50. THE GRANGER MOVEMENT. The Granger movement in Canada closely resembles in its economic and social features the move ment of the same name in the United States from which it derived its initial inspiration. The Grange was first established in the prov ince of Quebec in 1872 by Eben Thompson, a deputy from the United States. Two years later representatives from several Canadian Granges met at London, Ontario, and organized the Dominion Grange of the Patrons of Hus bandry. In the declaration of principles then adopted the motto, °Unity, Liberty and Charity,* was heartily endorsed. The objects of the organization were declared to be to de velop a higher and better manhood and woman hood among the agricultural class' to enhance the comforts and attractions of their homes; to encourage farmers to buy less and produce more; to diversify their crops; to condense the weight of exports, selling more on hoof and in fleece, and less in the bushel. The Society ex pressed itself as opposed to the credit system, and the mortgage system. It declared itself to be independent of political organizations and disassociated from political parties. At the same time it was "reserved for every patron as his right as a freeman to affiliate with any party that will best carry out his principles.* The declaration of principles laid stress upon the importance of the abilities and sphere of women, who were admitted both to membership and to office in the order. The growth of the Grange during the next few years was very rapid. With the Dominion grange as its centre, it was organized in provincial granges, division granges and subordinate granges. In 1876 the secretary reported a total membership of 17,500 patrons, with 33 division and 530 subordinate granges. Of the latter 4 were in Nova Scotia, 7 in New Brunswick,16 in Quebec and 503 in Ontario. There were also six subor dinate granges in Quebec, organized under the National Grange of the United States. In the following year the Grange was incorporated by the Dominion Parliament, and in 1879 its mem bership reached 31,000. The Grange not only sought to exert an educative influence on the farming population by the distribution of litera ture, etc., but also set on foot, directly or in directly, various economic enterprises of a co operative nature intended to enable the farmers to buy and sell more cheaply by acting in union. Of these the most important was the Grange Wholesale Supply Company of Toronto, with a branch establishment at Halifax. This was a joint stock company whose capital was supplied by members of the society, and which sold farmers' supplies, seeds and minor machinery to the patrons at greatly reduced prices. The local distribution was effected by the members of the subordinate granges. The company is sued for some years a paper devoted to the interests of the patrons under the title of the Grange Bulletin. In this were printed ex tensive price lists of farmers' supplies offered for sale. A similar undertaking was established in the form of the People's Salt Company of Kincardine. The economic enterprises of the Grange have not, however, met with marked success. The demands made upon the
initiative of the co-operative purchasers have proved too exacting. After sonic 10 years of successful existence the enthusiasm which the institution of the Grange had at first aroused began to cool, and many of the subordinate granges died of inanition. In the year 1876, 271 new granges had been reported in Ontario alone; in 1891 only two subordinate granges were organized in Canada, and in 1898 no new organizations were reported. Meantime the constant lapse of those in existence, through the apathy of their previous supporters, greatly reduced the numbers of the active patrons. The total number of granges instituted had reached about 1,000, but at the 29th annual meet ing (2 and 3 Feb. 1904) the secretary's statement shows that only 13 division granges and 30 subordinate granges (with a member ship of 411) had reported during the last year. The receipts of the treasury of the Dominion grange, which amounted to $6,900 in 1876, fell to $134 in 1906. In that year the Grange was amalgamated with the Farmers' Association, a society reformed from the Patrons of Industry, but since 1909 no statistics of membership and no annual reports of this body have been issued. During the whole history of the order there were organized at one time or another 57 division granges, 976 subordinate, 2 provincial (Ontario and Maritime provinces), and one Dominion, making a grand total of 1,.036 separate Grange organizations in the Dominion. Many persons had been led to join in the move
from the sanguine hopes of profit to be derived from the co-operative side of the enter prise, and fell away when these were not realized. On the whole, the Grange movement must be regarded as a failure in the direction of its economic enterprises, but its influence for the social and educational advancement of the farming class has undoubtedly been great. During the flourishing period of the movement literary exercises alternated with the conduct of business matters at the local meetings. It has especially been instrumental in promoting va rious legislative measures in the interests of the farming class. Among these may be mentioned the Provincial Drainage Acts (R. S. 0. C. 37, 38), the Dominion statute known as the•Butter Act, etc. On the tariff question the opinion of the patrons has been divided; it has been difficult for the Grange to adopt any decided position in the matter without identifying itself with party politics. The Grange was, however, instrumental in securing the re peal of the duty on binder twine. The patrons have constantly sought to foster the cheese industry and the cattle trade with Great Britain; have succeeded in having agriculture taught in the public schools; and have strongly supported the agricultural college at Guelph. The Grange has also agitated in favor of the inflation of the Dominion paper currency, the reduction of railroad rates and the appoint ment of a railroad commission. Consult Michell, H.,