisla-
ture in the matter is very simple and
plain, to-wit “The Legislature shall
provide for the incorporation and or-
ganization of cities and villages, and
shall restrict their powers of taxation,
borrowing money, contracting debts.
and loaning their credit.” It would
seem to be easy to accomplish this ob-
Jfict by general laws applicable to all in
like condition, available to all who de-
sire their protection, and operating
equally so far as it is desirable or proper
for the law to operate at all. The prac-
tice that prevails, however, with very
rare exceptions, is to ignore the general
laws provided, and as often as the legis-
lature convenes, applications come from
almost every city and village in the
State for special charters,or amendments
t0 Special charters, and the committees
and the public press are put to work to
grind them out at public expense. It
13 the practice, I believe, to have the
charter drawn or copied by an attorney,
Presented by the member representing
the city or village, and referred to acom-
inittee. The business of the committee is
10 harmonize the turbid spirits of those
who volunteer to represent the people
3'3 _h0me by looking well to their own
Private interests. If the committee
Succeed in this, as thev sometimes do,
they report the bill, arid under the rule
ll 8066 to the printer. After being
printed at public expense, it often hap-
Pells that it is so much changed by the

THE GRANGE VISITOR.

interference and solicitation of those

who havejconflicting interests, thatit is
ordered printed again. ’ Aside from the
member from the city or village, and

local lobby, no one takes any interest
in the bill. It is passed in committee
of the whole without reading. On its
final passage it is read only by its title,

the ayes and nays are called, and the
grave and honored Senators and Rep-
resentatives look solemn, and vote aye!

with the tacit understanding that they
are all in the same boat—or may be-
and that they must be kind and help
each other. After passage it goes to the
Governor. Perhaps it is read: I
cannot say. If he does read them all,
his salary should be increased, and his
life insured. If he signs it, it must'be
printed once again at public expense,
and add page after page to the useless
lumber that cumbers our session laws,
only waiting for another good natured
Legislature to amend or repeal the Whole
of it. I regard itas a great misfortune
that the people of the State are not
protected from such reckless, yet costly
legistation. It inflicts serious injury
upon many of our people. It is a re-
proach to all.

I am not able to write more now, and
desire to make my letter short. Have
more to say on this subject in future.

Yours Truly,
AL()1\'ZO SE:-:sic.\‘s.

tance to. its future in our locality are to
be considered, among them being the
formation of a Pomona Grange.

B. E. BENEDICT. Pres.

MARILLA, Dec. 10, 1879.
Biro. J. T. Cobb:

We wish to notify the members of
the Manistee District Grange that the
next meeting, which will be held in
Marilla, will be the annual meeting.
and we wish all the officers to bring or
send the rituals belonging to the
Grange. Meeting to commence at 2
o’clock, p. in, 1st Tuesday in January.

Mrs. J. A. Poem, Sec.

Sonns, Mich, Dec. 8, ’T9.
Bro. J. T. Cobb.-

Berrien County Pomona Grange No.
1, will hold its next regular session at
Berrien Center Grange Hall, on Tues-
day, the 13th day of January, 1880, at
10 o'clock “a. m. A full attendance is
expected. Let every subordinate
Grange be well represented. The elec-
tion of officers, and other important
business will be transacted. Come and
make the meeting interesting.

’l‘Hos. MARS, Master.

CHAS. HOGUE, Sec’y.

éiuircapunaenu.

Farmers in Politics.
ADRIAN, Dec. 2nd, 1879.
B’/‘0. Cobb :

I am glad to read so many well writ-
ten articles on the elevation of agricul-
turalists as a class. I am a farmer, and
have been nearly all my life, and am
well aware that vve—labor under many
difliculties, but I am not one of those
who believe that all our ills can be our-
ed by one stroke of legislation, nor one
of those that believe laws should be
passed in our interest solely because we
are farmers. I am opposed to class
legislation under all circumstances.
W'e have a great work to do to prepare
ourselves for the responsibilities in life
as they come upon us, as private citi-
zens or public olficers, not because we
are farmers, but because we are mem-
bers of this great Commonwealth.
These are provisions in the Constitu-
tion [see Constitution, U. S., Sec. 8,
Art. 3.] upon which legislation can -be
based, which would be sojust and cor-
rect, and which if had, would not only
benefit the producer, but would bring
reliefto the laboring millions who suf-
fer from the effects of discrimination in
freights. The true way to obtain such
legislation is not to berate our repre-
sentatives in Congress by calling them
lawyers and such other names, as shall
seem to answer our ends for political
effect, but grant to them due respect
and consideration, believing them to
be good men and capable of looking at
all questions fairly, until we are con-
vinced to the contrary, but remember-
ing that our nine representatives look
upon questions that come before them
for consideration as lawyers (if I mis-
take not,) whose training and culture
must have led them in nearly the same
channel. Now let us in our respective
districts, change the order of things a.
little by sending occasionally a farmer,
a doctor, a merchant, ‘or a mechanic,
ever believing that these would make
good come from the deliberations of
good men whose training has caused
them to look at the same subject from
different standpoints.

Let us ask to have the next governer,
because We can nametlie man who is
eminently fitted to be Governor. Let
us ask to have some members in Con-
gress because we have farmers who are
well vfitted to discharge the duties of
representatives. Let us put forth the
names of none but good men, wellqua1-
ified, and our requests will be heard
and answered.

Grange Meetings.

 

 

The next regular meeting of the
Clinton County Pomona Grange will
be held at St. John’s, VVedncsday, Dec.
31st, at 1 o’clocl:. I). 111- 5h51!'l3- {H1
4th degree members are cordially in-
vited to attend. FRANK CONN.

Secretary.

The next regular meeting of the
Eaton County Quarterly Convention
P of H. will be held at Ketchum’s
Hall in Charlotte, on Wednesday. Jan-
7th 1880. All members of the Order
in Eaton County are earnestly desired
to attend, as subjects of great lmP03“

The Work at Rural Grange.

Bra. .7. T. Cobb.-

Rural Grange is not dead although
she has been slow to open communi-
cation with the Visiron whose wel-
come pages so often make us glad.
\Ve have about eighty good paying
members, most of whom attend the
meetings regularly. Our meetings are
more interesting since we adopted the
program system. This system gives
work to all, or nearly all the members.
Graiiges that have not adopted this
system, would do well to try it, and
see how much waste time can be utiliz-
ed. Much depends upon the make-up
of the program.

I think the following are some of the
questions deserving discussion in every
Grange :—

VVhich are the two best varieties of
wheat to raise ?

VVhat is the best method for prepar-
ing the ground for the seed ?

Is drilling preferable to bi'oad—cast
sowing ?

Is there any necessity for a change in
our tax laws ‘.’

VVhat is the best nietliod of cooking
beef steak ?

Is coffee better to be prepared for the
table without grinding?

Questions like these are of such a
nature that each member can talk on
them, and both give and receive more
or less ofprofitable instruction. As the
Grange advances, deeper and broader
questions may be taken up.

By the way, Bro. Cobb, your article
on the “next governor of Michigan”
seems to receive a hearty response from
everybody, not from Patrons alone, but
from outside of the Order. There can
be no possible objection by any farmer
of the State, and if all the farmers de-
mand it, they can have the pleasure of
seeing a farmer administer the high-
est office within the State. As you
suggested, we have ‘plenty of good ma-
terial to select from. Bro. J. J. Wood-
man was the first name that suggested
itself to my mind, but my next thought
was, ought he not to represent his dis-
trict in the next Congress. J. W’.
Childs, or Lieut. Gov. Sessions, would
be very acceptable names.

Yours Fraternallv.
UNCLE BEN.

OXFORD, December 9th, 1879.

J. T. Cobb: ~

I-Iaving noticed your solicitations for
articles from members to the VIs1'r_oR,
I will give you a few facts about Oxford
Grange. , _ _

It was organized in the spring of 18:4,
when Grange matters were so bouyaut,
with sixty charter members, all san-
guine of financial and social success.
Not realizing the benefits so tempt-
ingly mentioned by Bro. VVhitney,
our membership has been reduced
until only eleven of the charter mem-
bers now remain in good standing.

However some new names have been
added and we have ‘saved enough from
fees and dues to build us a good com-
fortable hall which is paid for, but only
partly furnished. ,

Nearly all the members we now have
are good live Grangers, and detcrnilned

to_ help carry out and inculcate the
principles of the Order.

Most of the families represented in
our Grange take the VISITOR; but one
brother who thought he would save the
price of _the VISITOR last year, was
muclted in the sum of six dollars by
patent gate swindlers. He-takes the
VISITOR this year. Other inembers of
our Grange took the advice of the
paper and were not molested.

I have noticed that our best working
members are those who subscribe for
Grange. papers, and who try to be
posted in parliamentary usage; and I
would here venture to assume that if
the V_Isi'roR were issued weekly, and
the digest _printed in pamphlet form,
and distributed thoroughly among
Grangers throughout the State, much
good would ensue.

Yours fraternally,
J. G. Nonns, Sec‘y.
ALLENDALE, Ottowa C0,, Mich. i
November 23, 1879. {

Editor Grange Vis2'tor .-

At a late meeting of Allendale
Grange. No. 421, P. of H., quite a
pleasant occurrence, and something out
of the usual order of things, took place,
namely, the presentation of five dollars
to _Wm. Rool, on the occasion of his
retiring from the office of Secretary,
which he has held for several consecu-
tive terms.

The gift was presented in‘ the name
of Allendale Grange by Si:-terAma.nda
Cooley, as a testimonial of l‘L‘g'i1l'(‘l and
esteem. The Worthy sister reinarked
that the members did not wish it to be
considered as remuneration for services
rendered the Grange, butas a testimon-
ial of the high regard in which the
Secretary and wife were held by the
members of the Grange.

After thanking the Grange for their
kind expression of regard, the Past Seo-
retary took occasion to remind the
Patrons present what the duties of a
good Patron were, and urge the neces-
sity of living up strictly to the obliga-
tions taken by each member upon join-
ing the Grange. He also urged the cul-
tivation of the intellect of the members
by every possible means. In conclud-
ing his remarks, lie urged the members
to cultivate the fraternal tie cnjoiiiecl
in the working of the Order, and to
practice in their daily walkzind conver-
sation that charity which feels for and
relieves the idistresses of not only the
brothers and sisters of our Order, but
that sympatliizes with all mankind.

GRANGER.

 

YI"SILA.\"l‘I, Nov. 27, 1879.
Bro. C’obb .-

Ypsilanti Grange, No. 56, tool; a
new departure on the 1st of November
—or in other words, they moved from
the old hall into the new.

Our new hall is situated in the third
story over the store of Harris Bros, in
the new Union block erected this last
summer. \Ve have the whole upper
story, consisting of hall and ante-room.

The dedicatory service was conducted
by Brother Thos. F. Moore, of Adrian,
and he did it in a very able manner.
After the Master’s address of welcome,
Bro. Moore was again introduced, and
his address was one that pleased all
who heard it, both members of the
Order and those who were not, spoke
highly of it.

After partaking of reficslimcnts, the
Grange held a meeting in the evening,
which was not public, and Bro. Moore
was again called upon, and he made a
telling speech, which I wish every
member of the Order could have heard.

Bros. J. VV. VVing and J. W’. C-hilds
were also called upon and ably re-
sponded. The labors of the day being
over, the Grange closed.

And now Ypsilanti Grange is ready
for business, at least ought to be. It
was said that Ypsilanti Grangeiwould
never stand, being in the city, but we
have weathered the storm so far, and
have ninety-six members, and if we do
not stand now it is our own fault.

Yours fraternal] y,
No. .56.

AN unknown man killed by the cars.
in Connecticut on Saturday had in his
pockets 60 cents and a pair of scissors,
indicating that he was connected with
journalism.”

MARRIED.

WOODWORTH — MASON. —— Iii Lansing,
Mich., at the Potter House, on the 9tn instuvléy
Rev. J. Crabbe, of Morenci, Bro. George .
Woodworth, Master of Morenci Grange N o. 280,

to Sister Alice Mason. Secretary of said Grange.


 

TIIEIEEAPER, nnmrn.

LILLIE.—Died at her home in Talmadge,
Ottawa Co., Mich., Sarah, wife of Joel Lillie,
after a long illness. '

She was a charter member of Ottawa Grange
No. 30. While her health pepmitted. she was
an earnest worker in the Grange, but she has
left us to join the Great Grange above. She
was loved while here and will long be remem-
bered; therefore,

Resolved, That we as a Grange most earnestly
sympathize with the afliicted family.

Resolved, That our charter be draped in
mourning for sixty days.

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread
upon the Grange record, a copy be presented to
the family of the deceased, and to the GRANGE
Visiron for publication.

Mus. THOMAS WILDE,

Mus. JOHN S1cKLEs,

Mus. L. H. CADY,
Committee.

Michigau”s Temper-
THU.l.H.|-El-I_EH__ance paper. Only a
Dollar a year. Wide

awake and progressive. Send postal for list of
I50 choice books offered as premiums. Special
rates to Unions and Clubs and New Sub-
scribers, for purposes of introduction. In
Clubs of not less than ten, 50 cents a year.
Rare chance for Temperance Societies to scatter
fresh literature at Cost. The organ of the new
Red Ribbon Constitutional Amendment move-
ment and of the W. C. T. Unions, and is pro-
nounced the best temparance paper ever pub-
lished in Michigan. ' F. H. BURGESS, 211 J of-
ferson Avenue, Detroit.

      
 

/' I " // . 4' 2
, .(.;ry/4/fig//74

ACTUAL

Z “A.



COLLEGE

——AND——

WRITING INSTITUTE,

KALAMAZOO. MICH.
§Send for JOURNAL giving particulars.

Letters and Flowers

-:F'()R——

Decorating Grange Halls

and Homes.

I can furnish BEAUTIFUL LETTERS in
any color, in Old English Text or Medieval
Text, for Mottoes, &c., in Halls. Churches and
Rooms. These letters are eight inches long-
the capitals are 12 inches. Price for 20 or
more, in one order,

Five Cents Each, by Mail.

