The Grange advance., 1874-05-13
CORRESPONDENCE.
MAp1EroN, MAY 2nd, 1874.
Of The Granqe Advance:

TO the Editor Of The Grange Adranee:
Tn the Farmers Union Of the 10Th
ult. appears an article over my sigma
ture, which, on account OF editorial mu-
tilation: entirely fails 70 express the
ideas I intended to convey. The mcr.
its aud dcmerits of the Farmers Insur.
ance Association are now before the
farmers for investigation and discussion,
and feeling deep interest in the sue
cess Of the Association, as we'll as it's
correction in it's defective points, at
tempted to review some PORTIONS of
Sherwood's report, showing its preju-
dice and unfairness. and the Importance
Of the Association to the farmers OF
Minnesota, all OF which appears in the
Union Of the 25th ult. But there were
some points in the report of Sherwood,
which the officers of the Association
did not even attempt to answer, and
which cannot be answered by branding
the whole in general terms as bundle
of lies, for they arc sustained by positive
proof, and cannot be contradicted: hence
should be met fairly and squarcly, and
where amendments and improvements
ase necessary to perfect the Association
they should be made at once, which would
give to the farmers an organization for
insurance SO cheap and reliable that all
other companies representing monopoly
would be entirely cut off from their
profits, on farm property at least.
Some Of the defects in the management
of the Association are of so grave
nature that they require immediate at
tention. These defects I attempted to
refer to in my article to the Union, as
freely and impartially as I did to the
advantage Of the Association, and sup
posing the columns of the Union were
open for full and free discussion Of all
questions, both pro aud con, pertaining
to the interests of the farmer, | had no
doubt that if any part Of the article was
published, the whole would be, and my
views and sentiments, fairly, if at all
expressed. But for some unaccounta-
bic reason the editor has seen fit to cut
out all portions except the very vague
one which calls upon the Directors to
do something, without telling what,
that in any manner referred to the de-
fects of the Association. The objec-
tions which / urged for the considera-
tion Of the Directors, in the article re-
ferred to, are as nearly as I can state
them from memory, as follows: The
first is the only really valid one referred
to by Mr.. Sherwood in his report, to-
wit: "That the Secretary, under the
Bylaws of the Association, can with
draw over $4,000 from the banks"
and appropriate to his own use if he
sees fit, as we'll as $71, ,06939 in notes
of the Association which are subject to
his control unit! collected and placed in
the banks, and for which the members
of the Association have no security ex-
cept five thousand dollar bond which
cannot be found. It will be seen from
the facts alone, that if we should ever
be so unfortunate as to have a dishon-
est Secretary he might appropriate to
his own use a moderate fortune and
leave to the members of the Association
no redress, and only the poor consola-
tion of what might have been had they
taken the proper steps at the proper
time.
Again the manner of electing the Di-
rectors to transact the business of the
Association, taken in connection with
the charter, and the inducements held
out by agents to applicants, is simply a
fraud upon the members. Sec. Is, Of
the Charter, says: "The election Of
Directors shall be held every two years,
and occur at the time and place Of the
annual meeting. The officers shall be
elected by ballot by majority vote Of the