The Granger Picnic

The Cou'nty Picnic of the Patrons ol Husbandry, held in the beautiful grove on the , ter farm near the village of Dexter, on f dar, was a decided success. Arriving in the grove about 11 o'olock a. m. and in advauce of the special train, we found a large uumbor of l'atrons - men and women, lor wives and husbands, daughters and sons are equals in the Granges- already gathered, and engaged in spreading the tables which had been put up by the local committee and assigned to the Granges of the county, including visiting Granges froni adjoining counties. Ju6t before 12 o'clock the Grangers and their guests were called to order for the prelimiuary exereises, consisting of music by the band and by the choir of Ypsilanti Grange, and prayer by the chaplain of the day. A recess of an hour waa theu taken for dinner, in which exercise all viaitors were invited to participate, and Nvliich invitatiön, so cordially extended, was enforced by the now well laden tables. It was our good fortune to dine with the Scio Grange, and owing to a limited physical capacity (and au oversight in not fasting for three or four days previous), we were obliged to slight the invitations of the Lima, the Sharon, the Webster, the Dexter, the Superior, the Northfield, Fraternity of Augusta, And we don't know how many other Uranges. Had the picnic lasted three or four days we might possibly have gone the rounds. It was esthnated that from 2,500 to 3,000 took ; dinner, and yet there was an abundance left, and evidence of the generous drafts which had j been made upon the poultry yards and larders of the contributingGrangers, aud that the Grangers , are good livers. After dinner the exercises were resumed, and after music, J. J. Robison, of Sharon, read the resolutions adopted at the recent session of the National Grange, held at St. Louis, Mo., ' bodying the principies of the order. These i olutions were published in the Abous at the time, and need not be repeated here. S. F. Brown, of Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County, Master of the State Grange, was presented as the first speaker, and briefly gave the reasons for the organization and existence of the order, and glanced at the work it had so far accomplished, and at what it proposed to do. He was followed more at length by Hon. J. Webster Childs, who discussed fully the principies of the order, socially, professionally, and politically. We say politically, for while he disclaimed partisanship for the order and said politics were to be ignored in Grange meetings, he held it to be the duty of every Granger to be a politician and to discharge every political duty, and that the Grangers or Patrons shbuld insist upou representatiou in State Legislatures and Congress of the agricultural interests by agricultunsts. He enforced this necessity by referring to the tariff legislation detrimental to the wool-grower, and showed himself a protectiouist despite his protest that he would not let liis views be known on the occasion. He also discussed the trans, portation question. But we havn't time or desire to go through his address. It was a good argument froni the Granger's standpoint, and probably furmshed the best possible reaBOns why farmers should oin and maintain Granges - merely as social institutions. And as such there can be no doubt that they will work good for the farmer ana elévate the farmers home and avo;ation. Thougli in saying this, we must OOnïess to no great amouut of sympathy with the speakers' declarations that the farmers as a class are looked down upon and treated as inferiors by other classes. Mr. Childs was briefly followed by Mr. Brownj of the Superior Grange, and by Mr. Campbell, of the Ypsilanti Grange. Then came more music and a vote of thanks to the local Granges and the comvnittees in charge of the arrangements, to the band aud choir, and to Prof. Sage, of this city, for the organ used on the occasion, after which carne a social season and dispersión, all feeling that they had had a good time. Such gatherings canuot fail to work good to the agricultural classes, aud if to agriculturists to the whole community, for all trades and professions are mutually depeudent. No liquors were allowed on the ground, and we never saw so good order maintained at so large a gathering. Another recommendation for the principies of the Grangers. - It was announced that a County Grange Basket Picnic would be held on the Fair Grouud in this city on the tbird day of the coming County Fair, September 24th. - It is well to note an episode. Just before dispersión, Mr, Leiand of this city, asked permission to make a suggestion. It was that in view of the subinission of the question of womau suffrage to the electora, and the of t-repeated charge that none but old maids and a few restless women wantod the ballot, it would be well to test the sentiments of the large nuinber of ladies present. And so it was voted to let the women iustruct, and a vote being called for by the uplifted hand, as to whether the electora should be instructed to vote for or against wonian suffrago, but few voted either way. The master of ceremonies, Mr. Childs, suggested that there was a misunderstanding, and saying that all women could talk if they couldn't raise their hands, again put the question. There were a few faint ayes, and a few strong noes, rather more of the latter than the former, but the inass of the ladies present seemed entirely indifferent, and so the chairman decided that the electors were left to exercise their own judgment. - The editor should also return his thanks to the ladies of the Scio Grange for a beautiful bouquet.