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Address of Hon. T. H. Kimbrough,
I Matter Patrons of the of Husbandry State Grange, of to Ga. the
Jatrons of Georgia :
ise.
It is through the mercies of a Kind
rovidence you, the guardians of the
interests of a great state,
the representatives of a grand order,
have been peimitied to assemble in
the 17th annual meeting of the Ga.
State Grange.
It is therefore proper that you—
good patrons and matrons—acknowl¬
edge the goodness of the Great Mas¬
ter of the Universe, for the tender
care he has ever exhibited toward the
husbandman and his occupation.
tion which has brought the cry of
“hard times" from the agricultural
districts of every section. Yet we
have much reason to be thankful that
X our condition is no worse and that
mercy still intercedes for us.
I would here ask each present if
you, during the year about to close,
have done what you thought one
year ago you would and could do to
advance the interest of our order and
our industry ? Have you done what
' 3 you promised you would do ? If not
I would ask are you now ready and
will you try to make this meeting one
of success ?
m It is within your power, and in re
lying upon your good judgment to
dopt such measures as will be con
lucive to the prosperity of our cause
and^ch as will advai t> interest
Lofour|rming responsibility upon people, you. HH throw the
CONDITION OF OUR ORDER.
> In many sections of the United
Several other States made
likewise.
ardly deserted the colors of our noble
order, while others who entered our
ranks from selfish motives have gone
back to the busy outside world, or
possibly have united with other or¬
ders hoping there to find ease and
comfort. But there is still left in our
State some who have passed through
the fiery furnace, have O out
without even the smell -*> fire on
their garments. These stand to-day
and represent the inyincible army of
agriculturists—they are the gqod pa*
place faith in Gpd, nur
ture hope, dispense charity, are noted
for their fidelity to the principles of
our order, and will succeed.
These no longer compose a motley
crew, holding and promulgating di
verse views and advocating principles
antagonistic to the agricultural inter
est, but they compose a brotherhood
determined on developing a higher
and better agricultural class. These
no longer rely on theor , b\it practice
what tpey preach, and have proven
their faith by their works. These
labor not only for the present, but
are working for the future, that when
we have passed over the river others
will be prepared to take our places in
the broken ranks.
There is a great work for our entire
membership if we would secure the
position among other industries we
are entitled to. It is a work that
calls forth the ablest efforts of body,
mind and heart.
I was privileged to he with P. M.
Gillis in some of his lecture work and
was much pleased with the success
that attended some of his efforts ; we
tried to visit every point to which an
invitation was given, and am conti
dent the result would have been very
satisfactory if our entire programme
could have been carried out, as plann
ed.
I went to a ptclinftinary meeting of
inter state encampment, as per your
instruction. Am happy to report the
encampment a success, but it needs
your help to make it as useful as
we hope it be to our State.
1 am averse to passing resolutions
or making demands that are mean
ingless in their nature, but think the
time has come that we ‘should im
press ail concerned that we mean ex
actly what we say. vVith this view
matters I ask permission to call your
attention to a few things needed, to
effect which your assistance is earnest
ly solicited. In doing this I hope to
remind you that we are asking no
special or class privileges, but
tend for that which is ours. I would
also urge you for the future to cast
your ballot for such men as will rec
tify existing wrongs and look well to
the interest of their constituents.
The work of the National Grange,
for past several years on the
state Commerce Law, is meeting with
favor from the people, but it seems a
difficult task to convince those inter
ested that the Long and Short Haul
clause means what it says. Several;
of the great railroads are being con- 1
vinced of this fact by the organized •
effort of State Granges in the New
England States, the courts deciding
with the patrons. The probability is j
they are satisned.
I would here suggest that you re
spectfully demand of your Represent
atives in Congress to well guard ti is
clause in the Liter-state Law with
further legislation if needed, and that
you hold yourselves in position to help
patrons from other sections. j
The many hundred dollars taken !
from the innocent farmer in the north
west on the Drive Well and other
patents furnish conclusive argument
for the early amendment of the pres
ent law on patents. The recent de
cision of the Supreme Court
another victory) should teach us to
consider well our rights before giving
them away. The decision, however,
was too late for many of our brother
farmers.
The present postal rate on seeds,
bulbs, plants and coin is so much
higher in United States than in Can
ada that our seedsmen can save mon
ey by freighting their seed across the
line and mailing them from the Can
ada side. Vet the U. S. n.ails finally
carry the seed to their destination,
Notwithstanding, this is the case,
efforts have been made in the inter
est of express companies to double
the rate of postage on packages,
they would have succeeded but for
the organized effort of our ordet
against the advance,
Let me suggest that you keep
close watch and see that only good
men are placed on guard. Efforts
like this are against your interest and
need to be condemned by your dis
approbation. We should also ask
re-issue of fractional currency for use
in mails and cheaper postal
orders.
