The Drive Well Royalty

We have received the f ollowing circular from the Executive Committee of the State Grange, which will be found of interest to those who arelikely to be affected by the efforts of Mr. Green t o tax the farmers of the state f or his own private benefit : The executive committee of the Michigan state Grange, in session in city of Lansing, have had under consideration the claim for royalty of one N. W. Green, for alleged infringement of a patent he claims to hold for driven wells. This committee, without giving this claim that caref ui and exhaustivo examination necessary to know its actual status, believe ittobelong fothatclass of fr.iuds that through the unjust and oppressive patent laws that disgrace our natioual statutes, furnish opportunity for pretenders to levy a species of blackmail upon innocent asers of inventions that have been in cornmon use all over the couniry for a long time, It is part of the scheme of these unscrupulous persons to undertake to collect royalty, to wait until the use of an article has become general, that they may reap a larger harvest when they come to count up those they propose to victimize. The succeasf ui issue of the suit institutecl by parties in the eastern part uf the state, three years ago, to collect royalty from patrons for alleged infringement of patent by the use of the common slide gate, is still fresh in our minds, and we believe it our duty as patrons, to make the same spiritedand determined resistance to this new demund upon the farmers of the state for royalty, which then baffled and thwarted in the Supreme Court of this State ;he turther prosecution of a well devised scheme of robbery, af ter several housands of dollars of royalty had 3een collected. With the opinions we entertain, we can but advise all patrons and other person3 interested, to refuse to puy one cent of royalty to N. VV. Green, his agents, or attorneys, or to any other jerson making a like claim, until such ;ime as the claim is establishcd as jood and yalid by a judicial decisión n the Court of last resort in the United States. For the purpose of providing the neans necessary to resist this claim, and of making tbe defense which we advise, we recommend that the subordínate granges of the State pledge to a defense fund such amounts as they nay severally feel able to give, subect to the cali of the Commitee in installments as needed, and that such jledgtís, signed by the master and secetary ef the grange, and under its seal, )e forwarded to the Secretary of the State Grange. And we also invite all parties outside the Order- interested in this matr- to make common cause with patrons in this defense, and that they may share in the expense which such defensb will involve, we Invite persons nterested to contribute to this defeuse fund a sum of not less than one dollar earh, the same to be forwarded to J. T. Cobb, Secretary of the State Grande, at Schoolcraft, provided no organized resistance to this patent right claim s perfected by those outside the Order n this State ; and if one or more orjanizations having the same objects ire perfected, they are hereby invited ,o make common cause with us in contesting the claim of N. W. Green, or any person demanding royalty for driven wella, and share with us in the expense of all prosecutions ; and we recommend and authorize Secretary Cobb, to employ H. D. Platt, of Ypsianti to investígate the whole subject, procure evidence for the defense and secure legal aid in his discretion, and make reports from time to time to his Commitee. THOMAS MABS, Ch'mn, Bbbbikn Center. J. VVKBSTEB CHILDri, Ypsilantl F. M. HOLLOWAY, Hillsdalb. J. Q. A. BUBRINUTON, TüSCOLA. WILLIAM SATTEBLEE, BlBMINGHAM. TH0M&.S F. MOOBE, ADRIÁN. JOHN POKTEB, band Bapids. C. G. LUCE, Gilead. J. T. COBB, SCHOOLCBAÏT. Executive Committee Michigan State Grange. -