IXLUj   W uV- v
Yol. IX.
s^
mDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, JANUARY 24, 1874
No. 3.
Patrons of Husbandry.
ADDRESS BY
DR.  A.
SON.
C. STEVEN-
Delivered January 2d, 1874, to Sit. Sleridian
Grange, Patrons of "Husbandry, Sit. Sleridian,
Putnam County.
At a time like this, when tho farmers
are uniting themselves in various associations for self-protection and self-improvement, it may not be out of place to take
a look at them and see who they are, and
what they have. They have indeed,heretofore, been so very modest and unassuming
that in the busy and business circles of life
they have scarcely been considered as
constituting a part of the great circle of
society. Who are they? With the exception of the comparatively small city
and town populations they constitute the
almost entire population of this vast
country. They are the bone and sinew of
this country. In other words, they are the
great moving power. They are producers of
its wealth and its commerce. The cities
are but their factors and mechanics. They
exchange their commodities and manufacture their fabrics. All outside these
towns and villages is theirs. The vast
domain, this extended land of hill and
vale, of forest and prairie is their possession, with all their attachments of streams
and rivulets and whatever is lovely and
fascinating, of shrubs or lofty trees or
odoriferous flowers.   These are the rich
heritage of the, agriculturist. These fields
and meadows that cover thousands of
miles are the fruits of their industry.
These vast herds of cattle, of sheep and
swine, of horses and mules, are of like result. The fields that in their season are
laden ,with yellow grain, ripe for the
harvest,_ those orchards loaded with
ripe fruit are the products of husbandry.
This Vast possession is divided among
many into pleasant homes or small allotments. Here dwells the farmer, and his
family. Frugality and industry has given
him a pleasant home and a happy family,—
" A swain unvexed with all the cares of gain,
Nor envy- nor ambition knew, the wisdom of his
honest fame.*"
Centuries have passed, and yet he has always been found aircontented, peaceable
eitizen.     His   pursuits   permitting  little
rivalry, he   has   consequently been  free
from ambition.   A lover of liberty and
free institutions, yet he has rarely sought
political preferment.   Mutability is characteristic of all things human.   Changes
rapidly flit before our eyes as in a panorama, and the husband-man is forced from
his quiet course of life into new positions.
Into more active attitudes for self-protection.   These changes in common parlance,
are called progress, and may, in part, consist of both good and evil.   It is rare that
good goes on au errand of mercy but evil
accompanies, following close in the rear,
that it may seize every advantage to promote its wicked designs.     Free schools
have multiplied, affording a fair education
-to all.   Colleges have so increased   and
have been made so accessable that it is not
difficult for the poorest to possess themselves   of the   most   liberal   educations.
But notwithstanding these very beneficial
results, the vicious have not been slow to
seize these advantages to enable them the
better to accomplish their evil purposes.
Locks and bars fail to turn them.  Science
renews her efforts at safes and compound
locks to secure the accumulated treasures
of wealth ; but educated villany as often
proves their efforts abortive.'   The scramble for wealth has become so great that
the illegitimate measures taken to obtain
it are illimitable.   And it is these that
make it necessary that those who have
heretofore paid little attention to   their
own protection, now find it necessary to
organize and form associations for their
own   protection   and   self-improvement.
That this necessity may be the more ap-
Xiarent, let us take a closer view of our
surroundings.   We have now a vast system of railroads permeating every district
of our country.   They were in the first
instance, mainly built by subscriptions of
stock in the country through which they
passed.   The owners were those who were
to be commercially benefited.     And great
benefits were tho results.   Produce found
ready outlets to market where none existed   before.   Wealth   was   greatly niulti-
r plied.   Villages   sprung   up,   and   towns
'igrew into cities.   Jlanufactories were ex-
I tended   to   new   localities, and  brought
I nearer the consumer.   But the avaricious
ye of the capitalist was not slow to per
ceive his opportunity. The purchase, of
these roads would command the greater
portion of tlie entire carrying trade of this
vast country at just such tariffs as they
might choose to impose. This has been
largely done, and hence the just complaints
that are heard from all quarters of onerous
charges and unequal rates,—winter rates
and summer rates. These are but so many
evidences of the unjust exactions of the
roads. Way stations are charged greatly
higher rates than long through lines, to
distant points.
