Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-08-20
oRANGEBURG, SOUTH. CARoL1lSA, THURSDAY AUGUST 90
State Purchasing Agent to the
4. Graugers.

state Purchasing Agent to the
.Grangers.
We extract the following from COM
iaunlcation published in the Prairie
FARMER from tile Illinois state pur-
chasing agent:
Never since the oranges have been
organized did the members OF the order
ogcupy sach responsible position as
tney do ut present. Starting ont with
the theory that 30 far as the purchasing
OF !arm supplies was concerned, that
the long lines of middlemen could be
dispensed with, and that moro direct
trade, and consequently o less expen-
siYe system could be adopted, we formed
organizations all over the state with q
rapId1ty Chat surpassed our most san
gqsne anticipatiens. We promised man.
uiactarers that those of them who
would dismiss their agents who were
overrunning the country in the fine car
r1ages and with fast horses, forcing
sales in the most expensive manner (ali
pocket that wo would supply the de.
feot by contracting our trade and giving
it to them in preference TO all the 9TH
ers. With promptness that was fiat
termg to the feasibility of it's PROPOSE
tlon, many of the manufacturers, from
all parts of the country, offered to meet
US upon that platform, giving us the
ueual discounts allowed to the trade,
thereby talking the business out of the
hands OF middlemen and depending
upon the integrity of the order to fulfil
their promises. It needs no philoso-
phlcal argument to convince any one
that the manufacturers acting in this
way incurred the united displeasure of
those belonging to "rings," together
with that Of the whole army of agents
on both sides. I This inaugurated
fierce contest.
Noisooner was this move discovered
than the "rings" and their agents low
cred the prices of their goods to those
offered by our manufacturers, at the
same time boasting that they would
breakdown the system by decoying the
trade away from those who dealt with
us. TO moro 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
TINT they will sell OF even-less than
cost for o 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 against us this year to accomplish
this end. As a general thing they have
the hesgiest capitalists on their side,
end, as 1t is q matter of life or death to
them, they will fight us desperately.
They know full we'll that we do not
hold out compromising hand to them,
and they feel, too, that they have gone
so far that they cannot give up while
there is ray of hope, and consequent
~ 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 30 to any great extent, as material
and labor and interest on money are
about as high as ever. If, too, they
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 interrog9tories.
Hence the assertion made by Inc 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 We 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 a, 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 victory is not for
gotten.
/ Rushing Into Danger.