EVEBLASTING FLOWERS, Green, &c.,

for Bouquets and Trimming, by Mail or Ex-
press. Address,
C. L. VVI-IITNEY.
Dec. 15, l879.

HAPPY CHILDREN I

In answer to many urgent Requests from Town
and Country, the Publishers of

“OUR LITTLE GRANGERS”
Have concluded to issue it by itself at

ONLY :25 CENTS A YEAR 2
This will give thousands of Boys and Girls a.
chance to have a good paper Am. '1‘nr.xn OWN.
The only paper ever published specially for
farmers’ chilrlren. It contains fine pictures, nice
stories, verses, puzzles, letters from little
G1-angers all over the country : pieces to speak
at school or exhibitions ; about gardens, and
flowers, and birds and pots of all kinds.
Get up a Club it your Grange, or school, or
- ' hbor ood
milfxiiaxiifi it is _o..xy’ 2:. cmrrs A YEAR.
Make the little folks happier and better.
Address,
GRANGE BULLETIN C0..
148 W_. Fourth St.. Cincinnati, 0.

nov.l-6m

§'The Kalamazoo Business ‘College is re-
ggiving a larger number of Students this year
mm It ever had. Every desk is filled and‘ it
hubeen necessary to add more to accommo-

dig the new avPIi°~“"’-

TI-IE GRANGE VISITOR.

TOO G LATE

It soon will be. The rise of more than half in
the price of Iron is more than we can stand.
For a very short time only we will receive or-
ders at old prices, viz.: 5 Ton Wagon Scales,
$50. All iron and Steel. Sold on trial-
freight paid by—no money asked till tested and
found satisfactory. All sizes.
JONES OF BINGHAMPTON,

Binghampton, ‘S , Y.

Paw Paw, Mich., May 18th, 1878.

JONES, or BINGHAMTON2

My Scales give entire satisfaction. I have
subjected it to the most severe tests, and find it
not only correct in weighing large or small
amounts, but perfectly reliable.

Yours, Fraternally,
[Signed]

J. J. WOODMAN.
Grange HEADQUARTERS.

THOMAS MASON,
General Commission Merchant

183 SOUTH VVATER STREET,

CI-I ICA(3'-(). - -

Purchasing Agenl /or the Patrons of Husband-
ry. authorized by Executive Committe of the
Michigan State Grange ; Agent of the .-‘V. IV.
Produce Exchange Associataion, principal oflice,
Buchanan, Mich. ; also, Agent of the .v‘«117chi5/an
Lake Shore Fruit Growers‘ Association, Steven-
ville, Mich.,

Respectfully solicits Consignments of

F RIIIIG. VEGETABLES. BUTTER. EGGS.

Poultry, Wool, Hides,
PELTS, TALLO W, and DRESSED HOGS.

GRAIN, I-iocs, and CATTLE
In Car Lots. Also,

V L UJIBER -in Car or Cargo Lois.

Having a large and conveniently arranged
House in the business part of the city, we are
prepare to handle goods in any quantity, and,
being on the SHADY SIDE of the street, can
show PERISHABLE goods in BEST CONDI-
TION, throughout the day. With

SUPERIOR FACILITIES,

and close personal attention to business, we
hope to merit, receive, and retain a liberal share
of our patronage.

(grders for goods in this market will be filled
at lowest wholesale rates.

ILLINOIS.

Cash must Accompany Orders
to Insure Prompt Attention.

——REFERENCES :-——-
Executive Committee of Mich. State Grange.
J. J. VVoodman, Paw Paw, Mich.
J. T. Cobb, Schoolcraft, Micb.
Herman, Schaffner & Co., Bankers, Chicago, Ill.
Thomas Mars, Berrien Centre, Mich.
W. A. Brown, Sec’y Mich. L. S. F. G. Ass'n,

Stevensville, Mich.
§” Stencils, Shipping Tags, and Ilrlorlcet Re-
ports furnished on agmllcation.

Coasusroxnaucn SOLIOITED. mar.l2’79

Paints and Paris Green.

PRICES. REDUCED FOR 1879.

nnnnnn nnnlj nnnnnn:

Ingersol1’s Ready ,Mixed Paints,
Paris Green and Brushes.

Best and Cheapest Pa-mts /in
the World.

Freight paid on Paint and Paris Green to all
parts of the country. S_o it makes no differ-
ence where you live, you get goods at the same
price as if you were at the Factory.

Our Book “How Every one can Paint,”
with 20 Brilliant Colors, Brushes, etc., illustrat-
ed, mailed free upon application to PATRONS’
PAINT CO., 162 South St., N. Y.

———TRUSTEES '———

T. A. Thompson, Pres, Past Lec. Nat. Grange
Samuel E. Adams, of Minn., Master “ N
D. Wyatt Aiken. of S. C., Ch’m Ex._Com. “
Mortimer Whitehead, of N. J., Lee. Nat. “
O. H. Kelle , Past Secretary National Grange.
J. W. A. VNright,Master Cal. State Grange.

-M. D. Davie, Master State Grange, Kentucky.

The Hiisbandman.

SIXTH ”i’EAR..

REDUCE_l_)_PRIGE 1

$1. $1.

The HUSBANDMAN has been widely recognized
as standing in the front rank of agricultural
journalism. While treating fully all questions
embraced in

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE.

it discusses with fearless ability the economic
problems that afie-ct all productive industries.
It strives earnestly to incite thought, broaden
conception and increase understanding of the
wrongs through which agriculture has suffered,
especially the

UNJUST TAXATION

fastened upon it, and the hurtful discrimina-
tions by which its products are cheapcned be-
low the cost of the labor employed in their
production.

It would stimulate self-respect among farm-
ers through we1l—applied thought, fitting them
to represent their industry in the halls of leg-
islation as avital necessity to national pros-
perity.

All the well-known features of the HUSBAND-
MAN will be maintained, including full reports
of the famous

ELIIIHA FARMERS CLUB DISCIISSIIINS,

and from time to time editorial letters of travel
and observations abroad.

ITS LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS ’
will embrace many writers whose work has al-
ready added largely to the interest and value of
its columns.

It will present complete reports of NEW
YORK and PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.

A FREE COPY will be sent to any person
who forwards in one order the names and ad-
dresses of ten subscribers, new or old, with ten
dollars in payment there for.

Remittances may be made by draft on New
York, Postoflice money order, or in currency.
Checks on country banks involving expense in
collection must have ten cents added to meet
such cost,

Drafts, Postofiice money-order and checks
should be made payable and all letters ad-

dressed to
HUSBANDMAN,
ELMIBA, N. Y.
Sample copies free on application.

Two Good Papers!

A X’EAIR..

THE CINCINNATI GRANGE BULLETIN.

A large eight page, weekly, Grange,
Agricultural, and Family paper. now
in its Fifth year of publication, devoted
to the Grange, the Farm, the Home
Circle, and the interests of the Farmer
and his Family, everywl_zere. .It aims to
be first-class in every respect, believing
that the farmers deserve to have, and
will support a paper that in all its De-
partments would be THE BEST. Agri-
culture, Iforticulture, Crops and Mar-
ket Reports, Topics of the Times, Grange
1Veuvs from every State, (to. Price $1.60
per year, postage paid.

Our Little Grangers.

Published monthly for the little folks
of the farm, and designed for their
Homes, their Schools, their Granges,
their Gardens, their Pets, and their
Flowers; to help them in loving the
Good, the Beautiful, the True, the
Home, the Farm, the Grange, and their
Native Land. Price only .-.5 cents per
year, sentf/-cc to all subscribers to the
C’incinnat-i Grange Bulletin, or two good
papers for the price of one. Address:

GRANGE BULLETIN Co.
148 \V. 4th St., Cincinnati, 0.
Send for Sample copies, free. novl-Gm

£8‘ 'S'.L.S'I’I pro IHJ 210.1 '(IA[[+I.S' w

“nnnnfl inning   nnnnnnnlggli
"lVN.l9It:|O
'SIO.l\II'I'II - ‘OOVOIHD

‘EIIINIEAV HSVEIVAA 688 PU? A88

‘'03 :9 prom Altewofiiuoyq ;

GEO. W. HILL & 00.,
80 Woodbridge St, - - Detroit,

Are now prepared to handle

I/V/zeal, Oats and Com,

IN CAR. LOTS.

Having plenty of storage room we can also
handle

APPLE S. POTATOES,

BEANS. B U'.l"I‘ER,
CHEESE, EGGS .

and in fact anything and everything that a
farmer has to sell,

011 as Favorable Terms as any
House in the City.

We also PURCHASE ALL KINDS OF

GOODS for STORES, CLUBS and Families

At the Lowest Wholesale Price.

fi@"‘ Co71sz'_qmnents and Orders .S'olic'iled.
jyl2-no70tf.

'1‘. J’. STRONG,

Monterey, Allogan Co., Mich-.

Breeder and Shipper of Pure

Improved Chester Whites

Bred from the Noted Herd of S. H.
TODD, of Wakeman, Ohio.
$’Correspondence Solicited.

PRICE LIST of SUPPLIES

Kept in the ofilce ofthe Secretary or the
MICHIGAN S TA T E GRANGE.
And sent out Post Paid,  Receipt of Cash Or-
der, over the seal of a Subordinate Grange,

and the signature of its Master or Secretary.

Porcelain Ballot Marbles, er hundred,. . . 60
Blank Book, ledger ruled, Ibr Secretary to
keep accounts with members,.... .. . . . . l 00
Blank Record Books, (Express aid),.. . . . l 00
Order Book, containing 100 0 ers on the
Treasurer, with stub, well bound, .... . . 60
Receipt Book, containing 100 Receipts
from Treasurer to Secretary, wi/th stub, '
well bound, ......................... . . 60

   

Blank Recei ts for dues, per 100, bound,. . 50
Cushing’s Mpanual,... ................. .. 60
Applications for Membership, per l00,.... .50
Membershi Cards, per 100, . . . . . ...... . . 60
Withdraw Cards, per doz.,........  25
Dimits, in envelopes, per doz., . . . . . . . . . . . 25
By-Laws of the State Grange, single '
copies 13¢, per doz., .... . . . ........... . . 35
New kind of Singing Books, with music,
Single copy 16 cts. per doz., .......... . . 1 80
Rituals, single copy,.. .. . . .. .. . 15
“ per doz., .......... . .. . . . . . . . . .. 1 50

Blank “Articles of Association” 'for the
Incorporation of Subordinate Grange:
with opy of Charter, all complete,. . . . . 10

Patron’s Pocket Companion, by J. A. Cra-
mer, Cloth, ......................... - -

Notice to Delinquent Members, pe!'10°- - - 40

Address, J. T. COBB-
Sro’r Mica. Sure GRANGE-
SCHOOLCRAFT. MICH-

 

........«u-.~u.......... -............,......s............_....__.._.,_ ,

 


 

 EXECUTIVE

Michigan State

[Kalamazoo Publishing Cofls Print.]

VOL. 4.—No. 2--l
WHOLE No 80.

llIAS’[‘F.R’S ADDRESS.

lVp1r_lll,y_ Prtlgpriés, grid Zlfcuibcrs of the
4’ lcrllgtlil U 6 rcmge .'

Time, in its onward march, has agaiii
called us tog:-tlier in our Annual Ses-
sion, to consider inatters relating to the
preseiit coiidlt-ion and future pro_spe_i‘it-y
at our great agriculltiral orgaiiizatioii.

The prcsen year has been one of tili-
usual prosperity to the liusbandman.
The earth has yielded a lJ()lll]l2-lllll liar-
vest as a reward for faitliful and intelli-
gent l:,ib_or; p and fair prices for farm
produi-e has had a tendency to liberate
(‘.2lpllt'tll:ll‘l\l force it into the channels of
active tisiness.

Agaiii we rejoice at the sound of the
carpenter’s hammer, tiie ring of the
anvil, the smoke of the furnace, and
the litim of the spindle. Coiititience is
being restored, debts paid, niortgages
disth-.ii'ged, or pedluced to a lower rate
of iiiteiest, am tie farther begins to
see the light behind the cloud and the
“ how ofhprolnise ” in the heavens.

For t is returiiiiig pros erity, and
0lllt‘l‘l{lll(l1l"€(l bjessings, lctp us render
-vi‘-atel'til ac ‘now edgements to God and
invoke His aid and guidance ill the
woik before us.

Although our Organization has had
an existeiicc of nearly twelve years in
this country, and seven in this State,
and (1)l1l‘ Declaratiog of Purposes pub-
ll>l_ll:( to the worl , yet the do not
seem to be well understood yby those
“outside the gates,” and some members
of our Order do not full ' ap teciate the
inipoitance of the highyandpnoble pur-
poses for which we are organized, alid
their bearing upon the present and fu-
ture agricultural interests in this coun-
trv.

lf the farmers of our much favored
land fail to gather wisdom from the
history of the unorganized agriculture
of the Old \V()l‘ld, and pelmit others to
do their reading, their thinking, their
writing, their speaking, their business,
and their legislation, it will not re-
quire the gift of a prophet to tell what
their future will be. '

’l‘he history of the Old \Vorld has
been but the history of oppression to
the tiller olttie soil. He has been de-
prived of the ownership of the soil he
cultivates—reduced to a mere tlenant, a
serf_ dependent upon the WI 1 of his
lord and master, who fixes the price
upon the pioducts of his labor, thereby
f]l_I‘(:u(ll]_lSCI‘ll.;lIlg his action and lufilltg

im e enterit u on its wil. eis
thus delprived of tphe right to stand up
in the “ima re of his i\laker,” and pride
of his manhzjood, and show himself the
peer of others in social lite, intellectual
culture, business relations, and political
influence.

