, 1874-03-07
FARMERS AND WIDDLEMEN,

Gaplthl, Auu iuon btOp WUIA cHtlIolEt AHu uoFOto
al OF our timo 10 improving our minds.
E---...-...-.ssA..s
FARMERS AND M1DDLEMEN.
One Of the lending objects proposed by the
Grange organizations Is tho economy OF dealing
directly with manufacturers Of agricultural i'm
plomenta without tho intervention Of middlo-
meu. Nothing Is 30 attractive ns tho genoral
proposition that goods sold by tho manufacturer
ut 81. through Tho profits Of intermediary doat-
orn cost tho consumers 90; therefore tho con-
suraor by dealing directly with the manufacturer
can save one-half the cost Of Ill ho buys. When
each man estimates tho amount thus saved Oh
hiH own expenditures. and multipltes that by tho
number Of persona who may make tho Bamo say
ing, tho sum paid by consumers to support
"middlemen" soems to be enormous. Tho
Oranges propose that their members shall hero
after mako their purchases Of agricultural implo
mente, and to some extent Of other things,
through Ill agent selected by tho Grange. who
shall deal directly with the manufacturer at
wholesale priceB
In the practical execution Of this plan, tho CO.
operation Of the manufacturers is roquieite, and
we have two notable instances Of the opposing
policies Of the lattor. McCormick's reaper
establishment has accepted tho oyorturea Of the
Oranges. and will sell implements directly to tho
plow factories at Rock 1sland mud Moline aud
elsewhere hnye refused to soil except through
their own agents. They c1aim that they eau
deliver their goods through their Own agents to
farmers cheaper than the farmers can otherwise
obtain like goods. The result L. that tho several
Oranges throughout the West havo publicly an-
uouncod their dcterminationto purchase moth
ing produced at these Embellishments at any
prico.
The question Of dispenaing With mfddlomen
involves many considerations which have not
been reached in the discussion thus far. Tho
introduction Of machinery waa for q lo1g timo ro-
sisted On tho ground TINT 1t would throw human
labor out Of employment. That fallacY haa boon
exploded. Tie effect Of the invention OF agr-
cultural implements WAS to increase tho number
Of poraous engaged in agricultural labor by
making 1t possible for each man, with the aid Of
machinery. to produce fnr more than ho could
without 1t. Farming at this day without imple-
ments is an uphill task. Human labor is moro
expense i've than machinery, and to obtain ma-
chinery requires capital, md tho machinery it.
self requires repairs and ronowal. No farmer
now III satisfied with producing merely what lie
needs for hiB own uso; owing to the use OF ma
chiuory, tho effort is to produce tic largest crop
Of some special kind. Such is tho tendency of
agricultural production at this time. The crops
Layo boen adaptcl to tho machinery invented to
cultivate them.
AB q general thing, tue machinery las been
| purchased on credit, either for the wlolo or the
| greater part Of the cost. Tho crodit system has
| probably been Is much of an injury az it has
| boon benefit. It has led thousands into the
purchase Of implements beyond their actuul
wants, and to the cultivation OF more land than
| they could we'll handle. but thoro wero others
who wero crampod and restricted in thcir labor
for tho want Of machinery, and to whom tho
credit WAS special and profitable boon. So long
as crops aro abundant and prices favorable, the
man farming with mortgaged land and mort.
gagod stock and implements may hope to extri-
cate himself and get ont Of dobt, but an adverse
aoason will certainly plunge him back again inte
difficulty. 10 the farmer who is out OF debt,
and iB so fur forehauded that he car
purchase for cash whatever he may need
in implements or other adjunots to his farm, the
middlemau is 8 taz, and dealing directly witt
tho manufacturer M advantage. But how many
farmers are in this condition ? How many ol
them out OF debt, and have all tho |ive-stocl
they uood, and the cash to ply for a seasons 10
bor aud purchase now implements Sales at tht
factory aro for cash or it's equivalent in approved
paper, which bank will discount. Those wlt
putchaBo from the factory pay cash, and are o
course tho host customora How are those VIII
lave no cash to obtain the needed Implements
II the factories arc asked to soil carload O.
any largo number Of implements at factory pricc
to the agent Of Grange, an order must be mad
some time in ADVANCE with cash payment Oh til
delivery Of tho goods. It involves also tho agree
mont among ajl the momhors of that Grange tt
use the Same make Of plows, oultivators, NOV
ors planters, etc., something which is at presen
unknown, but may nevertheless bo brough
about. Tho agent Of tho Grange, on rocolp
OF these goods, must pay for them. II
can ouly do this II payment has already hec
made to him by each member OF tho price Of til
implement ordeted. Ii tie Grange to do cred
1t or a caah business 2 II caBh business, ho1
IL tie man who has no cash to get his plow, Iii