Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-08-20
JRG, soUTH .CARoLIlSA, THURsDAY. AUGUsT 90 1s74
Purchasing Agent to the

etate Purchasing Agent to the
!Grangers.
We extract the following from com
naunication published in the Prairie
Farmer from tile Illinois state pur-
chasing agent:
Hever since the oranges have been
organized did the members of the order
occupysac responsible position as
they do at present. Starting out with
the theory that 80 far as the purchasing
q farm supplies was concerned, that
the long lines of middlemen could be
dispensed with, and that moro direct
trada, and consequently less expen-
siye system could be adopted, we formed
organizations all over the state with
rapldlty that surpassed our most san
gpsne anticipatiens. We promised man
utacturers that those of them who
would dismiss their agents who were
overrunning the country in the fine car
riages and with fest horses, forcing
sales in the most expensive manner (all
OF which came out of the farmers
pocket that wo would supply the de.
feot;by contracting our trade and giving
1t to them in preference to all the 9TH
ers. With apromptness that was fiat
tering to the feasibility of its PROPOSE
ton, many of the manufacturers, from
all parts of the country, offered to meet
us upon that platform, giving us the
usual discounts allowed 20 the trade,
thereby talking the business out of the
hands of middlemen and depending
upon che integrity of the order to fulfil
their promises. It needs no philoso-
phical argument to convince any one
that the manufacturers acting in this
way incurred the united dispIeasure of
those belonging to rings" together
with that of the whole army of agents
on both sides. This inaugurated O
fierce contest.
Nossooner was this move discovered
than the "rings" and their agents low
cred the prices of their goods to those
offered by our manufacturers, ut the
same time boasting that they would
breakdown the system by decoying the
trade away from those who dealt with
us. To more effectually accomplish
this, many of them sold goods during
the past season at even lower prices
than had yet been offered to US. Some
of the boldest of them have declared
that they will sell at even less than
cost for time, depending upon making
up for it in future trade, when they
drive us from our position. There are
hundreds of thousands of dollars band
ed agaiest us this year to accomplish
this end. AS o general thing they have
the hez fiest capitalists on their. side,
and, as 1t is matter of life or death to
them, they will fight as desperately.
hold out o compromising hand to them,
hot
SO far that they cannot give up while
ly it must be fought out on this line.
Some of them attempt to decoy us
away from our standard by assuring us
that they can manufacture goods cheap.
er now than formerly. and the price
need not be as high. We know this is
not SO to any great extent, as material
aud labor and interest on money are
about as high as ever. If, too, they
were in earnest why do the ''rings" fight
us and our principles SO bitterly?
Strange. indeed, that their converse
tion did not take place until they saw
us in situation to throw off the gall
ing yoke and maintain our independ-
ence. Strange, too, that in localities
where the pressure is not so great, that
their conversation is not as complete as
it is here.
So far then rs the Patrons in Illinois
are concerned, they have accomplished
all they started out for, and now the
ground they fought for is theirs. The
question now comes to every one, will
you retain it, or will you forfeit it?
This is question fuller of meaning
than mere common interrogotories.
Hence the assertion made by me in the
first sentence of this article. If you
say you mean to occupy the position
you now do, it is done only upon the
fact that you fulfill to tho very letter
your promise to & vc your support to
those who came out from the old system
of agencies and declared themselves
with us. Before this change we had no
responsibility. We were mere tools in
the manufacturers hands to gather in
the wealth of the country to the tills of
"rings."
1t is not sufficient to say now that it
is no matter where you purchase, since
machinery, to-, is as low outside al in
side the order. If in many instances
this is the case, plese tell me to whom
is the reduction due? Then let every
true Patron stand by the stars and
stripes of the grange, and see that the
banner that led us to victoly is not for
gotten.
/ Rushing Into Danger.
The insane haste xyith which penple