The following, from our “Declaration
of Purposes,” should be well consid-
ered and understood :

“ To develop a better and higher
manhood and womanhood among our-
selves. To enhance the comforts and
attractions of our homes. and strength-
eti our attachment to our pursuit. To
foster mutual understanding and co-
Operation. To buy less and produce
more, in order to make our homes self-
:-:u.-taining. To diversify our crops. and
crop no more than we can cultivate.
To condense the weight of our exports.
selling less in the bushel, and more on
hoof and in the fleece. To systematize
our work and calculate intelligently on
probabilities. To discounteuauce the
gfelht system, the mortgage systeII1.th*=

ashion system and every other systrm
tending to prodigality and bankruptcy.
To bring producers and consumers.
farmers and manufacturers, into the
most direct and friendly relations pos-

'.’:S.}. . . .

0 encourage the building of rail-
Ioads, canals, and to open out the chau-

 

lyl U N 11114]

SCHOOLCRAFT, DECEMBER 15:11, !879.

nels ‘in I\'ature’s great arteries, so that
the life blood of commerce may flow
l'l‘eel_V. "

“_'l‘o rernove the antiigoniszn between
capital and labor by coinmon consent
and a wise statesnialisliip.

“T0 oppose excessive sll.lai'ics, high
rate of interest, and exorbitant per cent
profits in trade. To S‘.lppl‘t'Sb‘ personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices,
all unhealthy rivalry, and all selfisli
ambition. To encourage cducatioii
among ourselves, and foriour children,
by all just L116;-lllS in our power, and to
advocate for our Agricultural and Ili-
dustrial_Colleges that practical agricul-
ttire, doinestic science, and all the arts
which adorn the home, be taught in
their cotirses of study. To induce
fartners to takea more active partin
the politics of the coutrolry, and to work
for good in the political parties to
wliich they belong, piitting down
tii’ibei‘y, coi'riiptioii and trickt-ry—', and to
see that honest men, who will unflinch-
iiigly stand by our industrial lllt-€'l‘(’Slil~‘,
are nominated for positions of trust.
and to carry out the principle whit:-h
should always characterize every Pa-
tron, that (lie ofiice should seek the mom,
and not the man. the oj7‘z‘ce.”

For the acconiplisliment of these
grand purposes, our Subordinate, Coun
ty, State. and Natl -nal Granges are la-
boring and inspiring their members to
read, think, study, investigate, discuss,
and act for themselves; to extend their
acquaiiitance, not only among success-
ful business farmers, but among busi-
ness inen engaged in other pursuits in
life. The Granges are but so many
schools, where questions relating to
practical farming, practical business,
and all the diversified interests of agri-
culture, are discussed; and where D101’-
al culture, social refincincut, and ment-
al powers are developed. Tliro’ these
and otiier kindred influences connected
with the work of our Order, farmers
have been inspired with a laudable
ambition to excel in their profession;
and are emulating worthy examples,
and utilizing practical ideas in the cul-
tivation, management, and other busi-
iless relations connected with the farm.

As the results of this work, farms are
better cultivate-cl; labor-saving imple-
ments and machinery are more gener-
ally used ; fertilizers are more prudent-
ly saved, better prepared. and more in-
telligently applied to the soil and the
growing crops ; crops are more diversi-
fied, and more systematically rotated ;
stock upon the farms has been improved
and the amount raised and kept largely
increased; noxious weeds have been
eradicated from the fields, the fence-
rows, and the highways; fences and
buildings have been repaired, and home
surroundings made more convenient,
pleasant and comfortable. The cultiva-
tiun of fruits and flowers have been en-
ctiuraged, adding to the income of the
farm and the attraction;-iof home. Fam-
ily circles are enlivened with music,
and readings, and amusements, and
u,.,_.fu1 (;¢)11ver5aiil,v[]. Acquaintances
are extended, and the social mingling
or friends and neiglihors increased.
Family jars, and dissensions, and sepa-
rations liave been prevented, nelgl1bor-
hood disagreements have been settled,
and litigation avoided.

Libraries have been established,
and the ieadiiig of agricultural jour-
nals encouraged. To this record of
progress must be added the inter-
e3|iug fact, that during the past
few years, and since our organiza-
ti..n has had an existence and an‘in—
fluence in this State, the productive-
f|rSS of the farms has been most Won-
derludy increasetfby better cultivation
and more tliorfrllgh M151 Sy5t?mauc
farming; and this too during a time of
tho greatest financial depression ever
known in the history of this country.

It would be assuming too much to
claim that all these results have been
accomplished wholly through the in-
fluence of our Organization. Agricul-
tural jouriials, societies, fairs, farmers’
cltibs, and our Agl'l(.‘,llltlll'al College,
with its system of fariiie-i“s‘ institutes.
have done the-=ir full share of the work,
and should receive our full and earnest
support; but the work and influence of
these organizations and institutions
are conipaiatively local; and in addi-
tion to all these, we want. an organiza-
tion petfcct. in all its parts through
which we can unite our eflorts in pro-
ter-ting our riglits and elevating our
profession, an ()'i‘_'-_jalllZEt[l0l], capable
of g asping with great. questions of
public. policy, command respect in both
Slate and Nation, and make its influ-
ence felt. Such an organization is the
Order of Patrons of Husbandry, and
the work it has already undertaken
and accoinplished, has demonstrated
both its influence and its necessity.

In several of the Vvestern States the
farmers subscribed liberally, creating
debts and iiiortgaging their farms to
build railroads to carry their produce
to market. The managers ofthe roads,
after absorbing the stock, raised the
rates for transporting farm products so
high as to absorb almost the entire prof-
its cf the farrns.

True to that principle enunciated in
our Declaration of Purposes, that, as an
Order we shall “ oppose such spirit
and management of any corporation or
enterprise as tends to oppress the peo-
ple antl rob them of theirjust profits,”
the Granges brought ati influence to
bear npcn legislation, which restilted
in the enactment of laws regulating the
rates which railroad companies should
be allowed to charge for transporting
freight over their lines of road within
the State. ‘

These laws were resisted by the com-
panies on the ground that they were
operating under general laws or special
charters, and were therefore above and
beyond Legislative control. The com-
panies were prosecuted, and a case car-
ried to the Supreme Court of the Uni-
ted Sates. and from that high tribunal
came the decree, which was liailed with
joy by the people every where, that
“ 9~az'lroa.d corpor-ations are subject to
Legislative cmilrol.” The Board of
Railroad Commissioners of Massa-
chusetts, in their next annual report,
after the decision was made, paid our
Order this high compliment: “The
Patrons of the VVest have done more
good to the country in demonstrating
that railroads are subject to legislative
control than would be required to bal-
ance the whole cost of their organiza-
tion.”

By this just and wise decision, the
power of one Legislative body to con-
fer special franchises upon a corpora-
tion by which it could oppress and rub
the people, and which a subsequent
Legislature could neither modify nor
repeal, was emphatically denied, and
full power given to Congress to regu-
late inter-State commerce. _

The power ofa State Legislature to
regulate commerce within the State
was also aflirmed. Hence, through
the influence of this Organization, the
great principle, that “the people.
through their chosen representatvies in
Congress and the State Legislatu res,cau
regulate and control the carrying trade
of the country, has been established.”
and it now remains to be seen whether
this power will be exercised by the
people or not. As yet-,the railroads con-
trol the situation, and chargelu-‘l7 Such
rates as they may’ deem necessary to
enable their roads to earn the largest
possible amount of money, regardless
of the rights of the people. ‘

This has been practically demonstra-
ted by the recent advance in freight

I31 TOR

O

COMMITTEE 

Grange, P. of H,

‘_.

. % YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
will Expire with.No.

rates by all the great trunk lines, and
b_' the det-laratioii of one of the freight
agents at. ‘tli'eiri'eceiit meeting iti New
York,in airswci‘ to tlieqtiesiion.“ VVliat;
rates his road intended to fix upon a
certain important article of com-
m_t-rce? ” “ Just such rates as the article
w/.ll_bea/‘,7’ responded the agent.  _

Since the present grain crop '6? the
VVest commenced to move eastward,
the freight rates from our State to the
seaboard have been advanced thirty
cents on each one hundred pounds, or
eighteeti cents on a bushelof wheat. Es-
timatiiig the wheat crop of the State

which goes into coiiimerce at 20,000,000
bushels, and this will make a tax upon
the !"arn'iei's of this State of $360,000
on the wheat crop alone. Add to this,
twenty-rive cents to each one hundred
pounds of the gross weight of all the
cattle, swine, sheep, dressed meat, and
other farm products shipped to the
Eastern market, and it will swell
the aniountto a sum ‘that will be
stattling to contemplate. There has
been a recent advance of fifteen cents a
bushel on clover-seed, making the
freight on a bushel of that product to
New York one dollar. ‘Why is tiii-.’
VVestern clover seed is wanted in the
Eastern market, and the advance in
the market price there is added to the
freight and pocketed by the railroad
companies, thus robbing the \Vesit~rn
farmers of their just profits. It is fair
to presume that railroad compaiilcs
were not carrying freight for less th-iii
they could afford to before the atlVtililft:,'
and that the present high tariffs have
been added simply because the frei»_.rlit
agent decided " that the articles worllzl
bear it, and the Western farmers woulcl
stand it. It seems that this gt'aspilig
avariciousness of railroad managers can
only be checked by the strong arm of a.
National law, regulating freight upon
all through lines of road. And there is
no more fitting place for this great
question to be considered, and measures
adopted, to enlighten public sentiment
upon this ‘great wrong, and influence
legislation to correct it, than this body,
composed as it is of representative
farmers from almost every portion of
our State. It should not be approached
in any spirit of hostility to the rail-
roacls,for they have rights which should
be protected, but it should be consid-
ered in the light of fairness, justice.
and equity. The evil can be remedied
by a law of Congress, either establish-
ing maximum rates for through lines,
or by creating a National board of Con-
trol, with full power to regulate and
fix such rates for transporting freight
over the lines of all roads engaged in
inter-State commerce, as will be just to
the companies. and, at the same time,
protect the rights of the people. Let
this question he considered, and Con-
gress appealed to for relief.

PATENT RIGHT LAWS.

The recent experience which the far-
mers of this State have had with Pat-
ent Right swindling, renders it proper
for me to refer to this subject: The
Patent Law now upon the statute books,
as interpreted by the courts, making
the innocent purchaser, or maker of
any article or implement purchased or
made in good faith for his own use,
WithOl‘t/ ally notice, or even knowledge
of its being an infringement of a patent
right, liable to be prosecuted for violat-
ing the United State Patent Laws,_is
an outrage upon common sense. a vio-
lation of every principle of justice and
equity, and a disgrace to free Republican
institutions. _

For the past. twenty years or more,
the farmers of this State have been
constructing and using upon their
farms a cheap substitute fora farm gate,
in the form of a. sliding fence _ panel.
without molestation, and with no

knowledge that it had ever been, pat-


  

2

   

ented; No one ever imagined that in
using this “sliding gate,” that he was
liable to be prosecuted in the United

States court, and be compelled to go-

fift.y or one hundred miles from home
to be tried, until they were called upon
by the agent of Dale, Bagley & Root, of
Ypsilanti, and notified that the said
gate was patented by John C. Lee, of
Ohio in 1865. and that they owned the
right of this State, The royalty claini-
ed and collected by this firm under
threats of prosecution was five cents
upon each acre in a man’s farm. Farin-
ers paid under protest, and all seemed
to begoing Well with tliefirm, until Bro.
Henry D. Platt. of Ypsilanti Grange,
became satisfied that the patent under
which royalty was being collected, had
no legal existence; and advised the
farmers to cease paying royalty. and
forma Mutual Defense Association for
the protection of each others interests.
The association was formed, and Bro.
Platt appointed agent, with power to
employ counsel, and defend every suit
commenced against farmers of this
State for using this gate. The State
Grange at its last session took ac-
ti nd fully endorsed the acts of the
assogation, and appealed to the Subor-
dinate Granges for material aid, and to
Patrons everywhere, to resist payment
and co-operate in mutual defense.

Twenty nine suits were commenced,
and Messrs. Beaks & Cutchen, of De-
troit, and E. P. Allen, of Ypsilanti,
employed as counsel for the farmers.
John C. Lee was found, and Ohio and
other States searchedfor witnesses. It
was found that a patent on this gate
Was also issued to A. C. Teal, of Illinois,
prior to the Lee patent, and as early as
Dec. 1st, 1863. it was also evident that
the Lee Patent was an infringment up-
on the Teal Patent. The prosecution
then it appears, purchased the Teal Pat-
ent, and came into court, with supple-
mental bill, to include both patents in
their case. This was denied by the
court, and the test case under the Lee
Patent argued, and dismissed withal
the other case, on the ground that there
was no “ patentable difference between
the Lee and the Teal Patents, and that
the Lee was an infringement upon the
Teal.”

Two suits were then commenced on
the Teal Patent, one against VV. H.
Randall, of Washtenaw County, and

"the other against Amos Redmore, of

Tuscola County. Bro. Platt appeared
wih his counsel to defend both cases.
After a little more than one year in
court, attended with all the perplexi-
ties of litigation, the case was brought
to a final hearing, and resulted in a
decided victory for the farmers. The
defence made but. one point against the
Teal Patent, and that was prior use,
which was proved by a large number
of witnesses, and to the entire satisfac-
tion of the Court, its use dating back
fourteen years before the Teal Patent
was issued. The successful defense of
these cases has demonstrated the neces-
sity for organized efi'ort,and thorough co-
operation among farmers for their own
protection. Bro. Platt says, “Had it
not been for the Grange organization, I
could have done nothing.” Then let
it be said to the credit and honor of
this Organization that it has saved to
the farmers of this State alone a sum
estimated at more than half a million
dollars, if computed at five cents per
acre upon the farms using the gate.
But these unjust extortions do not stop
here. More than two hundred suits have
already been commenced against per-
sons in this State for using the Glenn &
Hall clover hullers, which were bought
in good faith, paid for in full, and the
right to use guaranteed by the manufac-
turer. But now comes John C. Bird-
sell, claiming that these machines
contained some principal or combina-
tion which infringed upon his patent
previously obtained, and demand a
royalty of $100 of every man who ever
owned an interest in one of these
machines. He also claims that his
right to collect this royalty of innocent
parties has been confirmed by the U. S.
Circuit Court of the Northern District
of Ohio. Patent right agents are also
preambulating the State, looking after
“ barbed wire.” fence, and every farmer
who has been pursuaded to buy a
pound of this barbarous wire, and use
it upon his farm, will be barbed, by
these barbarous tramps, under the
o rations of a most barbarous law. It
is said that 2,400 suits have already
been commenced against the farmers
in Iowa for using this _wire. Agents
are now at work in Indiana and other

States collecting a royalty 0f $10 011
drive wells.

under threats of prosecu-

THE GRAN GE -V1si7r( DR.

tion, and armed with a decree of the
U. S. Court of Minnesota. No person
is safe in purchasing or making any
article or implement and using it,
if he has not positive evidence that a
like article was used by his grea_t
grandfather, and that no alterations or
improvements have been made to it
since.

