The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-01-30
OPENING ADDRESS
PRESIDENT JOHN DAVIS
At the ANIMAL Meeting Of the Farmers
Cooperative Association Of the State
Of Kansas, Topeka, Jan. Is, 1874.

| Al INC AHAAaA 1eeIlnS d tne FARMER
COOPERATIVE Association Of the Stat
Of Kansas, Topeka, Jan. Is, 1874.
!. FelloE Citizens: On an occs
sion like the present it is custc
mary and appropriate that W
take brief survey of the situa
, ton.
Our State organization had it
origin last March, through the &C
ton of q convention of farmer
held in the State capital. Sine
that time there has been a perioG
: of uncommon discussion and &C
, ton. The proceedings of tina
convention have been published
and distributed in all parts of thu
State, and have commanded re
spectful attention and notice il
many OF the older States. Score.
Of able public addresses have beer
delivered and published, and some
sections have been thoroughly
canvassed. The press of the
State has very generally favored
our efforts, and q number of able
journals have become the special
champions and organs of the
cause.
AS result Of these manifold
labors and agencies, the Industrial
men OF the State have been much
awakened and encouraged. Tick.
cts Of candidates have been put in
the field for State and county
offices, and, in many places, have
won the elections. In most cases,
in view of their superior numbers,
the farmers have been too conf
dent, and have loaded themselves
too heavily with local issues. In
q few instances this has caused
defeat. Yet, from these defeats
we may derive useful lessons for
the future, and they have not been
sufficiently numerous to work any
serious or widespread discourage
ment. a--ss H--... b..
No view of our past achiev-
ments would be complete, or even
satisfactory, should we fail to con-
slider the effect which our labors
have worked upon ourselves. Not
only have we acquired greater
confidence in our own men as lead
ers and co-Workers, but we have
better learned the true nature of
the work before US. .-- -..-
Formerly, agriculture was treat
ed merely as an aYocation of pro-
duction, and the farmer was deem
ed sufficient for his pursuit if his
muscles were strong, and we'll
trained in the grooves followed by
his grandfathers. Latterly, agri-
culture has become FESTIVE, unless
it be also viewed and treated as q
business of financial realization.
This claim On the part of agricul-
ture gives new impetus to the
farmers movement" and farming
is now looked upon as a financial
business as we'll as a hereditary av-
ocation. 1t has been discovered,
too, that the movement itself is
double. So multitudiness are the
relations Of agriculture in its
double nature, of production and
realization, that any movement in
its behalf must have more than a
single front and single head.
It has political relations which
must be subserved by open club
discussions, and the public dis
semination of knowledge, design
ed to enlighten and convince the
public mind. a.- F-.. ....
The open organization, or Estate
Co cooperative Association" now in
session, is designed to do service
in this department. 1t always has
business and social relations which
cannot be served in this open ex-
posed manner. All business men
have their own private books and
affairs which arc not, properly
matters of public inspection OIL
discussion. Those who deal with
men of business are, in honor
bound to . certain degree of re
tticence, and those parties who dc
not act upon this obligation sci
dom obtain the best terms in max
!, ling contracts. So of the socia
relations of men. Tho family cir
Gle is q secret association, whert
the intercourse of individual mem
bers takes its most unconstraineG
form. Could the family circle b.
r enlarged so that the number of in
, dividuals may be greatly increas
ed, without mourning too mucl
restraint, it would be desirable
Such enlargement is found prac
ticable, with little loss to the free
dom of intercourse, by calling to
, gether the members of seyera
families that are closely related b,
the bonds of consanguinity. Sim
r liar to this, in nature and effect, i
2 the assembling together of pei
. sons of the same religious or pc
litical faith; or of the same pul
, suit or business, All men act o
e the causes and impulses here in
: Dictated. Hence, we find in exist
{ ence churches, leagues and union
= of many names and sorts. Ayr
culture is no exception. Farmer
c have their Oranges of the Patron
:. of Husbandry. The Oranges ca
e do business with business men o
Q business principles, obtaining th
, very best terms in making col
tracts, and are no more secret tina
Il the firms with which they dea
/ Oranges are social and moral j
n their nature Their secrecy is L
II stricter than that of every wel
= ordered family circle, or, than a
social and religious bodies, whe
'e they desire to reap the full EMO
ment and benefits which -concel
& only the members of their own Q
der. t a7s aa7s sal 81 se.l1 F.
The organization of Oranges
t our State has been 30 rapid durll
s the past year, that CORE
statement of their number o
week would be quite
correct the next. At prese
- there are nearly one thousal
!e- Oranges in the State of Kansi
It No estimate can be made of t
is power of so many social and bu
Is, ness bodies, operating under
es, same head, and with q single al
I'm When the Patrons OF Husband
in shall have become we'll acoustic
err ed to the rules and duties of tn
TX order, and shall begin to reap
til full fruition, it will no longer
by said that agriculture is lone
isolated calling. Farmers viii
come social and helpful with e:
md other. Already, in bnsiness n
nh tiers, the middie-msn and mon
ed, olies are dropping upon their n
Ee;s row. bones before the Patrons, {
ce's it IL sometimes amusing, rs Y
OF as inspiriting, co witness with "
Ine readiness and rivalry they pl
~ tice their genuhexions.
lSu- xSa ,,.nnotxavnan& auH ,