Let me call your attention to another
existence that is surely worthy your attention : Mechanics of almost every order
have organizations for the protection of
their interest. Masons have an organization ; shoe-makers have one also ; so have
carpenters ; miners have an organization ;
smelters and founders have organizations
theirs. If miners, mechanics and manu-|
facturers resort to extraordinary measures
to force up prices which must be paid by
the farmer, then the. farmer is compelled
to take legitimate measures to secure his
interests, If capital unlawfully seizes the
channels of commerce, ami thereby levies
onerous taxes upon your industry, you
must organize for resistance by every
legitimate means. The safety of the farmers is in organization. This done, your
work of defence Ls nearly accomplished.
Cowardice is characteristic of all the forms
of dishonesty. So soon as it sees itself
boldly and determinedly confronted it
skulks into its hiding places and there
remains until some unguarded interest
affords it new opportunities. There are
reason for association worthy of attention
other than those we have been considering.   Association is an important means
to the most interesting study of nature.
Iii conclusion, gentlemen and ladies, permit me to congratulate you on your present
and future prospects. In the great monetary crises that has swept over tho.land
and brought ruin to so many, no class has'
suffered so little as the farmer. Indeed,1
the precious metals now flowing into the
country to purchase his products have prevented a much wider ruin that would surely have been. The future is'brightened
with prospects of still greater improvements in the modes of cultivation and in
improved breeds of domestic animals. The
comforts of home are being constanlly
improved in more comfortable and ornamental dwellings, in the adornment of
door-yards, in the structure of barns and
out-buildings for convenience, and the
comfort of domestic animals. There is no
place  so  enchanting as  a  well  arranged
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for the protection of their special interests ; and this is all well enough.   When
wages are not satisfactory a strike is had
for increased  wages.   Funds have been
provided beforehand to bear them through,
and any one desiring to work is forced
into obedience.   I am anxious to impress
the persistence with which they carry out
the edicts of their organizations.   Now if
agriculturists fail to organize for self-protection, they must be greatly the sufferers,
as we shall show.   Every  cent unjustly
levied by the railroads is a tax upon your
industry.   The high charges levied at way
stations are an unjust levy upon your hogs,
your cattle, your sheep, and grain of every
description, and equally so upon all you
purchase,—your salt, iron, dry goods, groceries, etc. _ Again we have a strike of the
workmen  in our   coal   mines.   You aro
ready to say this cannot affect us ; our fuel
is procured from the timber on our own
farms.   Whilst we do .not object to the
right of these miners to obtain the best
price for their labor, we have the right to
weigh the effects upon agriculture of increased wages. It is clear that any increase
in the miners' wages,.is so much added to
the price  of coal.   As coal is used for
smelting thc ore in making pig iron, the
increased price of the coal will# be carried
to the pig, and   from the   pig   iron   to
that which makes your plow, your wagon,
your axe, your reaper and mower, hoe,
knives and forks, and the spoon with which
you sip your soup.   So that this increase
in the price of the wages of the miner at
last is a tax which you-pay.   Or in other
words it is a reduction to the amount of
the increase in the price of your wheat,
corn, pork, beef, cattle, butter and eggs ;
because it takes a greater amount of these
to purchase the iron for your wagon, your
reaper, plow, axe and hoe.   Tho same is
true of an increase in thc wages of the
journeyman shoemaker ; the price is added
to the shoes and you pay it.   The same
may be repeated of every branch of manufactures—woolen and cotton goods.    We
repeat   it,—we do  not   complain of  the
right; but we should organize, (and this
is being rapidly   accomplished   in   these
granges) and adopt such measures as shall
prevent the entire burdens being laid upon
our shoulders.   If others organize to promote their interests, it is certainly pardonable in agriculturists to organize to defend
SILVER-SPANGLED HA3IBURGS.
by which knowledge iiay be obtained.  By I country home.   Our most   distinguished
1 '        ' ' ' men have been pleased to retire to homes
in the country. Washington, the father
of his country, had his Mount Vernon.