There is no question which will come
before you that demands more prompt,
positive, and determined action than
this; and I recomineiid that a memor-
ial be prepared and forwarded to our
members in Congress from this State,
calling their attention to this great
wrong, acd urging them to unite their
€IlfUl‘t:'- and use all honorable means to
secure the iiecessary legislation to cor-
rect it. I also advise that blank peti-
tions be prepared and sent out to the
Subordinate Granges, to be circulated
among the people for signatures. and
forwarded to our members in Congress,
asking that the patent laws be so
amended as to protect the innocent
purciiaers in the use of any article or
lniplement sold in the market, making
the iiianiifacturer and veiider alone
responsible for iiifringeineiits upon
patent rights. Also, to so amend the
law,that a person who has made an arti-
cle or implement for his own use, not
knowing it to have been patented, but
which proves to be an infringement,
shall have the right i0 either pay the
royalty or discontinue its use, as he
may choose, and thereby escape prose-
cutinn.

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Identified as this institution is with
the interests of education and agricul-
ture, I cannot refrain from again call-
ing your attention to the importance
of using all laudable means through
the influence of our Organization to
popularize the College with the farmers
of the State, and make it a scliooi,
where, not only our sons, but our
daughters can obtain a thorough and
practical education ofa high order, and
at a reasonable expense. That the fail-
ure of the Legislature to make the
necessary appropriations for paying the
professors reasoiiable salaries, enlarging
the chemical laboratory, and providing
further and better accommodations for
young ladies, has resulted in serious iii-
jury to the best interests and very exist-
ence of the College, is demonstrated by
the vacant professors’ chairs, the
crowded and inconvenient situation of
the students in the laboratory, and the
small number of lady students in at-
tendance.

Although to the literary course in
the College are added “mechanics as
applied to implements, agricultural
chemistry, horticulture, and such prac-
tical applications of science as ai'e spec-
ially useful to the farmers,” yet our
State Legislature has not been led to
see the importance of making the farm
connected with the College experi-
mental rather than remiiiierative. The
great science of agriculture in this
country is but in its infancy. There
are hidden mysteries and undeveloped
principles in farming, which can only
be brought to light by a thorough series
of experiments in the field, which no
individual or association of farmers can
successfully prosecute.

It is an interesting fact conneced
with the present state of agriculture of
Europe that in those countries where
the government does most to en-
courage practical and scientific farm-
ing, crops are more diversified, labor
better ecoiiomized, and the people more
abundantly supplied with food of home
production, than in other countries
where nature has done more for agri-
culture, and the government less.
Sweden, for example, with a rigorous
climate, poor soil, and but a small por-
tion of the land capable of cultivation,
produces enough not only to supply her
own people with food, but has a sur
plus of cereals and other farm products
for exportation. This can be attribu-
ted largely to her extensive and most
perfect system of Agricultural Colleges,
schools, model and experimental farms,
and means employed for collecting and
disseminating practical and scientifi
facts in agriculture. '

Sweden has a Royal Agricultural
Academy, with a model and experi-
mental farm attached, five schools of
Agricultural chemistry and physiolo-
gy, two Superior Agricultural insti-
tutes, and twenty-seven farm schools,
where theoretic, practical, and scien-
tific agriculture are taught. In addi-
tion to all these is a Government Stock
farm, where well bred amimals are
raised and distributed among the farm-

ers, of the country; several model sheep

I

,, ..........................._........ .-.......¢ _.........._,.......,..._ . ,_., n,,_,,, _,_ ,,

 

  

evils.

farms, twelve model dairy farms. and
three depots of horses. Seventeen
“traveling enquirers,” or professors of
agriculture, are constantly employed by
the government among the farmers,
collecting facts andfgiving instructions.
The government recognizes the fact
that “the earth is the source of all
wealth, andlabor develops it : ” and the
expenditure of so large a sum of
money for the encouragement of her
agriculture adds not only to the general
prosperity, but proves to be a wise
measure of financial policy for the
government.

If poor Sweden can afford to spend
so much for the encouragement of her
agriculture, in schools and experime1i-
tal farms, cannot the great agricultural
State of Michigan afford to be liberal
to our college, and sustain one farm for
experimental purposes? Let thisgues-
tion be well considered, and such meas-
ures adopted as are necessary to pro-
duce practical results.

TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED
STATES.

The work of taking the National
Census will be commenced the coming
spring, and the Subordinate Granges
should be reminded of the importance
of taking an active interest in this
work, and render such assistance to
the census takers as may be necessary
to enable them to obtain full and relia-
ble inforination upon all matters re-
quired. The statistics will show what
progress our State has made in its agri-
culture during the last decade, and its
present standing as compared with the
other States of the Union. Every
farmer should prepare, and hold in
readiness for the marshal, a full and
accurate statement of the acreage and
amount ot all crops raised the present
year, also of all animals sold or slaugh-
tered, and the number kept upon the
farm. It is quite probable that the
\vool clip will not be shorn in time, but
very accurate estimates can be made
from the preceding clip. Patrons
should co-operate everywhere to make
the reports full, accurate, and valuable.

CO-OPERATION.

This arm of our Order seems to be in
a prosperous condition. The State
Agencies established in Detroit and
Chicago, the two great commercial cit-
ies where most of our farm produce
finds a ready market, are favorably
located for the accommodation of our
members. Their facilities for handling
farm produce and filling orders, are
full and complete ; and all doing busi-
ness with them can be assured of fair
and honorable dealing. The Grange
Co-operative stores in the State are
generally prosperous, if I may judge
from those which have reported to me.
VVhere one has tailed to meet the ex-
pectations of the Patrons, it has gener-
ally been caused by a want of confi-
dence and support among the members
of the Order. Every Subordinate
Grange, which has not access to a co-
operative store, should be provided
with a purchasing fund, and a local
Grange agent. Business should been-
couraged by every Grange.

THE NATIONAL GRANGE.

The thirteenth session of the Nation-
al Grange was held in the city of Caii-
andaigua, N. Y., closing its labors on
the 28th day of November. Twenty-
nine States were represented. This
session is pronounced by those compe-
tent tojudge, as among the best ever
held. Much of the work done was
thoroughly practical, and cannot fail to
result in good to our great Fraternity.

The recent unwarranted advance-
ments in “freight rates” by transpor-
tation companies, and the flagrant ex-
tortions of patent right agents made
upon innocent purcliasei s, received due
consideration, and the several State
Granges requested to use all proper
means which may be necessary, to iii-
fluence legislation to correct these
Resolutions of a high and Na-
tional character were adopted, setting
forth the necessity of our National Or-
ganization, for the education, protec-
tion, and elevation of Ainerican farm-
ers; and the members of the Order
urged to take a more active and decl-
sive interest in the politics of the coun-
try, and demand of the political par-
ties a more just and equal reprepsenta-
tioii in the law-making departments of
the government. Your special atten-
tion is called to these important ques-
tions, trusting that you will take such
action as the interests of agriculture
seem to demand.

EDUCATION.
The subject of education was fully

and ably discussed in the National
Grange, and Agricultural Colleges,
experimental farms, schools of technol-
ogy, and agricultural chemistry endors-
ed, and a liberal public policy recom-
mended towards them. It was also
the sense of the National Grange that
the rudiments of practical agriculture

‘be introduced and taught in the public

schools, all of which I fully endorse
and submit for your consideration.

The problem which has been so long
and thoroughly discussed in the Sub-
ordinate and County Granges,—“ How
can the facilities for a higher education
among farmers’ sons and daughters be
brought within the reach of every
farm house,” has been practically solv-
ed in this State by the establishment
of Grange high schools in many of the
Grange halls, where a thorough high
school course can be taken by students
residing at home, and at a mere nomin-
al expense for tuition. The Lecturer of
the National Grange in his recent re-
port to that body says:

“ In one county in Michigan I found
seven of these schools, held in special
rooms built in connection with the
Grange hall, liandsomely furnished;
and farmers’ children thus at home
receiving that higher education that
the expense and difficulties of sending
to distant cities and towns prevented
the majority in the past from bestow-
ing upon their young people. The in-
fluence of those schools upon our Order
can be realized when I state that not
long since, twenty-one young men and
women, above sixteen years, students
in the Grange school on the first floor,
at one time received the beautiful de-
gree ofour Order in the Grange hall
above. Agricultural text books for all
the free schools in the rural districts,
to educate our children for the farm in-
stead offrom it, are being talked of,
and will surely come in the near
future.”

The reports which come from these
schools are most encouraging, and the
question of their usefulness and practi-
cability is established beyond the
admission ofa doubt. It is to be hoped
and expected that the time is not dis-
tant when every Grange hall located in
the rural districts will be not only a
place where the cultivators of the soil
will meet to discuss all questions relat-
ing to agriculture, education, civil
rights and political economy,- -rejecting
only those questions of a sectarian or
partisan nature; but where the boys
and girls will be educated in the higher
branches of learning so necessary to
qualify them not only for the duties and
business of life, to but adorn society
and the profession of agriculture.

COUNTY G-RANGES.

The valuable work which these or-
ganizatons are accomplishing in the
Order must endear them to every true
Patron, and as they are now entitled to
representation in the State Grange,
they should be required to make annu-
al reports to the Secretary of the State
Grange during the month of Septem-
ber, giving the membership, condition
and standing of the Grange, number of
meetings held during the year, number
of public meetings held under its auspi-
ces, work of the Lecturer, and general
condition of the Subordinate Granges
under itsjurisdiction. They should also
report the name and address of the new-
ly elected Master and Secretary, and a
list of the same printed with the list of
the Subordinate Granges.

BY-LAVVS OF THE STATE GRANGE.

The wants of our Order have out-
grown our By -Laws, and a thorough
revision is needed. The form of By-
Laws recommended for Subordinate
Granges also needs amending, so as to
make them conform to existing laws.

DORMANT GRANGES.

It was a misfortune to the Order that
so many Subordinate Granges should
have been organized, and left without
further instructions or encouragemeiits,
before the real objects of the Organiza-
tion were well understood. That so
many have ceased to work is but the re-
sult of hasty and unwise organization
and limited instructions. That so large
a proportion of those organized have liv-
ed and prospered, and are now meeting
in their own halls and increasing their
membership, fully demonstrates the
correctness of our principles, and the
necessity and vitality of our Orgalllza-'
tion. Many of the Granges that have
‘ceased to work still retain their char-
ters,and can be again put in working 0"
der if the necessary means are emp1_0.Yedi
but there is little use in attemptlflg ‘*9
resurrect a dead Grange. Better (0

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TI-IE

GRAN GE VISITOR.

3

i

organize anew, or save all that valu-

- able from the membership to the living

ones. One strong, active Grange is
worth more to the Order than many
weak ones. One Grange in a town-
ship is generally enough, and in most
cases a greater number would be dani-
aging to the interests of the Order.
The strength and permanency of our
Organization does not depend so much
upon the number of Granges organized
or set to work, as upon the stability
and good work of those now in good
working order, and in good standing
with the State Grange. There is a
great demand for good lecturers in
the field, and they should be supplied
by the State and County Granges.
The work of reviving dormant
Granges should be placed in the hands
0f the County and District Granges,
where organized ; and where necessary,
the strong ai'm of the State Grange
should be extended and render all.
necessary aid.
GRANGE VISITOR.

There is no occasion for me to call
your attention to the value and useful-
ness of the GRA).'GE V IsITon. Its ap-
preciation byl our membelrsip (llemont-
strated b I e success when ias a -
tended ids’ publication, and the wide-
spread circulation it has attained. It-
should be enlarged as fast as its finali-
cial standing will jiist_ify.

Many of the Subordinate Granges ap-
propriated from the Grange Treasury
:1 suificieiit amount of money to place
the Gi<ANGi~; Visiron in every family
connected with the Grange, free of cost
to the f:inii|_v, and find the investment
A pziyiiig one. Let this method for
encouraging its dcirlculatioii be geliieiv
ally adopted, an t ie question wi oe
no longer asked, “ How can the mem-
bers of the Grange be kept interested
in its work '3 ” ‘

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AT

WASHINGTON.
It is most graiifyiiig to me to be able to
announce to you with confidence, that
the experiiner.-ts which have been pros-
ecuted by the present Commissioner
of Agriculture, in maiiufai,-tiiring sugar
from Sorghum Sugar Cane, and other
saccharine -lants, have been re-
warded with psuccess, and the interest
ing fact developed that sugar can be
Inanufiictured from the common sor-
ghum, which grows so prolifically in
our State, of as good a quality, and at
as greataprofit,  from the best sugar
cane of Louisiana, thus creating a new
industry for the farmers of the Whole
country, which must adil nfot only
to the niateriul interests oft ie armers.
but to the wealth of the nation and
the general prosperity of the people.
Congress should be petitioned for an
increased appropriation for this depart-
ment, and the question ofniakiiig it a
Department of the Government, wiltlh
its Commissioner :1 member of t ‘e
C‘-iibinet, should be pressed with renew-
e energy.

