AGRARIAN MOVEMENT (Lat.. aqrarius, pertaining to land, field, ager). A movement among farmers to promote their interests and those of large landed proprietors. It comprises efforts at trade organization, often with political consequences. Such movements took place in England long ago, and were particularly active in the period cif the anti-corn-law agitation. Dur ing the last thirty years, owing to the effect of falling prices on agriculture, there has been an influential agrarian movement in all western countries. It has been strongest politically in Gernmny, where the first congress of north German farmers met at Berlin in 18(18. This and subsequent congresses until 1875 were conserva tive bodies made up of many large land owners and members of the aristoeracy. They discussed teehni•al questions in agriculture and its social and economic interests. In 1875 they began to agitate for tax and land reform legislation, and soon developed a party demanding pr(dective tar iffs. In 1893 the Irnion of Farmers (Lund der Landirirfr) was formed. and only two years lat er had a membership of 200.(00. Its objects
were to oppose political treaties which lower tariff duties on grain, to encourage legislation for meat inspection, to agitate for bimetallism, reduction of land taxes, government. elevators, cheap personal credit, extension of and larger government appropriations for agrieul ture. Similar movements exist in France, Den mark, the Netherlands, Emdand. Sweden, and Italy. In the l'nited States less has been done in a (Ricct political way, although farmers' or ganizations hove been even more successful in other ways. Sudit organizations as the Grange tq.v.) and the Farmers' Alliance (q.v.) were chiefly established for educational and minim1 advantages, and especially to resist encroach ments of the railroads in discriminating rate-. References: 11. Thiel, 2.; Johcr binthririRehoft licher I larrcssf nri rtrctung ( ti94 ) ; Die .1.g•urbeirunung in di n 1, RsRrn 2.7 n: C. S. Walker. "The Movement." Annoln of thr _I _len r.rmy of SCieHre. Volume 1V. (Philadelphia. 1893-94).