The Grange Takes a Stand for Reform
Lynden's Pomona Grange convenes to debate cooperative rail lines, nonpartisan judiciaries, and a grand jury to audit county books.
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The Pomona Grange met in Lynden, drawing members from Laurel, Northwood, Clearbrook, and Lynden. Sixteen new members were initiated. The most important action was the appointment of a cooperative committee to plan a statewide cooperative movement at a July meeting in Seattle. The open session was held in Fraternal Hall, featuring musical performances and papers on industrial training and cooperation. The Lynden Grange hosted a banquet for the visitors. During the second day, resolutions were passed demanding a grand jury and an expert audit of county books for the past six years. They also moved to amend state primary laws to allow voters to keep their party affiliations secret, called for a nonpartisan judiciary, and appointed a committee to explore building a cooperative interurban line.
“Demanding that party candidates and committeemen be pledged to aid the welfare of the majority.”
This 1910 Grange meeting captures the era's intense populism and distrust of corporate monopolies and party machines. Today's debates over electoral transparency and public oversight of local government funds echo these exact demands made in Lynden a century ago.
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