The ful‘(-3gOl1lg‘ are among tlip] many‘
Iniportaiiti uestions which will email
youratteiition. May yourdeliberations
be harmonious, your conclusions wise,
and the interests of agriculture and our
Organization promoted.

J. J. WOODMAN.

 

Large Estates in California.

Large landed estates held by iiidivid-
uals is, next to the Chinese, the greatest
curse of the state. The estates should
be divided up into little farms. I am in
favor of no person holding more than
160 acres, 500,000 farms of this size sup-
porting from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 peo-
ple. California has vine count.ry enong
to make from $1,000,000 to $22,000,000 Per
year, and support 5,000,000 people; and
if Congress would give us laws encour-
aging the growth of vines and tne inak-

mg of wines and hrandies, we could SEW‘?

tothe United States $100,000,000 every
year.

drives out of our workshops.

stitiition should

lots to the highest bidder.
surplus labor is employed, eV0_|1 *0

Bee.

Arithinetical toast: The fair daul-filters
of this land: May they add Ylrlue ,t°
beauty, subtract envy from friendship,
multiply amiable accomplishments by
sweet temper, divide time by economy:
fmdfednce scandal to its lowest denom-

ll.

   

That is one of the remedies to
employ the surplus muscle mgcl;:'I(1):%111’()i
have the large farms cut up. The con-
be so amended that
_When the owner of a large ‘f-arm dies;
it should be cut up and sold in 160-acre
The hours

of labor should be reduced until all Eh:
V

hours a day if necessary.— Sacramento

Report of Committee to examine Into
the Workings of the state Agri-
cultural Coilcge.

To the Master and Members of the
Michigan State Grange .-

The undersigned committee appoint-
ed at our last session of the State
Grange to examine and investigate the
workings of the State Agricultural Col-
lege would respectfiily submit for your
consideration the following report :—
Prefacing it with a few quotations from
the Constitution of 1850. and the organ-
ic acts of the State and National Legis-
latures throutrh which it came into be-
ing, and from which it has and is to
receive its principal support.

Our Constitution says in Article 13,
The Legislature shall, as soon as practi-
cable, provide for the establishment of
an Agricultural school. .

After the adoption of this Constitu-
tion the Legislature proceeded to act
upon the mandate thus made in the or-
ganic law, and, with such means and
facilities as they alone could originate,
succeeded in opening the school under
the euphonious name of “ Michigan
Agricultural College,” in May, 1857.
Making it the child of the State, and
on it dependent for its support and per-
peruity.

Our National Congress passed a law,
which was approved July 2, 1862, do-
nating to each State public lands to the
amount of 36,000 acres for each of its
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress according to the census of 1860,
for the endowment, support and main-
tenance of at least one college where
the leading interest shall be, without
excluding the scientific and classical
st-udie.-:, and including military tactics,
to t.eacl1 such branches of learning‘ as
are related to agriculture and the me-
chanic arts. .

The Legislature accepted this grant
and bestowed it upon the Agricultural
College.

By its provisions the College has re-
ceived 235,673.37 acres of land, 86,121.46
acres of which have been sold, giving a
fund o.F$27-3,104.28 the interest ofwhich
is applied to the support of the teach-
ing force of the College.

\Vith these preliminaries before us we
may the more readily determine the
benefits derived from it in the past, and
its capabilities for the future, “ it prop-
erly managed,” for conferring a higher
education for the rising generations of
agriculturalists of our State, bearing in
mind, as we review its history, that it
was the first in its conception and or-
gaiiization in these United States, and
obliged to rear itself without a prece-
dent. That mistakes have been made
in its mangement at times all admit.
That it did not meet the expectations
of the agricultural and mechanical
classes was a self-evident fact, the cans-
es for which may be traced after these
many years.

First,among the many causes were the
varied plans among the many who had
voice and took an official part in its
structure. It was first committed to
the care of the State Board of Educa-
tion, scarcely one of whom ever had a
practical knowledge of agriculture, or
would push forward with zeal and
fidelity such measures as would quick-
est develop a well defined system for an
agricultural education.

the very best men for the place.

like occupation.

, friends _ _
the minor or secondary position tha

history of the College,‘ the
had much to do with this.

agriculture proper could be taught 0
developed.

iinp

least, how agriculture could or sho

i)l(iaetliild§il'](lt'and faculty had to feel thei

In 1861 the Legislature created the
State Board of Agriculture, and vested
in them the management ofthe College
and farm. This was an improvement
over the other, inasmuch as they had
but this one college upon their hands,
and free from all conflicting interests.
This board is appointed by the Govern-
or of the State two every two years,
and it is safe to conclude that he selsgts

9.
as tillers of the soil should be satisfied,
inasmuch as a majority of every board
have been fully identified with us in

Another and potent cause or estrange-
ment on the part of many intelligent
agricultural education, was

real agriculture accupied in the early
location

The dense
forest had to be cleared away before

But we cannot shut ‘our
eyes to the fact that very indehmli and
erfect ideas prevailed _for the girsg
ten years of-its existence In regs" bld By this we do not wish to be under.
stood that the land is poor, far from it,
r but that it requres out-lay of time and
money to take from it its surplus water,

1t was an experiment, and

way along. At theslow progress made,

{Dally good farmers, perhaps not will-
lng to make proper allowance for the
d.il’fi(~ulties in the way, became impa-
tient and were prepared to turn their
oacks upon it and pronounce it a fail-
ure. We think this sentiment. afi'ected
the College in turn, and fora time was
not as agricultural in feeling as it
might have been. But whatever may
have been the mistake on the one side
or the other in the past, we can now
safely say that a bond of sympathy has
been established between the College
and the live, progressive farmers of the
State. There is a feeling that they oc-
cupy a common platform—are laboring
in zl common cause.

Your Committee were present at the
commencement exercises in Novem-
ber, and it affords us great pleasure to
assure the State Grange that all of the
many fine oratioiis were intended to
promote agriculture and elevate the
agriculturist. They were imbued with
the right. spirit, and whateizr the Col-
lege may have been, or supposed to
have been in the past, it is most surely
agricultural now.

Another drawback, and it was the
legitimate result of the preceeding caus-
es. was the persistent and determined
effort on the part of politicians, legisla-
tors, lawyers and doctors throughout
the State to build up the University at
the expense ofthe Agricultural College,
and the history of State legislation
shows that where the Agricultural Col-
lege has received aid from the State to
the amount of a thousand dollars for
building, or apparatus, the University
has received five thousand or more, and
this in the face of the fact that the ag-
ricultural interests of the State repre-
sent seven-tenths of its population, and
more than three-fifths of its wealth.
What other causes can be assigned
that will bear the light of investigation
than these we have named which have
worked this inequality of benefits.
Where is the refined and cultivated
mind, lover of rural pursuits, who does
not see our hopes for the future resting
largely on the intelligence of the rural
population.

This element properly educated,
taught to reduce their every efibrt to a.
systematic and scientific conclusion
would soon change the order of society,
and, we would not in the future, as in
the past, blush to see our brothers and
sisters in rural life belittled in their
calling, or efforts made to reduce them
to “ hewers of wood and drawers of
water” to build up the professioiis. VVe
would not be ‘humiliated any more by
men we had elevated to the honorable
positions of legislators, to look after the
best interests of the whole people, by
their persistent and undisguised oppo-
sition to evrey measure ten ding to make
the profession of agriculture or mechan-
ics the peer of any of the other profes-
sions.

Your Committee thought it prop-
er to make the foregoing statements of
facts as they have occurred in the past
history of the College before entering
upon the report proper.

Our first visit to the College was in
May, the very last of the month. Un-
fortunately for us, it was vacation with
the students and we were not favored
with listening to their class exercises,
but in place thereof we spent a day

farm improvements, the stock,

facilities for illustrating them;

witholding.
THE FARM

would be classed as

t offthe farm to find suitable materia

r experiments with all the raw and man
ufactured masses of manure the farn
is capable ofproducing, with a libera

and super-phosphates thrown in.

profitably to us, at least, in looking
over the farm, the farm buildings, the
the believe in them, and further believe
buildings and their adaptability for the
uses designed ; the several departments
of study with their fa.cilities, or want of

their
library for reference or general reading,
and their home most dear to eyery stu-
dent. \Ve shall speak of these _in the
order named, nothing extenuating or

comprises some six or seven hundred
acres, very little of which by nature
first quality for
farming purposes, some have question-
ed the selection, We content ourselves
with the belief that the professors ofag—
riculture and engineering will not lor.
these many years be obliged to go from

percentage of the minerals, phosphates.

and stimulents to bring into activity
the dormant energies of its vegetable
and mineral desposits, before it will
rank up to many Michigan farms in
fertility. To this cause alone may be
traced many of the complaints that
have_been made against the College
farming, not giving credit even to the
greatexpense and out-lay in clearing,
ditching. and reclaiming from an un-
broken wilderness.

FARM Il\IPROVEl\IEN'I‘S.

‘ These have their significance, as an
index to the mind, or minds, that plan
and carry into execution the general
outlay or feature of any location.

For convenience and generally utility
the farm has been well sub-divided, the
farm buildings so located as not to in-
terfere with the College, or garden,
grounds—-all easily accessible to water,
and mid-way with the improved por-
tions, Fences were well built and in
good state of preservation. These im-
Improvements have been made mate-
rially with students’ labor, conferring
in return a money value, by which the
student has been able to defray some of
his expenses while pursuing his
studies. Of barns, sheds, out-houses,
and other conveniences, it is not neces-
sary to speak further than to say that
they are up to the requirements and
wants of the farm.

STOCK.

The stock of the farm is varied in
kinds, as it should he, and it would be
a great pleasure for us, could we truth-
fully do so, to report them all as being
of the very best type of their species;
they have served, however, to illustrate
most of the peculiarities existing be-
tween the different breeds, and the
time has come when your committee
believe a radical change could be made,
from which students would derive equal
benefits, and the farm increased profits.
Were we permitted to stock the farm
for the benefit of students, and for
profit to the farm and College, we
would close out from the cattle every-
thing except a cow or a heifer for each
of the different breeds, and this should
be of the highest type, the specimen
animal. We would, secondly, add as
many milch cows of the best milking
breeds and strains as necessary to sup-
ply the farm and College with milk.
VVith these we would associate the best
male short-horn obtainable. From
this selection they could raise some
excellent beef animals, with now and
then one that would replenish the
dairy. The balance necessary to con-
sume the fodder and provide manure
for the farm, should be made up of
thrifty young bullocks, for grazing and
feeding. This practice would meet
every requirement of the College, and
at the close of each year the balance in
the treasury, we apprehend, would be
much more satisfactory than at present
managed as a breeding farm for im-
proved cattle, as personal and individ-
ual enterprise will always keep them in
the background. .

The flocks of the farm should be kept
for the purpose of wool and mutton
only,and the breed that proves most
healthy and profitable for these two
purposes should be adopted. The
same rule will apply equally with
swine.

If experiments are called for in the
feeding of domestic animals (and We

that the College is the. place to carry
them out,) they can readily be obtained,
if not on hand.

COLLEGE BUILDINGS.

Some of them are inadequate to the
wants of the institution, especially In
case of increase, notably College Hall;
this is the oldest; built when the Col-
lege was started, now occupied for
chapel, library, President’s and Secre-
taryls oflices, museums, zoologlcfll labo‘
ratory, and class rooms for zoology an
botany. It will soon be relieved of the
last, as a new ball is in course of con-
struction for the botanical department.
This may possibly be utilized for the
class in surveying and engineering, as
the class rooms have been so fully occu-
1 pied that there was no place for this

from which to illustrate to their_i'espect— only as they used the evening, when
ive classes the principle of drainage in
all its diversified methods, nor will the
professor in agriculture lack room for

others were off duty.

DEPARTMENT STUDIES AND LABORS.
. In the chemical department we made
i but a brief call. The reputation of
1 Prof. Kedzie as a 1ectui:er_and teacher
in this branch of science _)l]StlfieS us in
saying that the chair is we_11-filled and
will compare favorably with the‘best
inithe country. His analysis of (Jaw-
son wheat alone saved to the farmers
of Michigan in one year more than

     
  

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THE GRANG

E VISITOR.

three-fourths of a million of dollars,
estimating the retained value at five
cents yei' bushel; and this established
value has continued to the present, and
to-day it is taken as extra white, in-
stead of No. 3 red, as contemplated by
the Miller's Association and the diii'ei‘-
ent Boards of Trade in the country.

DEPA RTMENT 0 F ZOOLOGY A ND EN'1‘O-
’ MOLOGY.

Here we found Prof. Cook busy with
the classification and arranging of the
various representations of the dead past
as it peltains to and comes within his
scope of teaching, here giving a like-
ness of a certain species of the animal
kingdom now nearly extinct, or there
exhibiting a part of the structure, and
from that determining its class, order,
or family. Here, too, we find him fol-
lowing the anatomy of iiisec-ts, their
translormation, development and clas-
sification, providing remedies to check
them in their devasting ravages on
vegetation, thereby conferring lusting
benefits to the liusbandman.

Of the Department of Botany and
Horticulture, your Committee can
speak undeistandingly, for we have
the work of the department visible to
to the senses.

VVe call your attention to the experi-
mental garden of foi'estry. Here are
some 300 species of trees and shrubs
from all parts of the world, being test-
ed and acclimated, if possible, to be of
use for mechanical, ornamental, or
other produc-.tive purposes.

First impressions would say that all
this was of little value save for orna-
ment. -

Your committee do not look upon it
in this light. With all our present re-
sources it will be but a few years at
most before many of our farms in Mich-
igan will be perfectly denuded of tim-
ber.

