ADDRESS OF D. W. ADAMS. 125 



means which talent, wealth and place can command, will be used. 

 So, while we believe in the goodness of God and the justice of our 

 cause, we must maintain unbroken ranks and keep our powder dry. 

 lu many of the States, the work of organizing Granges has been 

 nearly completed, and the noise and enthusiasm attending it, is suc 

 ceeded by comparative silence. The Order is there passing through 

 the ordeal which shall reveal its weakness or display its strength. 

 Though enthusiasm and noise were very suitable and efficient means 

 to kindle the flame, they are not the materials with which to main 

 tain a steady and lasting heat. 



To preserve the vantage ground we have gained, and ensure per 

 manence and further advancement, we must be able to show to our 

 members and the world, that material and moral gain does and will 

 result from our organization. &quot;We must keep our ranks full, our 

 faith strong, our work pure, and our actions wise. One year ago I 

 called the attention of this body to the fact that the Subordinate 

 Granges are the foundation and life of our Order, and urged the 

 necessity of aiding them by devising profitable and agreeable plans 

 of work and recreation, so that the present membership and interest 

 would not only be maintained, but increased. Owing to a press of 

 business, no action was taken in this matter, and the Subordinate 

 Granges have been thrown on their own resources. I ani happy to 

 announce that most of them have been equal to the emergency, but 

 many of the w r eaker have languished and failed simply for want of a 

 little paternal aid and counsel in their infancy. We cannot afford 

 to thus allow the weak (for whom especially we should provide), to 

 fall by the wayside. It is our stern duty, and should be an un 

 mixed pleasure to tend, direct and uphold them. If we fail in this, 

 we fail in carrying out one of our cardinal principles. Let me then 

 most earnestly request you to give this subject your attention as 

 one of the most important which ever came before you. It would 

 be impossible, even were it desirable, at this time to discern all the 

 grave subjects which will demand your attention, but there are 

 some which I cannot pass without a brief notice. 



Prominent among these is the subject of transportation, in which 

 every citizen has an interest, either as a producer or consumer. 

 There is a deep-seated and well-founded conviction that the present 

 modes of cany ing commodities are uselessly expensive. The peo 

 ple and the government have liberally aided in the construction of 

 railroads and canals in the expectation that increased facilities would 

 result in the cheaper rates of transportation. 



We relied implicitly on the idea that by building numerous routes 

 we would attain the benefits of competition, and secure fair rates; 

 but sad experience has fully proven that increase in number and 

 strength of transportation companies only results in raore gigantic 

 an 1 oppressive combinations. Though we have some powerful lines 

 between the north-west and north-east, yet instead of their competing 

 to reduce rates, they have, within a few days, formed a new combi 

 nation, by which western bound freights have been advanced. To 

 remedy this alarming and growing evil the people, in their indi 

 vidual capacity, are powerless, and only through their united action 

 as sovereigns can they obtain redress. In some of the States some 

 thing of this has been done, but it has been necessarily fragmentary 



