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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.