The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-03-13

fsctious opposition, but after a candid,
patient and respectful consideration Of
the whole matter in its bearings, both Of
our own interests end the interests Of
those with whom we have dealing out
side your honorable body. We fully rec
ognzc the benefits we have hitherto de-
rived from your patronage, and our de-
pendance, in great measure, upon il for
our success and prosperity in business. -
We also gratefully appreciate your dis
position, las made evident by the propo-
siiion made u.s. to purchase your sup
plies, il possible from your home mer-
chants, rather than send abroad for
them, rs some Oranges, we learn, are at
tempting to do.
We believe. however, that, on a more
mature reflection than you have yet, per.
haps, given the subject, you will agree
with US that the plan proposed, viz: A
fixed percentage on the cost of our goods,
will be attended with difficulties, so
many and 50 serious, as to render il al
most, if not wholly, impracticable. The
first, and perhaps. the greatest obstacle
in the way of making such an arrange>
men; as you suggest is That while you
bind the merchant by that which is
equivalent to solemn obligation on his
part, you give him no guarantees in re-
turn. As we understand it, should his
proposition be accepted, all you give him
in return is the assurance that the men,
bets Of your body will be recommended
to purchase from him; this recommend
alton, however, having nothing of an
obligatory character, and leaving each
member as free as before te deal with
any merchant whom, from personal or
other motives, he may prefer. In this
view of the case the proposition strikes
US as having very little merit, other than
its novelty. A contract, with all the
obligations on one side and none on the
other, is, at least, "new thing under
the sun Again, the house or houses
whose proposition you might accept
would Immediately be known and marked
as Granger Stores" and, whether they
did SO or not, would be suspected of dis
eliminating in their prices in favor OF
the " Grangers." This would be regarded
as a glaring injustice by all consumers
outside of the Grange, AMI would as
suredly, drive off all other trade. The
prejudice thus excited would be certainly
strengthened and increased by the com
bined efforts of all the merchants whost
propositions are not accepted, and. thu'
you virtually ask Us to give up all other
cusion and trade with you only. The
combined opposition Of all other mer
chants would be difficulty of too form
idable a character to contend against
successfully. BY very simple under
standing among themselves, they could
50 reduce the prices of the various line,
Of goods that no matter at how low {
per centage the competitor for you pat
ronage put in his bid, your Grange, in
adhering to him, would constantly b,
made to feel that he was paying higher
prices for his goods than he would have
todo by purchasing elsewhere. How long
in such case, could such an arrangement
even as that entered into with perfect
I good faith on both sides, last to the mu
tual satisfaction of the parties concerned
And, if it did last, where is the advan
tage 10 be derived from it?
There are many other obstacles in th'
way of the arrangement which we viii
not exhaust your patience by even refer
ring to. Those we have mentioned seen
to US almost insuperable. We readily
concede that if your body should confnC
its patronage to the one or two merchants
whose propositions you might accept, and
should thereby largely increase the volume
of their business, it is fair and reasonable
that you should be compensated by oh
tanning your supplies at lower rates than
l.tl,...., -. oil l.. IN, II
We respectfully beg leave, therefore
to say in conclusion, that notwthstand
ing the difficulties. above enumerated
and Others that will readily occur to yor
upon rejection, we are wllliAg to max,
the proposals asked for, provided yor
will give US in return an obligation a
solemn and binding as the one requires
from US; that your entire body, one anC
all, will confne themselves IN their deal
ngs to those merchants, and those alone
whose propositions you may accept
Thus, and thus only, rs we conceive
can they be compensated for the inevita
bic loss of their entire outside trade
Without this obligation on your part
scrupulously and faithfully al acred to a
long as the contract shall last, it is oul
clear and candid conviction that no mer
chant can make you proposition with
out serious injury to himself This, gen
tlemen, We know you will be very fal
from asking us TO no,
Very respectfully,
q. +. WlSEMAN, Chairman
W. r. OREAR,
:. Y. ROWLAND
TnE New York Word say, Of th
great temperance movement; "Ihe sue
cess which is attending this siraug
. ,no,,aunant hoo A Till Iguttfr siruifC4uca