Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-07
Correspondence.
For the VERMONT FARMER.
A VOICE FROM THE PATRONS ;

without it none expect extended or perma-
nent success"
Association is really the great fulcrum
Of all powerful movements, and the press is
the supple lever by which they are moved.
Artists and artisans, mechanics and mer-
chants, all trades and professions, have their
unions and societies"
"All have embraced this effective mode
of operation, except that great aud impor-
tant class which feeds and sustains all, the
farmers aud producers" The farmers and
mechanics are the only class of individuals
who add to the wealth Of the world, while
the merchants, lawyers, and spectators get
the lions share. And why is this thusf
Not entirely in consequence Of laws to that
effect, but simply because the farmers allow
the merchants and spectators to take and
appropriate to their own emoument an un-
Just portion Of their earnings. When farm
er has any thing to sell, 1t is immaterial
whether he sets price on it or not; the
merchant or speculator who wishes to buy
says, al will give you so much and you
must take that or keep your property" and
you have to take it, as you need the money to
use If the farmer wants to buy any Of the
merchants wares, the price is so much, and
you can take it or not, just as you choose.
But you have to take it at his price, being
necessitated to have it. Thus giving the
merchant all turkey while you get all crow.
And this state of things will continue just so
long as the farmers continue to consent to
have it so. The farmers are the most nu-
merous party to the contract, and can, if
they will by concert Of action and coop
Grafton in business, remedy the evil resulting
to their detriment and unreasonable benefit
of the merchants and speculators. But l
think the day is dawning when the farmers
will not, as now, see through glass dark
ly," in this respect, but will be ready to see
themselves {" face to face" for the accom-
plishment Of this object. When they will
come to the conclusion that il is entirely un-
necessary for them to pay the merchants one
dollar for what they may just as well get for
seventy-6ve cents, and act in accordance with
this conclusion, they will be relieved of por-
tion of the hard money pressures that
now bear heavily upon their prosperity.
The Patrons of Husbandry is an organiza-
ton designed expressly for the benefit OF
farmers or agriculturists. Therefore if it
possesses the merits contemplated by its
founders, people occupied in that extensive
branch of industry should be participants in
the organization. Still but very few, COM
parativeiy, have availed themselves of it. And
why so? Probably for various reasons. In
the first place, this order is something new
in this section, aud doubtless but few peo-
pie have given it passing thought Some
do not give sufficient thought to the subject
to realize that it might be made beneficial ;
others may think, as some do about taking
agricultural papers, that they know so much
about farming, that the papers would be Of
no use to them, and think they are already
well enough of, and hence seek for no fur
ther aid, and probably some consider that
they are host in themselves" and need
no assistance from any source. But, not
withstanding, there are some individuals at
the present time that are willing to risk a
small expense to investigate any subject de-
signed for their benefit; and such by their
investigation are enabled to come TO the con-
clusion that they have long enough contrib
uted of their hard earnings to the support Of
spectators and middlemen, who are daily
growing rich at the expense of the laborine
classes. And when an organization is got
up expressly for the benefit of agriculturists
it ought not to require great amount oI
judgment to suppose that it would possess
some elements for its purposes worthy Of
investigation. And if twenty individuals
after informing themselves of the objects
and effects of the order, become satisfied that
there is a chance for great pecunary benefits
to themselves, and are thus induced to per.
severe, it would seem that it might be a
sufficient incentive to others 10 venture in
and investigate for themselves. But per.
son that will not go to any trouble nor ex,
pense to look into a new enterprise, must
necessarily remain in ignorance of it. And
an enterprise that is designed for a concert
of action of hundred or more individuals tc
realize its full benefits, cannot be fully ac.
cOmplished by twenty. People outside oil
this order say" when you can show any
practical benefits that result from it, we are
ready to join it," But although tho few
can show beneficial results, according to what
they can do,--as in the case of the Grange
at North Danville, who, by few purchases
of goods, have saved rs per cent.,-if the
organization was four times as large these
savings might be greatly enhanced. There
fore the true way to make the order what il
is designed to be, and to realize its full ben
efits, is to join it, and thereby help to pro
duce the results, Ten men might do some
thing towards raising heavy building, bu
they could not accomplish what ffty could
Five families in school district might run {
school, but not to the same advantage t
themselves or with the same economy tina
twenty could, So, in this order, the greater
the concert the greater the benefits compar
atively.
When farmers generally will come int
this organization, they will be able to revers,
the order of business to their pecuniary ad
vantage. The farmers are the most numer
Gus portion of a community, consequent,