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Grange
Guideposts:
1. All prosperity springs from the production of wealth; or anything which retards
the production of wealth is unsound.
2. The compensation of each should be based on what he contributes to the general
welfare.
3. The prime purpose of government is to protect its citizens from aggression-.both
physical and economic.
-Albert S. Goss
(in his National Master's Address, 1942)
In the long struggle of the past 100 years to build the economy of the farmer,
his community, and the nation, and to bring about equality of income opportunity
for farm and rural people, the Grange has seen success after success crown
its many efforts.
With the stated goal of a fuller and more rewarding country life, Grange objectives have fitted into the needs of the time-whatever they were. In all sorts of circumstances, climates, and conditions, the Grange has demonstrated a remarkable flexibility to fit itself and its pronouncements into the current situation. Today, it fits into the complex conditions of this Atomic or "Jet" Age.
In the 1860's the early Grangers found America with no adequate Department of Agriculture, no Extension Service, no agricultural education in schools, no effective agricultural press, no unified agricultural program of any kind. Big business and growing cities looked upon agriculture as something to exploit. People believed there was no end to free land and soil fertility. Those who enjoy the organization of today cannot appreciate the helplessness of the farmer in those days.
Not for Farmers Alone
Over the years, as the Grange worked for the development of America in its broadest sense, its accomplishments appealed to many who came to realize that the Grange is not an organization for farmers only. Its objectives encompass national and international needs that serve and benefit all the people.
An important paragraph from the Grange's Declaration of Purposes established this primary goal:
We desire a proper equality, equity, and fairness; protection for the weak; restraint upon the strong; in short, justly distributed burdens and justly distributed power. These are American ideals, the very essence of American independence, and to advocate the contrary is unworthy of the sons and daughters of an American Republic.
That was written nearly 100 years ago.
Today's Grange Objectives and Policies
Here in the language of today are the broad objectives of Grange action to benefit farmers, rural and urban consumers, families in the growing rural-urban areas; and Grange policies as to the national and international problems that affect all U.S. citizens:
1. We recognize the importance of preserving and protecting the integrity
of the owner-operator-manager farm, as a guarantee to the Nation of the
efficient and abundant production of high-quality food and fiber at reasonable
prices for the domestic and world markets.
2. We seek to obtain for American farmers a return for their labor, management,
risk and investment which bears a reasonable relationship to that received
for these same economic factors in any other segment of our economy, as well
as adequate compensation for their contribution to the general welfare.
3. We must develop and activate commodity programs which will give agricultural
producers and workers maximum opportunities to freely exercise managerial
ability and competitive advantage in cooperation with programs authorized
and administered by Government, where necessary, which would operate
within the framework of "freedom under law."
4. We must seek to achieve equitable income by placing major reliance upon
the primary domestic market and, at the same time, maintain the influence and
effect of competition and efficient production upon secondary markets; providing
freedom of competition in world markets, within our treaty commitments and
international responsibility.
5. We would avoid excessive dependence upon the Federal Government; but look
to the Government for protection from economic aggression arising from extreme
market fluctuations, caused by speculation and manipulation of market and distributive
systems, which void natural competitive influences.
6. We would improve our supply and demand situation by carefully combining
incentives to sound land management, with provisions for an equitable return
from the primary American, and cash export markets; providing no profit, however,
for producing for a market which does not exist.
7. We would maximize the benefits from the fabulous productive capacity and
efficiency of American agriculture; continuing to support and improve programs
to utilize the products which accrue from our economy of abundance, to relieve
hunger and improve nutritional standards at home and abroad; and at the same
time, seek to develop and expand domestic and foreign markets.
8. We would pursue trade policies which would avoid the destruction of jobs
and the impairment of the integrity of capital at home; granting other nations
the right to assume comparable responsibility to their own people and investment
and, at the same time, seeking always to gain recognition that the true interests
of all people of the world are to be advanced in progressively freer trade
movements on a basis of competitive ability of the producer.
9. We would continue to develop and promote programs, both within and outside
of government, to improve rural health and education, to improve the security
of the family-type farm, to strengthen cooperatives, expand research, improve
markets, strengthen rural communities, enhance rural living; in short, to do
everything prudent and reasonable to protect and enhance the efficiency, the
productive capacity, the human dignity, the economic freedom of those who produce
our food and fiber; that they may have an equitable share of the wealth that
they create, and enjoy the blessings which will accrue in a balanced economic
society.
10. We would provide protection against excessive losses to producers due to
unforeseen and unavoidable causes; thereby promoting economic stability in
America and, at the same time assure that food needs of the Nation are met.
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