Many will resort to the planting of
groves, if they can doit with the assur-
ance of success. With this problem
solved beforehand, the Work would be
easy of accomplishment. Again, the
method and conditions by which many

f our trees and shrubs are propagated
from seed, the long and tedious process.
the period of waiting, would render
hope hopeless to any but an en thlrsiast.
We look upon this experiment, if fol-
lowed up, as one that will be of great
value to the coming generation.

In another place we found 175 varie-
ties of forage plants, grasses, clovers,
and millits being tested to determine
their hardiness and value to ‘propagate
for general purposes in the State. And
in another. a wild garden, were 400
species of wild plants, American and
European, inimic-able to pond, bog,
shade, and sun, all interesting in their
peculiarities and_ strut-ture,—many of
them as insectiforous plants, others for
their climbing and twining habits;
some for medicinal, and others for
economic purposes. They are found
very useful for fertilizing and hybridiz-
ing plants, a system destined in the
near future to bring many new and
valuable things to light.

Another valuable feature of this de-
partment is the thorough test given

_ the feeding roots, not only in the grow-

ing, as to quality, quantity, and ex-
pense, but their comparative value for
feeding, as determined by strict analy-
us.

In originating new varieties of po-
tatoes from the seed the department
has done agood work. Of the hundred
or more sports developed by the first
planting of balls, there are but few that
take to improvement by successive
planting; from these continued trials
some 25 varieties have become so far-
eslablished as to warrant their intro
ductlon to the public for a further test
on the different soils in t.he State.

In the seedling nursery of large and
small fruits many very interesting ex-

eriments are annually carried forward
Ey the students in the practice of graft-
ing. budding, layering, crossing. liy-
bridizing, and fertilization,brineing out
new species,improving varieties chang-

ing forms and habits, thereby giving m_

the horticulture of the State new llieo-
ries. new practices, and new results not
heretofore reached.

In the arbor we found abouta hun-
dred varieties of grapes being propa
gag. d, We learned that 41 of the varie-
ties rip:-nu-d the last fall. '

The orchardliig on the farm is well
gm-..d for by this department; it is only
mi,-' probably more underdraining and
manure would imP"“Ve 1‘-

La.-itly in this department we came
to the greenhouse, with its thousand or
more of. native, foreign, and exotic
plants. These are selected and propa-

gated for their flowering qualities and
economic purposes. \Vho of the peo-
ple of the land, visiting the College or
farm that does not pay a visit to the
greenliouse‘? \Vho that enters its port-
als and surveys the magnificeiice of
design, the profundity of nature, under
the directing hand of the trained bot.-
anist, that does not come out a better
man ?

As a means to an end, and that end
the elevation of r,lioughts and affec-
tions from things earthly to things
heavenly arid divine. there  nothing
more powerful than flow-zers. They say
to the boisterous, bickering spirit of
unrest, peace, be stvill. To the despond-
ent, dejected son} who has drained the
cup of sorrow to its dre;.:s, “look up,
doth not our I-Ieavenly Father watrili
over thee. If He thus cares for the lillies
of the field, will he less care for those
he has created in His own image?”

.VVe say, tlicn,give us the greeiihouse,
with all of fits liumanizing influences,
with all of its practical facilities for
testing seeds and plants, its economic
Value to the fariner in this particular‘ is
beyond comparison, and it can be made
available to him by simply asking, Has
he doubt as to the .ter‘tili'ty of his seed
for any particular crop, he can forward
a sainple, and have it tested, and know
of a certainty whether he is sowing
good seed or bad, saving to lijinself per-
haps hundreds of dollars on one single
crop.

VVith the new hall now being erected
for this department, we see no reason
why it shall not” compare favorably
with the best in these United States,
although on a smaller scale.

Our reportof the farm must necessari-
ly be brief:

It is here that thejester has exhaust-
ed hi.-; wit, and the chronic grumbler
indulged his propensity to his heart’s
content. By a resort to these methods
undue prejudice has been aroused,ot'ten
with a purpose of influencingjlegislation
in regard to the Coll:-ge. VVe have no
sympathy with the demand so often
ma(le that the College should be a pay-
ing institution, or, in other words,
should return to the State in dollars,
dollar for dollar, all that it receives.
But that it should always teach and
practice the highest type of profitable
farming, we mean in crops and stock,
not in its experiments. _

A majority of your Committee made
three visits to the farm during the crop
season. \Ve noted carefully what was
being done and how it was done, and
with these opportunities for observa
tion, and as practical farmers of many
years’ experience, we desire to hear
willing testimony to the fact that,
taken as a whole, the farming is well
andjudiciously done.

The fields are well laid ofi", rotation of
cropsjudiciousiy observed, all of which
we cheerfully commend. Yet with all
of these things before us we could not
close our eyes to a few slight defects.
Critics have noted some of them, have
magnified them, heralded them abroad
as if they were the rule, and not the
exception, while the facts were the re-
verse. It is with the hope of removing
these defects in the futu.e that we al-
lude to them here. These, or similar
ones have been made the pretext for
criticism in the past; overcome them,
and the attack loses its force.

When we visited the College and
farm in May, a wheel cultivator had
just coinnienced work in the cornfield.
The ground had been well prepared for
the crop. The rows straight and the
hills true, everything favorable for a
modeljob of corn culaivating. It is due
to truth to say that that work was not
being done well. The cultivator was
not run close enough to the hills, a
broad space of undisturbed earth was
left the whole length of the i'ows. We
regard it of essential importance that
the earth should be stirred to the plant.

when it is small. When we were there’

the last of June the field was free from
weeds but the corn was sinali and fee-
ble. In November we again looked
over the field, the crop had been har-
vested. No weeds had been permitted
to go to seed. We enquired after the
crop and found that 39 bushels of shell-
ed corii to the acre had been secuied.
VVe thought, and still think, that a few
bu.-he-ls to each acre might have been
added by the best of culture when very
small. We attach no importance to
this so far as the income to the farm is
concerned. VVe were told that it was
an employee, and not a professor or
student that was doing the cultivating,
but the student was looking on, and,
as we have said before, it he would at-
tain the highest success he should have
the best type before him for a model.

Some things in a pasture field struck
the eye unpleasantly. The field is
rather new, and the stumps not stim-
ct-nt.ly decayed to remove with profit.
but there were old logs that marred the
view, and we could not suppress the
wish that they were burned and out of
sight.

“Ne are aware that these are slight
defects, where there is so much that is
excellent, yet they mar the model.

VVe allude to these things in kindner,-‘s
for we are proud to know that this is
the farmers’ College. Its future de-
pends on the farmers of the State.

VVho will look after the educat-ii nal in-
terest of the three fifths of the children
of the State whose calling must be that
of farming, if not your brother farmers.
As an Oriler, we lay great stress upon
the education of our’chi1dren, upon
educating ourselves in our calling,
niaking no distinction in sex. V‘Vhat
provision has been made for the educa-
tion of our'daugh‘iers in the College?

Virtual/3/iione, while the law did not
pro‘nibit. surroiiniiing circnn'ista.nces
would not permit No dormitories to
slielter, or Matron to guide and watch
over them: they might better look to
the country school for aid.

\Vliile the State Board of Agriculture
and the faculty of the College asked this
thou.-‘ands of'the Order petitioned for
it. Our requests wereunheeded. There
was value, there was merit in making
female doctors, lawyers, miiiisters, and
literary madames in the University,
but there was no merit in educatinga
young lady in the Agricultural College
to fit her for the stern duties of life as
a teacher, a mother, or matron.

VVe thank God that in spite of unfav-
orable Cll'l:lIlDSi£U]C‘e-5‘ in legislation or
surroundings, we have witnesse-.l one
indomitable spirit, who has surmounted
every (iifliculty, worked her way
through the pre.-cribed course of study,
and graduated at; last commencement
with credit to herself, and an honor to
the State.

In conclusion, your committee are
impressed with the importance of sus-
taining the Agricultural College. In
it only: can we center our hopes for
giving our sons and daughters a higher
—scientific course of study, above the
common school—a fitting that will
prepare them for leaders and exem-
plars in any neighborhood or commu-
nily in which their lot may be cast—a
fitting that will exemplify to the world
that true greatness, nobility of charac-
ter, and genuine manhood is speeding
the plow; and it, in return, through
its well directed course, is upheaving
new strata, new combinations on
which to feed—a new element in socie-
tv, REDEEMED HUSBANDRY, the peel‘
ofthe prol'essions.

VVe speak understandingly when We
say to you that the College is worthy
of your best efliii‘-ts in its behalf. It is
worthy of your patronage, ifyou design
to fit your sons and daughters for the
farm. Her teachings in the class-
room, on the farm, in the library, in
the reading room, through her cabinets
and conservatories, all tend to teach
you agriculture in the full acceptation
of the term.

It is worthy of your united effort as
taxpayers and electors of the State, to
see that she has equal justice done her
through our Legislature, in providing
buildings, in supplying apparatus, and
rendering facilities for teaching com-
mensurate with the population depen-
dent on her for an education.

And last, but not least, cease not to
work until the State has provided a
chair of vetinary science, through
which skillful practicioners may be
raised for the relief of our dumb ani-
malswlien sick. The farmers of the
State are now at the mercy of empyr-
ics and II1()I.ltt‘balJkS. There is no
one interest of more importance before
the people than this.

All of which is respectfully sub-
mitted.

F. M. HoLLowAY,

C. G. LUCE,

J. VVEBSTER CHILDS,
Committee.

The great railroad time-killer is the
game of euclire. This is an amusement
which four otherwise respectable and
considerate citizens see which can yell
th_e loudest and do the most to disturb a
car full of passengers. The game con-
sists in handing around acertain number
of pieces of pasteboard with pictures on,
and then slapping down your fists, stamp-
ing your feet, mid howling in a discord-
ant_ chorus every time a trick is taken.
Quite appropriately is a. “Jack” the best
card in the game.

The Grange ii. Conservative Power.

VVhen a boy of sixteen years I re-
member listening to a debate carried on
by men with whom I was acquainted,
regarding the extension of territory,
Should the government purchase ad-
ditional lands, thus adding to am-
square miles, and our \Vestern terrim.
rics become populated, one Pi'esident
with his constitutional advisers will be
unable to control and govern the peo-
ple, and this country will riecessarily
become divided, or, as countries of old,
be divided up into petty klIlg'tlf)ll‘lS,-alld
our United States ofAmerica become a
name merely of the past, and this once
happy people go on record as a fallen
nation.

In looking back over the past years
and seeing the increa;-:ed prosperity of
our counti'y,the standing she has attain-
ed in coin parison with other countries——
yet notwithstanding this, the war of
the rebellion, and later the election of
president, which agitated our land,
shook this nation from center to cir-
cumference.

Then the question will often arise
in our minds, wli-at assurance have we
that this republic will stand to see the
close of another century of its life,
much less be a great political power
for ages to come? 01' that our great
cities, destined some of them perhaps
to be the gieat commercial cities of the
worli-il,may not become like the cities of
the old world to-day, which were once
great in power?

\Vhen the doctrine was promulgated
that all men were born free and equal.
and that the foundations of this new
republic was to be laid in the principles
of equal justice, every citizen endowed
with the same rights and equal before
the law, we find that the great men
ofEurope prophesying that this form
of government was utopian, and would
not siaud the trial of a generation.
This subject presents itself more forci-

bly to ourminds when we find wise
men of Euiope to-day giving as their
opinion that the disaster is only pro-
longed by increased prosperity as a na-
tion and people. While our untilled
acres are yet unpopulated this danger
will be averted; because, financial
troubles may come, internal commo-
tions may exist, but we as a people can
always find relief by labor seeking our
unoccupied and uncultivated lands,
thus becoming purchasers as well as
consumers.

Thoughtful men always look ahead
and see the breakers, and at once look
about them for means to avert the dis-
aster. So in this case, look about
you and see the many institutions of
learning in our northern and western
States. VVitl1 the increase of popula-
tion these institutions keep apace, edu-
cating the young to higher and nobler
walks in lite.

Look to the Grange in these States
with its increased prosperity, Michigan
adding largely to this number. This
land elnda/igered when our people are
fast becoming educated, and when he
casts his ballot, does so intelligently
and understandingly?

The futiire destiny and prosperity of
this nation, the honest preparation and
management of her political cam-
paigns, rests largely with the farmers.
The farmer had ielt that he would be-
come contaminated, if he took an act-
ive part in political aflairs. But it
would seem wiser to us if he would en-
ter the political arena, and by honest
and independent action, help clear
political contests of the contaminating
influences which surround them. Give
amanahomesiead, and as soon as he
realizes itis his own he becomes an in-
dependent man, andif need be he will
shoulder his musket, his country’s wel-
fare to defend. When we find men in
our congressional halls, who openly say,
“ We are not of you, neither with you,
that there are no United States of
America, only in name,” it will awak-
en thoughis that one cannot avert or
banish at will. This question is not
partisan. We have avoided party.
We are strictly prohibited political dis-
cussion in the Order, yet under this it is
a well settled fact. that there is a silent
political power underlying the Grange.
Not in making or inducing democratic
or republican principles, but in divert-
ing our minds, and all meeting on one
common level to obliterate all party
prejudices. May we come togetheras
farmers and farmers’ families, and help

to make the Grange interesting and
prosperous, thus enjoying the privi-
leges. tocial and intellectual, which it
extends to us. GRANGER. -

WHITE LAKE, Nov. 1st, 1879.

 

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MASTER'S   REPORT.

Wm-thy Patrons, and Members of the

Michigan State Grange .-

Time, in its on ward march, has again
called us together in our Annual Ses-
sion, to consider matters relating to the
present condition and future prosperity
of our great agricultural organization.

The presen year has been one of un-
usual prosperity to the husbandman.
The earth has yielded a bountiful har-
vest as a reward for faithful and intelli-
gent labor; and fair prices for farm
produce has had a tendency to liberate
capital and force it into the channels of
active business.

Again we rejoice at the sound of the
carpenter’s hammer, the ring of the
anvil, the smoke of the furnace, and
the hum of the spindle. Confidence is
being restored, debts paid, mortgages
discharged, or reduced to a lower rate
of interest, and the farmer begins to
see the light behind the cloud and the
“ bow of promise ” in the heavens.