Jefferson, his Monticello. And you, gentlemen, may each have your 31 ount Vernon
and your 3Ionticello aud a happyand intelligent family.
bringing   several    pei-sons    together   the
knowledge of each is made accessable to
all.   We thereby multiply our knowledge
much faster than if ivo are thrown upon
the resources of a single mind. The opportunity of correcting errors is greatly increased.   Our views 'in associations like
that of the granges are subject to just criticism, and more correct conclusions are
arrived at. Besides being a means of general knowledge the granges^ are a means of
special knowledge in relation to the business of the farmer.   The prices of the several productions of the farm may be communicated here as well as the prospective
prices.   The farmer should use diligently
every means of information, not only in
relation to prices but also as to the most
profitable crops and the best modes of cultivating them.   But aside from the knowledge to be obtained by association, let me
urge the adoption of every means within
your reach for obtaining this most valuable acquisition, and not the least by any
means is  a good supply of newspapers.
Do not be contented with one, but take
several.   They are so cheap that you may
take several agricultural papers besides
your political and religious papers.   JIany
good papers jnay be had a whole year for a
single day's work.   Young men, each of
you secure a paper or two.   Young ladies,
by all means do the same.   H is not family nor wealth that gives position in this
country, but knowledge.   Now that there
is so broad a way open to it, embrace it.
None have more time for reading and meditation than the farmer and the farmer's
family.   None have such fine opportunities to learn from nature.   Placed in the
midst of nature's vast laboratory you have
but to open your eyes and  observe.   A
book teaching nature's most perfect lessons  is presented you in every tree and
shrub and flowering plant.    The wonders
manifested in a growing blade of grass which
is thoughtlessly trodden under foot, may
well occupy the attention ofthe most eminent savans.    The most authentic history
of the long past is found in the hills and
rocks that lie alongfherivuletthattrickles
through the meadow.   Animal life may
most profitably be studied in your flocks
and herds and the birds of your fields and
barn-yards ; andthewhole insect world that
nightly sings a lullaby is before you inviting
Franklin Grange, No. 709,    )
DkKalb Co., Ind., Jan. 12,1874. j
Editors Ind. Farmer : In your issue
of December 20, you ask : " What say
you brethren on this important subject?"
You ask this in relation to the accumulated fund of tho National Grange. As one
of the brethren, I would say, that your
views are correct and opportune, and hope
they will be urged upon the National
Grange at its next meeting, and adopted
and carried out by that body. The fees
should be reduced to the lowest possible
point, that only a sufficient sum be raised
to pay the actual necessary expenses of the
§ range,' and nothing for high salaries,—
aiary Grabbers or Credit Mobiliers, in
contracts for buildings, purchasing libraries, etc. I hope you will provea faithful
sentinel on the wall, to give notice of the
doings of our enemies, either within or
without the grange.
M. Waterman, Master.
of Nebraska^ to tax the property of the
Union Pacific railroad within the boundaries of the said State. Judge Bradley
read a dissenting opinion, holding that the
tax was an unlawful interference with the
instrumeutrlities created by the National
Government in carrying out the objects
and powers conferred ou it by the Constitution. If a road may be taxed, it may be
seized and sold for non-payment of taxes
in part and parcels, and thus tho whole
purpose of Congress in creating the corporation and establishing the line maybe sub-
vertedand destroyed. 31r. Field concurred
in the opinion with Bradley. 3Ir. Hunt
dissented from the opinion of the court.
3Ir. Swayne gave his views in his own way,
but concurred in the conclusion reached
by the majority of the court.
