MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE. "169 



a privilege that may be employed for social benefit, but that it is also 

 a necessity ol" the times to enable them to stand up against the aggres- 

 sive movements of other organized interests which seek special advan- 

 tages and selfish gain, even at the expense of others. Farmers are also 

 coming to see that organization to be most useful and effectual, must be 

 based upon business principles, which dictate a systematic plan of con- 

 centration with neighborhood, county, state and national bodies, with 

 ample provisions for necessary amounts of money in all respective treas- 

 uries, and the whole bound together by the strong ties of sympathetic 

 and real fraternity. The duties of membership in practical organization 

 must be obligatory, and not optional to the extent of sacrificing adher- 

 ence and solidity. In short, we must have thorough organization, and 

 its work must be as broad as the interests of agriculture in the nation. 



"Such an organization is the order Patrons of Husbandrv. It came 

 into existence about thirty years ago, had a real mission to perform, 

 and now, rich in experience, it stands as the recognized state and 

 national representative of the interests of agriculture. It is our organi- 

 zation that is solicited to appear and testify before International Com- 

 mercial Inquiries, National Industrial Commissions, committees having 

 in charge tariff revisions and nationl conferences on great questions 

 which do or maj' seriously affect the general interests of agriculture. 



"The time has come and our work has developed the fact that the 

 order must be extended. "NVe must increase our membership to be 

 successful in man}- important lines of duty. We must have more 

 Granges in everv settled countv. At the least, there should be one 

 Grange in every township, and in most cases this number should be 

 greatly increased, to give all farmers an opportunity to associate with 

 a Grange by going an easy distance. One of the chief demands for 

 more Granges and greatly increased membership is, that farmers being 

 considered as the great conservative portion of our population to exer- 

 cise a telling influence in favor of right and against wrong. We are 

 all aware of the fact that Congress and the Legislatures are charged 

 with the enactment of laws for just government, and to preserve such 

 equilibrium between all legitimate interests as such just government 

 demands. The' farmer population of our country are in favor of suj)- 

 ]»orting and maintaining these principles. To do this against the 

 <h'maii(ls and corrujit methods of the extremely selfish and ofttimes 

 unscrupulous persons and corporations for legislation for their own 

 benefit often at the expense of the nianj^ we must make our organiza- 

 tion stronger. We must have more nearly all the farmers enrolled 

 with us. Then we can stand by the side of our representatives and 

 strengthen them to oppose any and all attacks and jdcadings for unjust 

 and vicious legislation." 



In the work of the year the strengthening of the Pomona, or county 

 Granges, has received much earnest atteniion and endeavor. The (Mids 

 to be attained were in substance the following: 



1st. Secure Pomona Granges in every county where subordinate 

 Granges exist. 



2d. Thoroughly renovate and bring up to date all existing Pomona 

 Granges. 



.''>d. All ado]>t by-laws, and live and work as a practiwil business body. 



4th. Insist on the i)ayment of at least the minimum annual dues by 

 everv member. 