For this returning prosperity, and
other kindred blessings, let us render
grateful acknowledgements to God, and
invoke His aid and guidance in the
work before us.

Although our Organization has had
an existence of nearly twelve years in
this country, and seven in this State,
and our Declaration of Purposes pub-
lished to the world, yet they do not
seem to be well understood by those
“outside the gates,” and some members
of our Order do not fully appreciate the
importance of the high and noble pur-
poses for which we are organized, and
their bearing upon the present and fu-
ture agricultural interests in this coun-

v.

If the farmers of our much favored
land fail to gather wisdom from the
history of the unorganized agriculture
of the Old World, and permit others to
do their reading, their thinking, their
writing, their speaking, their business,
and their legislation, it will not re-
quire the gift of a prophet to tell what
their future will be.

The history of the Old VVorld has
been but the history of oppression to
the tiller of the soil. He has been de-
prived of the ownership of the soil he
cultivates—reduced to a mere tenant, a
serf, dependent upon the will of his
lord and master, who fixes the price
upon the products of his labor, thereby
circumscribing his action and making
him dependent upon hisiwill. He is
thus deprived of the right to stand up
in the “image of his Maker,” and pride
of his manhood, and show himself the
peer of others in social life, intellectual
culture, business relations, and political
influence.

The following, from our “Declaration
of Purposes,” should be well consid-
ered and understood :

“ To develop a better and higher
manhood and womanhood among our-
selves. To enhance the comforts and
attractions of our homes, and strength-
en our attachment to our pursuit. To
foster mutual understanding and co-
operation. To buy less and produce
more, in order to make our homes self-
sustaining. To diversify our crops, and
crop no more than we can cultivate.
To condense the weight of our exports,
selling less in the bushel, and more on
hoof and in the fleece. To systematize
our work and calculate intelligently on
probabilities. To discountenance the
credit system, the mortgage system, the
fashion system and every other system
tending to prodigality and bankruptcy.
To bring producers and consumers,
farmers and manufacturers, into the
II_1t())lst direct and friendly_relations pos-
Sl e.

“ To encourage the building of rail-
roads, canals, and to open out the chan-
nels in .\’ature’s great arteries, so that
the life blood of commerce may flow
freely.

“ ' ‘o remove the antagonism between
Capital and labor by common consent
and a wise statesmanship.

“To oppose excessive salaries, high
rate of interest, and exorbitant per cent
Drofits in trade. To suppress personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices,
all unhealthy rivalry, and all selfish
ambition. To encourage education
among ourselves, and for our children,

3’ alljust means in our power, and to
advocate for our Agricultural and In-
dustrial Colleges that practical agricul-
ture, domestic science, and all the arts
which adorn the home, be taught iu
their courses of study. To induce
farmers to take a more active part in

    

the politics of the country, and to work
for ‘ good in the political parties to
which they belong, putting down
bribery, corruption and trickery, and to
see that honest men, who will unflinch-
ingly stand by our industrial interests,
are nominated for positions of trust,
and to carry out the principle which
should always characterize every Pa-
tron, that the ofiice should seek the man,
and not the man the ofiice.”

For the accomplishment of these
grand purposes, our Subordinate, Coun-
ty, State. and National Grranges are la-
boring and inspiring their members to
read, think, study, investigate, discuss,
and act for themselves; to extend their
acquaintance, not only among success-
ful business farmers, but among busi-
ness men engaged in other pursuits in
life. The Grranges are but so many
schools, where questions relating to
practical farming, practical business,
and all the diversified interests of agri-
culture, are discussed ; and where mor-
al culture, social refinement, and ment-
al powers are developed. Thro’ these
and other kindred influences connected
with the work of our .Order, farmers
have been inspired with a laudable
ambition to excel in their profession ;
and are emulating worthy examples,
and utilizing practical ideas in the cul-
tivation, management, and other busi-
ness relations connected with the farm.

As the results of this work, farms are
better cultivated; labor-saving imple-
ments and machinery are more gener-
ally used ; fertilizers are more prudent-
ly saved, better prepared, and more in-
telligently applied to the soil and the
growing crops ; crops are more diversi-
fied, and more systematically rotated ;
stock upon the farms has been improved
and the amount raised and kept largely
increased; noxious weeds have been
eradicated from the fields, the fence-
rows, and the highways; fences and
buildings have been repaired, and home
surroundings made more convenient,
pleasant and comfortable. The cultiva-
tiun of fruits and flowers have been en-
couraged, adding to the income of the
farm and the attractions of home. Fam-
ily circles are enlivened with music,
and readings, and amusements, and
useful conversation. Acquaintances
are extended, and the social mingling
of friends and neighbors increased.
Family jars, and dissensions, and sepa-
rations have been prevented, neighbor-
hood disagreements have been settled,
and litigation avoided.

Libraries have been established,
and the reading of agricultural jour-
nals encouraged. To this record of
progress must be added the inter-
esting fact, that during the past
few years, and since our organiza-
tion has had an existence and an in-
fluence in this State, the productive-
ness of the farms has been most won-
derfully increased by better cultivation
and more thorough and systematic
farming; and this too during a time of
the greatest financial depression ever
known in the history of this country.

It would be assuming too much to
claim that all these results have been
accomplished wholly through the in-
fluence of our Organization. Agricul-
turaljournals, societies, fairs, farmers’
clubs, and our Agricultural College,
with its system of farmers’ institutes,
have done their full share of the work,
and should receive our full and earnest
support; but the work and influence of
these organizations and institutions
are comparatively local; and in addi-
tion to all these, we want an organiza-
tion perfect in all its parts through
which we can unite our efforts in pro-
tecting our rights and elevating our
profession, an organization, capable
of grasping with. great questions of
public policy, command respect in both
State and Nation, and make its influ-
ence felt. Such an organization is the
Order of Patrons of Husbandry, and
the work it has already undertaken
and accomplished, has demonstrated
both its influence and its necessity.

In several of the VVestern States the
farmers subscribedliberally, creating
debts and mortgaging their farms to
build railroads to carry their produce
to market. The managers of the roads,
after absorbing the stock, raised the
rates for transporting farm products so
high as to'absorb almost the entire prof-
its of the farms. _ _ _ _

True to that principle enunciated in
our Declaration of Purposes, that, as_a_n
Order we shall ‘oppose such _BP”15
and management of any corporation or
enterprise as tends to oppress the peo-
ple and rob them of theirjust profits.
the Granges brought an influence tg
bear npon legislation, which l'eSl11t9

in the enactment of laws regulating the
rates which railroad companies should
be allowed to charge for transporting
freight over their lines of road within
the State.

These laws were resisted by the coin-
paiiies. on the ground that they were
operating under general laws or special
charters, and were therefore above and
beyond Legislative control. The com-
panies were prosecuted, and a case car-
ried to the Supreme Court of the Uni-
ted Sates, and from that high tribunal
came the decree, which was hailed with
Joy by the people everywhere, that
“ razlroa.d corporations are subject to
Legislative control.” The Board of
Railroad Commissioners of Massa-
chusetts, in their next annual report,
after the decision was made, paid our
Order this high compliment: “The
Patrons of the VVest have done more
good to the country in demonstrating
that railroads are subject to ._legislative
control than would be required to bal-
ance the whole cost of their organiza-
tion.”

By this just and wise decision, the
power of one Legislative body to con-
fer special franchises upon a corpora-
tion by which it could oppress and rob
the people, and which a subsequent
Legislature could neither modify nor
repeal, was emphatically denied, and
full power given to Congress to regu-
late inter-State commerce.

The power ofa State Legislature to
regulate commerce within the State
was also affirmed. Hence, through
the influence of this'Organization, the
great principle, that “ the people,
through their chosen representatvies in
Congress and the State Legislatures,can
regulate and control the carrying trade
of the country, has been established,”
and it now remains to be seen whether
this power will be exercised by the
people or not. As yet,the railroads con-
trol the situation, and charge just such
rates as they may deem necessary to
enable their roads to earn the largest
possible amount ofmoney, regardless
of the rights ofthe people.

This has been practically demonstra-
ted by the recent advance in freight
rates by all the great trunk lines, and
by the declaration of one of the freight
agents at their recent meeting in New
York,in answer to the question,“ VVhat
rates his road intended to fix upon a
certain important article of com-
merce? 7’ “ Just such rates as the article
will bear,” responded the agent.

Since the present grain crop of the
West commenced to move eastward,
the freight rates from our State to the
seaboard have been advanced thirty
cents on each one hundred pounds, or
eighteen cents on a bushel of wheat. Es-
timating the wheat crop of the State
which goes into commerce at 20,000,000
bushels, and this will make a tax upon
the farmers of this State of $360,000
on the wheat crop alone. Add to this,
twenty-five cents to each one hundred
pounds of the gross weight of all the
cattle, swine, sheep, dressed meat, and
other farm products shipped to the
Eastern market, and it will swell
the amount to a sum that will be
startling to contemplate. There has
been a recent advance of fifteen cents a
bushel on clover-seed, making the
freight on a bushel of that product_ to
New York one dollar. VVhy 1s_th1S‘?
\Vestern clover seed is wanted in the
Eastern market, and the advance in
the market price there is added to the
freight and pocketed by the railroad
companies, thus robbing the VV_ester_n
farmers of their just profits. It is fair
to presume that railroad companies
were not carrying freight for less than
they could afford to before the advance;
and that the present high tarifis have
been added simply because the freight
agent decided " that the articles would
bear it, and the Western fa7'_me7's 1.l)O’_uld
stand it. It seems that this grasping
avariciousness of railroad managers can
only be checked by the strong arm of a
National law, regulating freight upon
all through lines of road. And there IS
no more fitting place for this great
question to be considered, and measures
adopted, to enlighten public sentiment
upon this great wrong, and influence
legislation to correct it,_ than this body,
composed as ‘it .is of representative
farmers from almost every portion of
our State. It should not be approached
in any spirit of hostility to_ the rail-
roads,for they have ‘rights which should
be protected, but it should be consid-
ered in the light of fairness, justice,
and equity. The evil can be remedied
by a law of Congress, either establish-
ing maximum rates for through lines,

or by creating a National board of Con-

 

trol, with full power to regulate and
fix such rates for transporting freight
over the lines of all roads engaged in
inter-State commerce, as will be just to
the companies, and, at the same time,
protect the rights of the people. Let
this question he considered, and Con-
gress appealed to for relief.

PATENT RIGHT LAWS.

The recent experience which the far-
mers of this State have had with Pat-
ent Right swindling, renders it proper‘
for me to refer to this subject: The
Patentliaw now upon the statute books,
as interpreted by the courts. making
the innocent purchaser, or maker of
any article or implement purchased or
made in good faith for his own use,
without. any notice, or even knowledge-
of its being an infringement of a patent
right, liable to be prosecuted for violat-
ing the United State Patent Laws, is
an outrage upon common sense, a vio-
lation of every principle of justice and
equity, and a disgrace to free Republican
institutions.
For the past twenty years or more,
the farmers of this State have been
constructing and using upon their
farms a cheap substitute fora.farm gate,
in the form of a sliding fence panel,
without molestation, and with no
knowledge that it had ever been pat-
ented. No one ever imagined that in
using this “sliding gate,” that he was
liable to be prosecuted in the United
States court, and be compelled to go
fifty or one hundred miles from home
to be tried, until they were called upon
by the agent of Dale, Bagley & Root, of
Ypsilanti, and notified that the said
gate was patented by John C. Lee, of
Ohio in 186-5. and that they owned the
right of this State. The royalty claim-
ed an(l collected by this firm under
threats of prosecution was five cents
upon each acre in a man's farm. Farm-
ers paid under protest, and all seemed
to begoiiig well with the firm, until Bro.
Henry D. Platt, of Ypsilanti Grange,
became satisfied that the patent under
which royalty was being collected, had
no legal existence; and advised the
farmers to cease paying royalty. and
forma Mutual Defense Association for
the protection of each others interests.
The association was formed, and Bro.
Platt appointed agent, with power to
employ counsel, and defend every suit
commenced against farmers of this
State for using this gate. The State
Grange at its last session took ac-
tion and fully endorsed the acts ofthe
association, and appealed to the Subor-
dinate Granges for material aid, and to
Patrons everywhere, to resist payment
and co—operate in mutual defense.
Twenty nine suits were commenced,
and Messrs. Beaks & Cutchen, of De-
troit, and E. P. Allen, of Ypsilanti,
employed as counsel for the farmers.
John C. Lee was found, and Ohio and
other States searched for witnesses. It
was found that a patent on this gate
was issued to A. C.'Teal, of Illinois.
prior to the Lee patent, and as early as
Dec. 1st, 1863. It was also evident that
the Lee Patent was an infringment up-
on the Teal Patent. The prosecution
then it appears, purchased the Teal Pat-
ent, and came into court, with supple‘-
mental bill, to include both patents in
their case. This was denied by the
court, andthe test case under the Lee
Patent argued, and dismissed withall
the other case, on the ground that there
was no “ patentable difference between
the Lee and the Teal Patents, and that
the Lee was an infringement upon the
"eal.”
1 Two suits were then commenced on
the Teal Patent, one against W. H.
Randall, of Washtenaw County, and
the other against Amos Redmore, of
Tuscola. County. Bro. Platt appeared
wih his counsel to defend both cases.
After a little more than one year in
court, attended with all the perplexi-
ties of litigation, the case was brought
to a final hearing, and resulted in a
decided victory for the farmers. The
defence made but one point against the
Teal Patent, and that was prior 1436'.
which was proved by a large number
of witnesses, and to the entire satisfac-
tion of the Court, its use dating back
fourteen years before the Teal Patent
was issued. The successful defense of
these cases has demonstrated the neces-
sity for organized effort,and thorough co-
operation among farmers for their own
protection. Bro. Platt says, .‘ Had It
not been for the Grange organization. I
could have done nothing.” Then let
it be said to the credit and honor Of
this Organization ‘that it has saved to
the farmersof this State alone a_ spin
estimated at more than half a mill on


v the chemical laboratory,

_____%____ }

dollars, if computed at five cents per
acre upon the farms using the gate.
But these unjust extort-ions do not stop
here. More than two hundred stilts
have already commenced against per-
sons in this State for using the Glenn dz
I3Ia1l clover hullers, which were bought
in good faith, paid for in full, and the
right to use guaranteed by the manufac-
turer. But now comes John C. Bird-
sell, claiming that these machines
contaiiiedsome principal or combina-
tion Wliich infringed upon his patent
previously obtained, and demanding a
royalty Of $100 of every man who ever
owned an interest in one of these
machines.
right to collect this royalty of innocent
parties has been confirmed by the U. S.
Circuit Court of the i\’orthern District
of Ohio. Patent right agents are also
preambulating the State. looking after
“ barbed wire ” fence, and every farmer
who has been pursuaded to buy a
pound of this barbarous wire, and used
it upon his farm, will be barbed, by
these barbarous tramps, under the
operations of a most barbarou.s law. It
is said that 2,400 suits have already
been commenced against the farmers
in Iowa for using this Wire. Agents
are now at work in Indiana and other
States collecting a royalty of $10 on
drive wells, under threats of pro'.::ecu-
tion, and armed with a decree of the
U. S. Court of Minnesota. No person
is safe in purchasing or making any
article or implement and using it,
if he has not positive evidence that a
ltke article was not used by his great
grandfather, and that no alterations or
improvements have been made to it
Sllice.

