CHAPTER XXI. 



THE PATRONS OF IOWA AND THEIR WORK. 



TWO MEETINGS OF THE STATE GRANGE. 



The Order of Patrons of Husbandry early obtained a 

 strong foothold in Iowa, and this, for a considerable time 

 past, has been the banner State in the number of its 

 Granges, etc. Nearly two thousand Granges are now in 

 working operation there, and their influence is powerfully 

 felt in almost every county. 



The last annual meeting of the State Grange was held at 

 Des Moines, on the ninth and tenth of December, 1873. 

 Worthy Master Smedley, in his opening address, reviewed 

 the growth of the Order in the State, showing that the 

 number of Subordinate Granges increased, during the pre 

 ceding year, from seven hundred and eighty-eight to one 

 thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, with an aggregate 

 membership of one hundred thousand. He warned the 

 members that the success of the Order depended upon the 

 observance of their rules, prohibiting the introduction of 

 politics into the Order. During the afternoon, a prominent 

 member made a speech favoring the formation of a new 

 political party. 



After a sharp contest, concluded late on the tenth, the 

 following officers were elected: Col. A. B. Smedley (re- 

 elected), Master ; J. M. Dixon, Overseer ; J. G. H. Little, 

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