AS A POLITICAL FORCE IO5 



state granges on the subjects of taxation,- interest rate, and 

 exemption laws. As concerns taxation, resolutions can be found 

 in the proceedings of nearly all the state granges demanding 

 reduction and equalization, for it was felt that the farmers were 

 bearing an undue proportion of the heavy burden of taxation. 1 

 Often specific measures were proposed for accomplishing these 

 objects, as in California, where the taxation of uncultivated 

 land, held for speculation, at an equal rate with cultivated land 

 was demanded. 2 Exemption of railroad property from taxa- 

 tion was condemned by the granges of Ohio and Wisconsin. 

 The Ohio State Grange even demanded the taxation of church 

 property. The most general proposition on this subject, how- 

 ever, was that of taxing mortgages and relieving the mortgaged 

 property from a proportionate amount of the burden. Various 

 ingenious schemes were proposed for accomplishing this purpose; 

 but the order was not unanimous in the matter, for the Cali- 

 fornia State Grange opposed taxation of mortgages or other 

 credits, as well as of growing crops. 3 Here again the results 

 of the efforts of the order are difficult to measure, and the most 

 that can be said is that changes were made during the decade in 

 the revenue systems of a number of states, in the direction of 

 a more equal distribution of the burden of taxation between 

 urban and rural property, between personal property and real 

 estate, and between the property of individuals and that of 

 corporations. In bringing about these reforms there were other 

 influences at work besides the Grange, but its work was un- 

 doubtedly a factor in the movement. 4 



In several of the states of the North Central group, where 

 the prevailing interest rate was high, attempts were made by 

 the state granges to secure legislation reducing the legal rate of 

 interest. 5 The Wisconsin State Grange, for example, adopted 

 resolutions along this line in 1874, 1875, 1876, 1879, and 1880 and 



1 See above, pp. 21-23. 



2 California Patron, July 18, 1877, p. 5. 



3 Carr, Patrons of Husbandry, 99. 



4 Messer, The Grange, 18. 



6 State grange proceedings: Michigan, vi; Indiana, iv; Wisconsin, ii-iv, vii, 

 viii. 



