The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-18
THE CHANGERS.

numbers and the interest in the movement
upper portions of the county, and over the
line in Pennsylvania. A council or central
Grange has been established at Oxford,
Pa, which embraces circuit of ten miles,
and numbers six hundred members. This
combination of farmers has already proved
highly beneficial in a business point of
view in purchasing many things. A large
quantity of bone dust was purchased last
season at heavy discount on retail prices.
All the transactions of the Changers is done
on cash basis, and if individuals desire
credit, they make a special agreement
with the party from whom they purchase,
and pay interest for the accommodation.
In the purchase of farm machinery, sewing
machines, ETC., ETC.. from first hands by
these councils or unions of several societies,
a great saving is effected. The manufac-
turers soon become acquainted with these
large business organizations, and solicit
their patronage at prices much lower than
the articles can be purchased by individ-
uals.
There are but two organizations in the
county, one at Colora and one at Rising
Sun, and the members of these lodges
operate with the council at Oxford. If
there were more Changers in the county,
with central head at Elkton, the co-opera-
ton would doubtless prove immensely ben
eficial to the agricultural interests of the
county, and through that to every other
interest. There is no sufficient reason
why there should not be Oranges estab-
lished at Rowlandsville, Port Deposit,
North East, the Brick Meeting House or
Zion, Elkton, Fair Hill or Cowantown,
Chesapeake City and Cecilton. These
would afford convenient points FOR the
whole county with a central point at Elk
ton where the members could meet once a
month to transact business, and keep up
an uninterrupted concert and cooperation
from which they would derive immense
advantages. Such organizations would
form the nucleus of pleasant, social inter
course, that would develop into society
peculiar to the country, one of the great
est needs of the times to make country
homes attractive, the want of which is
driving many OF the best young men and
women from the farms to the cities and
towns, where the ninetenths of them utter
ly fail to accomplish anything useful, but
H., ., ,,,a
aimless life.
Our farmers are sadly deficient in bust
ness capacity, and to cultivate the habit of
exchanging ideas as we'll as words in
organized. delberative bodies, is of the
first necessity. Without this faculty being
developed, they can never have any weight
or influence in our Legislatures, where a
few glib-speaking professionals are always
found to direct matters and organize and
vote the farmers for what measures or
schemes they have an interest in putting
through, while the great agricultural inter-
ests of the State goes unattended to and
uncared for. Every farmer can imagine
how widely different the work of the Leg
islature at Annapolis would have been last
Winter, had the legislature been composed
largely of intelligent farmers, trained to
transact business and discuss measures
monthly in well organized, deliberative
bodies, such as those agricultural associa-
tions supply.
Some are opposed to the Oranges, be-
cause of their secret organization. There
is doubtless some convenience in the secret
feature. and when the objects of the organ
ization are so fully understood this feature
might be waived by those who do not like
secret societies. 1t is great point gained
to have an organization we'll established
and in good working order; this, the
" Patrons of Husbandry" have most sig
nally succeeded in doing through their sys-
tenn of Oranges; and it is an excellent rule
to hold fast to what ever is good. The pecu-
liar organization has done much for the
farmers wherever it has been tried, and is
capable of etfecting much more. AS valu-
able as the co operation among farmers,
through the organization of the Grange
has proved to be in a pecuniary point of
view, the great improvement that is possible
through it in the society of the country,
and the training schools their oIganiza-
tons afford to young men in transacting
business which involves the discussion of
questions, and habits of systematic think
ing and expression, are likely to prove of
still greater value in the future. While
the two latter are not developed SO speed
lily as the former, they are sure to follow in
time. The art of turning an honest penny
is more readily acquired than the disci-
pline of thought and reorganization of
society.