Is it right that the people who
to bear the burden of government
subjected to the oppression of
monopoly when in the power of the
government to prevent it?
not the U. S. government
date its people, greatly cheapen
facilitate communication among and
for them by establishing new lines
purchasing the present
system and running the same in
interest of burden bearers? I would
not suggest any infringement on vest
ed rights or privileges of persons or
corporations, but feci that the
are entitled to some consideration
well as corporations. Postal relegra
phy has been tested by other coun¬
tries, and is entirely practical,prudent
and wise.
The people are growing very im
patient with having to pay on an av
crage of 40 per cent, taxon hundreds
of ai tides, while England, our com
petnor, requires her people to pay tax
on only about a dozen,
In England no necessary article is
taxed. In this great country every
necessary article has to pay a
tariff from the swaddling clothes of
their infant babe all thiougb life to
the shrouds of their dead. Patrons,
have we any rights to our views, let
them be expressed in the most em
phatic terms.
The successful experiment, by the
agricultural department of making
sugar from sorghum, will soon pre
pare a new industry and make us
more independent of other sections,
The manner in which the Commis
sioner of Agriculture has so deter
minatel) gone about the extirpation
of the cattlv plague deserves more
than a complimentary notice at our
hands, and here I would remind you
of the fact, if, as patrons, we will but
our duty soon agriculture will have
an influence in the Presidential advis
ory board.
The Hatch Experimental Bill for
which our order worked faithfully is a
law, but it needs some amendments
watchfulness on the part of Con
to prevent the money from being
misappropriated and to make these
national instead of local
of benefit to the agricultural peo¬
STATE AFFAIRS.
Could ye not with all propriety
ask a mOfe equal distribution of the
burdens of State government, by
demanding a graduated system of
income tax, thereby shifting part ot
our burden to corporations, bond¬
holders and monied kings. It cer¬
tainly would be right and seems to be
practical and expedient.
1 could but feel sad at the result
of the recent election held in the
Gate City of the South, and would
greatly rejoice at any suggestion that
would have a tendency to relieve
ours, the Empire State of the South,
from the fearful influence that will be
thrown around her from her central
headquarters. Brethren, can you
make any suggestion on this line ?
Brethren, 1 00 not believe a con¬
firmed culprit, vagabond, thief or
robber of mature age is entit ed to
our sympathy, or ought to beds, be per¬
mitted to sleep on Oowny eat
of the king’s meat, or reside in pala
tial rooms. Nor do I fed that they
are even entitled to the respect of
each other, or if possible ought they
be permitted to associate with each with
other. But there are those
whom I sympathise, and with whom
you should sympathise, for ordeT one of tilt
precepts of our noble is “to
raise the fallen.” It is for buys, who
from neglect of parental training,
have been led astray or have gotten
into trouble of a criminal nature.
After much caretul thought and some
observation, 1 have come to the con¬
clusion that many of them might be
saved, and to this end I would be glau
lessee a reformatory school or prison
for such. Let me ask you to think
over this matter and if possible de¬
vise some plan to separate the boys
from the company and influence of
the confirmed culprit.
Again I take the privilege of sug¬
gesting to you the necessity of deci¬
ded action against the ruinous spe¬
cies of gambling in futures that has
succeeded in depreciating the value
of our products, regardless of the law
of supply and demand. Can this be
leached by either State or National
legislation ? If so how, is the ques¬
tion for you to consider, and if possi¬
ble reach some wise conclusion.
Can you not take such steps at
this meeting as will convince the far¬
mers of Georgia that you are looking
to the advancement of their every
interest, remembering that you can¬
not organize until they are satisfied it
is to their interest, and you cannot
accomplish the desired end of our
order without organization that car¬
ries with it an established system of
co operation affecting not only the
moral, intellectual and social man,
but materially advance his interest.
Can ydu not in your wisdom devise
a system of co-operation or concen¬
tration of our trade as do other sec¬
tions, and such an one as will meet
the wants of our people?
We have been permitted to test
co-operation on a small scale the past
year, we hope, to the satisfaction of
all. If satisfactory in one line of
business, I feel we are competent to
make it so in other departments.
Soive this question, make it practical,
and then the question of reorganiza¬
tion is but a question of time, and
at an early day we will enjoy the
fruits of our labor.
