The Farmers' Grange Declares War on the Mortgage System

An Organization of Farmers—Objects Explained by Augustus High, Master Washington State Grange.

Our organization has for its purpose, among other things, the following: To develop a better and higher manhood and womanhood among ourselves; to enhance the comforts and attractions of our homes, and strengthen our attachments to our pursuits; to reduce our expenses, both corporate and individual; to buy less and produce more in order to make our farms self-sustaining; to systematize our work and calculate intelligently on probabilities; to discountenance the credit system, the mortgage system and every other system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy. We propose meeting together, talking together, working together, buying together, selling together and in general acting together for our mutual protection and advancement as occasion may require. We avoid litigation as much as possible by arbitration in the Grange.

Business Relations.

For our business interests we desire to bring producers and consumers, farmers and manufacturers into the most direct and friendly relations possible. We are not enemies of railroads, navigable and irrigating canals, nor of corporations that will advance our industrial interests, nor of any laboring classes.

In our order there is no communism, no agrarianism. We are opposed to such spirit and management of any corporation or enterprise that tends to oppress the people and rob them of their just profits. We are not enemies to capital, but we oppose the tyranny of monopolies. We long to see the antagonism between capital and labor removed by common consent and by an enlightened statesmanship worthy of the nineteenth century. We are opposed to excessive salaries, high rates of interest and exorbitant per cent profits in trade. We desire only self protection and legitimate profits.

Education.

We shall advance the cause of education among ourselves and for our children by all just means within our power.

The Grange Not Partisan.

We emphatically and sincerely assert that the Grange is not a political or party organization. No Grange, if true to its obligations, can discuss partisan or sectarian questions, nor call political conventions, nor nominate candidates, nor even discuss their merits in its meetings. Yet the principles we advocate are those which underlie good government.