River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-30
WISCONSIN CHANGERS.
Statement Of the Purchasing Agent
Address Of Col. Cochrane,
Master OF the state
Grange, Etc.

/ oil the secretary, treasurer. Pur-
chasing Agent, and Executive Commit
tee are being made.
The Secretary's report shows 300
oranges reported up to October lst,
and says there are probably enough
formed since that date to swell the
number to $50. His expenses for the
past year were 1896. 10, which includes
his salary.
The Treasurer reports the receipts
for the year ending January LIST "a, on,
disbursements $2,277-leeving $l,7iC
now on hand. He says 1T will be neces.
sary TO borrow about $1,000, in order
to pay the expense of the present con.
vention.
The Purchasing Agent made an ex.
haustive report which created consid
erable stir, and was fruitful topic oil
conversation during most OF the day.
The agent pointed out that farmers
have suffered as much from want OF
unity of action as from severe oppres
sion, aud that TO bring unity ont of
a wild plurality of efforts and aims is
the bedrock upon which the grange
stands entered largely into the dis
cussion OF cooperation purchasing,
and suggested the following necessi-
ties for consideration
!. Facilities 10 exhibit, receive, and dBtri-
butte goods.
2. Au ability e. concentrate on selected ar
ticles IN order 10 create a volume OF trade
sufficiently large to be satisfactory.
.. Ability to aggregate orders so as 20 buy
at Wholesale rates.
4. A sustaining power back Of the agsns TO
give their action potency.
To accomplish these objects he
recommends the organization OF CO.
operative councils, to organize and
conduct the business interests OF the
order. In response to the refusal OF
some manufacturers to sell goocs TO
the order at wholesale prices, and who
asked " What are you going to do
about it Z" and 6" How can YOU help
yourselves 2" he proposes to present
the efforts of these cooperation bust
ness councils. For the organization
of this branch of their work, the state
agent says
/ have endeavored to include within the
provisions OF the plan ose for raising CAPT.
tai. for being incOi porated, Tor careful super
vision OF affairs, for preventing the transfer
20 the cost, ready-pay system, and to judi
clous limitation OF the power OF agents. Also,
that not only individual members NAV be
stockholders, but sub oranges as well, thus
including all the membership the business
| orgaulz tlon as well as the tTatCrnal.
Every indication Of the times, be saws.
! seems to point 10 the adoption OF some gen
1 cral plan Tor the cooperation of labor. With
/ he progress OF intelligence, and the increased
4 enterprise OF commerce, has come the power
/ OF amassing aud controlling great fortunes
[ Ia turu, this power has been brought to bear
upon the producer, 10 govern his political ac-
| ton and induce HIM 10 grautspeclel privileges
! 10 the arlstucracv Of wealth. The increased
power thus acquired has been used to tax IA.
bgr until the conviction has possessed the
pablo m nd that by some means the wealth
which the laborer has created Is being uuiust-
" diverted from him. While capital has ac-
cumuiated those privileges which confer DOW
er, LABOR has been slowly but steadily rucreas.
ing IN intelligence, until to-day 1t boldly
| demands Its rights. A great social reyolu-
ton IS IN progress, which slowly but surely
must end IN providing both equal and exact
justice 70 all men the equal distribution of
I the profits OF labor"
An encouraging exhibit of the work
ing of corporations is given, and the
members are exhorted to get ready tor
the new order of things, which is Ger
talnly coming, and from which they
are destined to reap "the first fruits. s.
The document is one Of the ablest
which has yet seen the light in grange
circles.
In the afternoon, the Grand Master
/ OF the state Grange delivered the fol
lowing address
( Brethren anil Members Of t.e State CRANE:
I On the 18th day OF October. 1872, the State
/ Grange Il Wisconsin, was organized IN Portage
/ CITY. AT that time there we're twenty.six
oranges nv the state.
subsequent meeting was held on the 10Th
Of December following, at RlpOn, when the
I bylaws were adopted, which provides foI the
( annual meetings being held on the third
/ Tuesday ia January. AZ tins, the second ses-
SION Of the state Grange, there are, perhaps.
345 subordinate oranges in the state, with a
membership OF not less than from 1890 ID
u,0u0 being an increase oiueatly 800 oranges
since our organzluOn, 9 period Of scarcely
ilitccu months With o view 10 the probable
I Increase next wear, | would cali your
attention TO the ncct ssity OF making
o change IN tho basis nf Gtprc.
rCniatlon 90 the state Grange by reducing u
/ tua reasonable lluit. experiences in uthur
states have proved the present liberal RENE.
I scntatiOn 10 be not only very expensive. but
unWiody. Ia this connection / would direct
/ your attention 20 suggestions which have
I been made bv Brother William OflVdgp, mas
/ Ter "a hcuusha Grange, No. EOS that the Ma.
\ tloaN Grange should make such alteration IN
I ihe organization as would provide Tor the
Il County Grange, the master Ot the subordi.
! nate gran.ts 60 constitute the County Grange
/ There aru obvious reasons 10 recommend this
\ plan, one ot them being that tile representa-
/ ton 10 the stale Grange might DC reduced To
. q reasonable limit ; aud, furthermore the
I councils. as they are called, are ont
side of The order now, and seem 10 have
y grown up out Oi an absolute uscessity Somc
I OF the councils m other states rave rOuformed
/ 20 Ear ~ the general plan at the order as 10
/ elect ,ihcCrs With the same names duties.
7 etc, as provided TOT Ia the ordsI Inns pre.
paung them elves a. he embraced Within II.
/ The ,tate ON laws need 90 be- revised. and tho
state Grange should he incorporated aud
. provision should be mfdr fixing the temnner-
alton oi such ofheCts 0i the Grange a. will
require a. le paid tor thtlr services.
On the ed ~ July. an unauthorized call
Z having bttn issued to the grange ot the state
Co take part IN % convention IL si.upd or DO.
/ m.ta action, deemed " qy duN ta warn
the order against being committed o. partisan
political action, snd subsequently, called the
masters go the subordinate oranges a. meet
with the executive committee at WatyrtoWn
th prevent serious consequences and declare
the position 81 the order in respect 10 such
action, We have reason o. think that the
{ MtNttuu Ypaulf4tI 4 tb,s hYugttt ~ a. q.