There is no question which will come
before you that demands more prompt,
positive, and determined action than
this; and l recommend that a memor-
ial be prepared and forwarded to our
members in Congress from this State,
calling their attention to this great
wrong, acd urging them to unite their
efforts and use all honorable means to
secure the necessary legislation to cor-
rect it. I also advise that blank peti-
tions be prepared and sent out to the
Subordinate Granges, to be circulated
among the people for signatures, and
forwarded to our members in Congress,
asking that the patent laws be so
amended as to protect the innocent
purchater in the use of any article or
implement sold in the market, making
the manufacturer and veiider alone
responsible for infringements upon
patent rights. Also, to so amend the
law,that a person who has made an arti-
cle or implement for his own use, not
knowing it to have been patented, but
which proves to be an infringement,
shall have the right to either pay the
royalty or discontinue its use, as he
may choose, and thereby escape prose-
cution.

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Identified as this institution is with
the interests of education and agricul-
ture, I cannot refrain from again call-
ing your attention to the importance
of using all laudable means through
the influence of our Organization to
popularize the College with the farmers
'of the State, and make it a school,
where, not only our sons, but our
daughters can obtain a thorough and
practical education of a high order, and
at a reasonable expense. That the fail-
ure of the Legislature to make the
necessary appropriations for paying the
professors reasonable salaries, enlarging
and providing
further and better accommodations for
young ladies, has resulted in serious in-
jury to the best interests and very exist-
ence of the College, is demonstrated by
the vacant professors’ chairs, the
crowded and inconvenient situation of
the students in the laboratory, and. the
small number of lady students in at-
tendance. -

Although to the literary course in
the College are added “mechanics as
applied to implements, agricultural

chemistry, horticulture, and such prac-

tical applications of science as

are spec-
ially useful to the farmers,”

yet our

State Legislature has not been led to-

see the importance of making the farm
connected with the College experi-
mental rather than remunerative. The
great science of agriculture in this
country is but in ‘its infancy. There
are hidden mysteries and‘ undeveloped
principles in farming, which can only
be brought to light by a_thorough series
of experiments in the field, which no
individual or association of farmers can

f ll rosecute. _
suftmig uaiiy ipnteresting fact conneced

He also claims that his’

with the present state of agriculture of
Europe that in those countries where
the government does most to en-
courage practical and scientific farm-
ing, crops are more diversified, labor
better economized, and the people more
abundantly supplied with food ofhome
production than in other countries
where nature has done more for agri-
culture, and the government less.
Sweden, for example, with a rigorous
climate, poor soil, and but a small por-
tion of the land capable of cultivation,
produces enough not only tosupply her
own people with food, but has a sur
plus of cereals and other farm products
for exportation. This can be attribu-
ted largely to her extensive and most
perfect system of Agricultural Colleges,
schools, model and experimental farms,
antl means employed for collecting and
disseniinating practical and scientific
facts in agriculture.

Sweden has a Royal Agricultural
Academy, with a model and experi-
mental farm attached, five schools of
Agricultural chemistry and physiolo-
gy, two Superior Agricultural insti-
tutes, and twenty-seven farm schools,
where theoretic, practical, and scien-
tific agriculture are taught. In addi-
tion to all these is a Government Stock
farm, where finly bred amimals are
raised and distributed among the farm-
ers of the country, several model sheep
farms, twelve model dairy farnzs, and
three depots of horses. Seventeen
“traveling enquirers,” or professors of
agriculture, are constantly employed by
the government. among the farmers,
collecting facts and giving instruction.
The government recognizes the fact
that’ “the earth is the source of all
wealth, and labor develops it : ” and the
expenditure of so large a sum of
money for the encouragement of her
agriculture adds not only to the general
prosperity, but proves to be a wise
measure of financial policy for the
government.

If poor Sweden can afford to spend
so much for the encouragement of her
agriculture, in schools and experimen-
tal farms, cannot the great agricultural
State of Michigan aflbrd to be liberal
to our college, and sustain one farm for
experimental purposes ? Let this ques-
tion be well considered, and such meas-
ures adopted as are necessary to pro-
duce practical results.

TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED
STATES.

The work of taking the National
Census will be commenced the coming
spring, and the Subordinate Graiiges
should be reminded of the importance
of taking an active interest in this
work, and render such assistance to
the census takers as may be necessary
to enable them to obtain full and relia-
ble information upon all matters re-
quired. The statistics will show what
progress our State has made in its agri-
culture during the last decade, and its
present standing as compared with the
other States of the Union. Every
farmer should prepare, and hold in
readiness for the marshal, a full and
accurate statement of the acreage and
amount ot all crops raised the present
year, also of all animals sold or slaugh-
tered, and the number kept upon the
farm. It is quite probable that the
wool clip will not be shorn in time, but
very accurate estimates can be made
from the preceding clip. Patrons
should co-operate everywhere to make
the reports full, accurate, and valuable.

CO-OPERATION.

This arm of our Order seems to be in
a prosperous condition. The State
Agencies established in Detroit and
Chicago, the two great commercial cit-
ies where most of our farm produce
finds a ready market, are favorably
located for the accommodation of our
members. Their facilities for handling
farm produce and filling orders, are
full and complete ; and all doing busi-
ness with them can be assured of fair
and honorable dealing. The Grange
Co-operative stores in the State are
generally prosperous, if I may judge
from those which have reported to me.
Wliere one has failed to meet the ex-
pectations of the Patrons, it has gener-
ally been caused by a~want of confi-
dence and support among the members
of the Order. Every Subordinate
Grange, which has not access.t0 a co-
operative store, should be provided
with a purchasing fund, and a local
Grange agent. Business should been-
couraged by every Grange.

THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
The thirteenth session of the Nation-

al Grange was held in the city of Can-
andaigna, N. Y., closing its labors on
the 28tli day of November. Twenty-
nine States were represented. This
session is pronounced by those compe-
tent tojudge, as among the best ever
held. Much of the work done was
thoroughly practical, and cannot fail to
result in good to our great Frate1‘lJIt.Y-

The recent unwarranted advance-
ments in “freight rates” by transpor-
tation companies, and the flagrant ex-
tortions of patent right agents made
upon innocent purchasei s, received due
consideration, and the several State
Grangcs requested to use all proper
means which may be necessaiiy, to in-
fluence legislation to correct these
evils. Resolutions of a high and Na-
tional character were adopted, setting
forth the necessity of our National Or-
ganization, for the education, protec-
tion, and elevation ofAnierican farin-
ers; and the members of the Order
urged to take a more active and deci-
sive interest in the politics of the couii-
try, and demand of the political par-
ties a morejust and equal reprepsen ta-
tion in the law-making departments of
the government. Your special atten-
tion is called to these important ques-
tioiis, trusting that you will take such
action as the interests of agriculture
seem to demand.

EDUCATION.

The subject of education was fully
and ably discussed in the National
Grange, and the Agricultural Colleges,
experimental farms. schools of technol-
ogy, and agricultural chemistry endors-
ed, and a liberal public policy recom-
mended towards them. It was also
the sense of the National Grange that
the rudiments of practical agriculture
be introduced and taught in the public
schools, all of which I fully endorse
and submit for your consideration.

The problem which has been so long
and thoroughly discussed in the Sub-
ordinate and County Granges,——“ How
can the facilities for a higher education
among farmers’ sons and daughters be
brought within the reach of every
farm house,” has been practically solv-
ed in this State by the establishment
of Grange high schools in many of the
Grange halls, where a thorough high
school course can be taken by students
residing at home, and at a mere nomin-
al expense of tuition. The Lecturer of
the National Grange in his recent re-
port to that body says:

“In one county in Michigan I found
several of these schools, held in special
rooms built in connection with the
Grange hall, handsomely_ furnished;
and farmers’ children thus at home
receiving that higher education that
the expense and ditficulties of sending
to distant cities and towns prevented
the majority in the past from bestow-
ing upon their young people. The in-
flucnce of those schools upon our Order
can be realized when I state that not
long since, twenty-one young men and
Women, above sixteen years, students
in the Grange school on the first floor,
at one time received the beautiful de-
gree ofour Order in the Grange hall
above. Agricultural text books for all
the free schools in the rural districts
to educate our children for the farm in:
stead of from it, are being talked of
and will surely come in the near:
future.”

The reports which come from these
schools are most encouraging, and the
question of their usefulness and practi-
cability is established beyond - the
admission ofa doubt. It is to be hoped
and expected that the time is not dis-
taut when every Grange hall located in
the rural districts will be not only a
place where the cultivators of the soil
will meet to discuss all questions relat-
ing to agriculture, education, civil
rights and political economy, rejecting
only those questions of a sectarian or
partisan nature; jbnt where the boys

educated in the higher

‘ _ rning so necessary to
qualify them for the duties and business
of life, so they may adorn society and
the profession of agriculture,

COUNTY G-RANGES,
The valuable wor

representation in
they should b

p cond't'

. g 0f the Grange. ’numblei1'0c>Ii'
meetings held during the year, number
of public meetings held under its auspj-
ces, work of the Lecturer, and general

condition of the Subordinate Granges
underitsjurisdiction. They should also
report the name and address of the new-
Jy elected Master and Secretary, and a
list of the same printed with the list of
the Subordinate Granges.
BY-LAVVS on THE STATE GRANGE.

The wants of our Order have out-
grown our By Laws, and a thorough
revision is needed. The form ot_ By-
Laws recommended for Subordinate
Granges also need amending, so as to
make them conform to existing laws.

DORDIANT GRANGES.

It was a misfortune to the Order that
so many Subordinate Granges should
have been organized, and left without
further instructions or encouragements,
before the real objects of the Organiza-
tion were well understood. That so
many have ceased to work is but the re-
sult of hasty and unwise organization
and limited instructions. That so large
a propbrtion oftliose organized have liv-
ed and prospered, and are now meeting
in theirown halls and increasing their
membership, fully demonstrates the
correctness of our principles, and the
necessity and vitality of our Organiza-
tion. Many of the Granges that have
ceased to work still retain their char-
ters,and can be again put in working or-
der ifthe necessary means are employed;
but there is little use in attempting to
resurrect a dead Grange. Better to
organize anew, or save all that is valu-
able from the membership to the living
ones. One strong, active Grange is
worth more to the Order than many
weak ones. One Grange in a town-
ship is generally enough, and in most
cases a greater number would be dam-
aging to the interests of the Order.
The strength and permanency of our
Organization does not depend so much
upon the number of Granges organized
or set to work, as upon the stability
and good work of those now in good
working order, and in good standing
with the State Grange. There is a
great demand for good lecturers in
the field, and they should be supplied
by the State and County Granges.
The work of reviving dormant
Granges should be placed in the hands
of the County and District Granges,
where organized ; and where necessary,
the strong arm of the State Grange
should be extended and render all
necessary aid. 4

GRANGE VISITOR.

There is no occasion for me to call
your attention to the value and useful-
ness of the _GRANGE Visrron. Its ap-
preciation by our members is demon-
strated by the success which has at-
tended its publication, and the wide-
spread circulation it has attained. It
should be enlarged as fast as its finan-
cial standing will justify. ~

Many of the Subordinate Granges ap-
propriated from the Grange Treasury
a sufficient amount of money to place
the GRANGE VISITOR in every family
connected with the Grange, free of cost
to the family, and find the investment
a paying one. Let this method for
encouraging its circulation be gener-
ally adopted, and the question will be
no longer asked, “ How can the men]-

bers of the Grange be kept interested
in its work ‘? ”

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AT
VVASHINGTON.

It ismost gratifying to me to be able to
announce to you with confidence, that
the experiments which have been pros-
ecuted by the present Commissioner
of Agriculture, in manufacturing sugar
from Sorghum Sugar Cane, and other
saccharine plants, have been re.
warded with success, and the interest-
ing fact deveo ed that sugar can be
manufactured from the common sor.

to the wealth e nation and’

the general prosperity of the

_ _ people.
_C°T-‘g1'€‘SS Should _be.petitioned for an
increased appropriation for this depart-
ment, and the question of making it a
Departmen of the Government,

7
ed energy.

The f°1‘9g01I1g_ are among the many
lmportautqllestlons which will demand
)’0UT attention. May your deliberations
be h , 10118. your conclusions wise,
and the interests Ofagricujture and our
Organization promoted.

J. J. WOODMAN.