Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1873 — The “Grangers.” [ARTICLE]

The “Grangers.”

A reporter of the Star dropped in at the headquarters of the Nation&Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, «n Louisians avenue, a few days since, and found there, besides Colonel O. H. Kelley, the Secretary, Mr. Dudley W. Adams, ot lowa, Master of the National Grange. The jorial secretary introduced the Star man, with the remark: “Now you’ve got the •head center’ of the Grangers; go for for hlmt" The reporter of the Star staid not upon the order of his going, but went for bun “in manner as follows, to-wit:” Reporter—Well, Mr. Adams, your organisation is creating something of a stir tn the political world. There seems to be a general impression that it will take a prominent part in politics; in fact, it appears to be taken for granted that it has already figured in some very important political movements. Mr. Adams—That is a popular misapprehension. We cannot, as Granges, participate in any political movement, for the reason that the constitution of the order expressly prohibits the discussion of either political or religious topics in the granges. R.— Well, that is singular. The papers, for months past, have contained accounts of political meetings by the Grangers, and have published resolutions adopted atsuch gatherings. Mr. A.— That may be, but in almost every case such meetings were not held as Grange meetings; and whenever granges have held meetings as such, their action has invariably been repudiated by the State Granges. R.—Then I understand that members of Granges may participate in-political movements, and that Grangers, as they are commonly called, may even go so far as to call meetings,but that it must be done informally, and not as having the sanction of any particular organization of the Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. A.— That’s the idea- We arejffst like the Masons or Odd Fellows in respect to religion or politics. They, as you know, are at liberty to do just ' as they please in regard to politics and religion outside of the lodges, and it is the same with us. . R.—lt has been represented that the Order has Democratic proclivities, and those who assert this point to lowa, where the Anti-Monopoly, or Democratic ticket, is supposed to be the one Grangers favor. Mr A—That is another misapprehension. In June, when the Republicans held the State Convention, they adopted the Anti-Monopoly platform, and one that suited the Patrons to a “T.” When the Democrats held their convention they also adopted an Anti-Monopoly platform and called themselves “Anti-Monopolists,” probably in the hope of roping in the Grangers.

R— How will the Ajiti-Mon.opoli.sts succeed; wiU the Patrons be deeeived by a name ? —— ——- Mr. A.—Many Patrons will vote the! Democratic ticket simply because they are Democrats, and because there is no difference between the two platforms. Both parties came down on their knees to us, and would have come down still lower if we had required them to do so. The fact is, there is really no issue in lowa. R.—Then you think the Republicans will carry the State as usual ? Mr. A.—Undoubtedly. The most of the Patrons are with the Republicans, because the platform of the latter is all that could be desired. By the way, there is a plank in the lowa Republican platform that I never saw in any other, of either party. It is as follows (reading from an lowa paper): Resolved. That we are deslrons of political reform. and for honesty, economy, and purity in all official admihialration. That to recure this is the duty of every citizen; that to thia end every good man should feel bound to participate in politics, and to make an end of bad men forcing their election by securing a party nomination; declare ft the duty of every Rpublicau io oppose the election ota bad man and incompetent official, whether he be a candidate upon Our owii or auy other ticket. This, as you see, is virtually ignoring party, and adopting the pugilist’s motto, “Fair play, and may the best man win..” R.— But don’t you think that the order should become, to some extent, a political organization, in order to bring about the reforms it seeks to accomplish? Mr. A.—To a certain extent, yes. But it would not do for us to lay down a- political platform for the.. whole organization. Why, the question of free trade and protection alone would divide us at once. R.—Of the candidates on the lowa Republican State ticket, how many are Grangers ?

MrA.—Two: the candidate for Governor and the candidate for Lieutenant-Gov-ernor. The Democratic ticket has, I believe, but one, and he is the candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. R.—May I ask, Mr. Adams, what your politics are ? Mr. A.—l have always been a Republican. R Our friend Kelley, Here, tells ine he is a Democrat. Colonel Kelley—Yes, str ; I am a Democrat of the blackest kind;- dyed in the wool. I used to write for a Republican paper once, but I had to tell so many lies, especially in regard to the acts-of such men as Senator , and had to bolster up so many Republican schemes that I got sick of it and quit. Mr. A. —There! You see an illustration of the folly of our attempting to get up a political’organization. Why, the very fact that Colonel Aikin, of South Carolina, who was once arrested by Governor Scott for supposed connection with the Ku-Klux, voted for me lor Master of the National Grange, shows that we ignore politics. It—A report has lately been published that the „ National Grange w’ould soon issue a circular admonishing the Granges to have nothing to do with politics; ' Mill this be done? —; Mr. A.—No; it is quite unnecessary. The fundamental principles vs the Order are too well known to require it. R.—One more question. The statement has been published that colored persons will not be admitted to the Granges. Is this true? Mr. A.—lt is not. Every Grange must exercise its own discretion as to the admission of members. The constitution is silent in regard to color, and only prescribes that applicants must be of good moral character; that they must be inter-_ ested in agriculture, and that they must be of a certain ace. If a Grange chooses to admit colored persons it can do so ; there is nothing in the constitution to prohibit it. The statement that there are no colored men in the order is incorrect. I myself have been in Granges where there were colored members. Their admission is simply a local matter, and is settled by the local Granges. R.—How large do you think your Order is at present ? Mr. A.—l would estimate its total membership at about half a million. Colonel Kelley has the figures. [Here Colonel K. produced a weekly bulletin, dated - September 20, which showed a total of 0,409 subordinate Granges. Of this number 829 were established during the month of August last, and 027 from the Ist to the 20th of the present month. Both gentlemen agreed that the number of subordinate Granges formed during the present mouth would reach nearly, if not quite, 1,000. J Mr. Adams, Master of the National Grange, who was lately mentioned in connection with the the Lieutenant-Governor-ahip of lowa, is about 45 or 46 years of age. He is of medium size, wears a full light beard, and has light hair, which is oombed straight back over his organ of veneration, and back of his auricular ap-1

pondages. A close inspection failed to reveal any hay seed in his hair, and it might be added that he does not wear a hickory shirt, nor does he tuck Ills piyits in his boots, although in appearance he comes pretty well up to the popular idea of a horny-handed son of toil. He wore alight slouch hat and gray clothing throughout, and on seeing him first would remind one who “tout into the late rebellion” of a “Johnny Reb.” He lives at Waukon, lowa, where he owns and cultivates a farm, and is especially interested in pomology. He has just returned from the annual session of the United States Bornological Convention in Boston, and left for lowa a day or two qgo. Just before leaving. Secretary Kelley handed the reporter of the Star a card, saying that some festive Granger recently sent it to him, oft which was printed the following: “Compound extract of hay seed; an excellent invigorator; warranted to cure itching for office, political trickery, and sure to remove unfaithful servants from office.” — -S’ur.