The above decision which we clip from
the Nebraska Farmer, is a cause of rejoicing to every friend of justice in the country. Justice Bradly. true to his instincts
is found deciding in favor of the railroads,
as against the people. He does not forget
that ho owes his present position to railroad influence.
 •	
A Noble Order.—Some attention is
being attracted by a new Order, established
last August, under the title ofthe Patrons
of Industry. As the name implies, this
association is to consist of workingmen
above eighteen, and workingwomen above
fifteen. An idea of its principles may be
derived from a few of the crisp opening
sentences of the preamble to the constitution : " By industry we thrive. In union
we have success. In secrecy we have power.    In right-wo havo might."     Thclodges
jare local, State, and national, and the degrees are but three in number. Tho object of the association which is beneficial,
and not oath-bound, is to further the interests of the working classes, and three
of the planks in its platform are specially
worthy of _ note—"We solicit," says its
representatives, " the co-operation of woman, because, without her aid, success
will be less certain. Every husband and
brother knows that where he can be accompanied by his wife or sister no lessons
will be learned but of purity and truth."
The next point consists in the suggestion
of a co-operative purchasing agency,
whereby the necessaries of life may be obtained at wholesale prices. Thc last is
political, being a proposition to vote only
| for such party candidates as may be in
sympathy with the objects of the Order.
In all this there is the most enlightened
liberality, both as to the Church and Stato.
To bo a laborer—by which we suppose is
meant a manual laborer—is the only prerequisite for membership in persons of the
proper age; and thc only penalty for misconduct is expulsion.—Forney's Philadelphia Press.
Isiportant Decision. —The United
States Supreme Court, on 3Ionday, decided
the case of the Union Pacific railroad
against Pennison, Treasurer of Lincoln
county, Neb., on an appeal from the Cir-
cuir Court of that State. Judge Strong
delivered the opinion, the court holding
that the taxing power of a State is an attribute of sovereignity thpt exists independently of the Constitution of the United States, and not derived from that instrument, and that it may be exercised to
an unlimited extent on all property, trades,
business, and vocations existing or carried
on within the boundaries of the State, except so far as has been surrendered to the
General Government, either expressly or
by necessary implication. The court,
therefore, sustains the right of the State
Won't Deal with Us.—The following,
which is a copy of a letter from an Ohio
plow company, speaks for itself; so does
the resolution of Blue River Grange,which
follows :
Dayton, O., Dec. 22,1873.
E. T. Fogle, Shelby ville, Indiana :
Dear Sin:—As long as Dodds, Griffin & Co. are
our agents, we will not sell you plows at any price,
as you can get them as cheap of them as you can
of us. W'e purpose and allow farmers an honest
living, and we ask the same. You say you want
from fifteen to twenty plows. Since February, 1872
Slessrs. D., G. & Co. have purchased $9,000 worth,
and we do not know an agent who does not purchase from 8300 to $2,000 worth each season. You
will discover before you are a year older that the
granges will accomplish nothing in their movement, as we do not know a single hand manufacturer who intends to notice them.
Yours truly,      Chaki.es Pakrott.
The following resolution was passed on
reception of the above:
Resolved, That we will not purchase from any
manufacturer who refuses to sell to farmers at a
reduction. Also, that a copy of this letter be sent
to the Indiana Farmer for such notice as may
seem proper. K. T. Fogle, Cor. Sec.
„. —m	
Deputy M. V. Galbraith writes us a
letter, from which we make the following
extracts: The success of the grange movement depends upon no one man, but upon
the honest farmers of this country as a
whole. I believe if 3Iasters and Past Masters were recognized by the constitution as
deputies, and allowed $2 per day for their
services, that the work of organizing would
be as successfully done as at present, and (
much more economically and satisfactorily. I most heartily endorse the views of\
the Farmer in regard to the course our i
National Grange should pursue. A reduction in the fees for charters I have advocated for the last year. The other matter I'
had not thought of, but the pro rata division meets my warmest approbation.
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