Washington farmers organize state Grange on September 10, 1889.

  • By David Wilma
  • Posted 3/17/2004
  • HistoryLink.org Essay 5670
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On September 10, 1889, farmers from eight local Granges meet in LaCamas (later Camas) in the Odd Fellows Hall and organize the Washington State Grange.

The Grangers' specific motivation was opposition to the proposed constitution for the State of Washington which they felt favored railroads, eastern capitalists, secret sessions of the legislature, and formation of an office-seeking class, "the most worthless class that can exist" (Norwood, 57). The state Grange went on to form more local Granges and support Populist political platforms including direct primary elections, woman suffrage, and public power.


Sources:

Gus Norwood, Washington State Grangers Celebrate a Century (Seattle: Washington State Grange, 1988), 55-59; 115.


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