The Richmond palladium., 1874-02-28

The 0rangeFs a0a Made lEen.
In the central West, where the
Changers have by far the largest mem
bwship, there have been special rea-
sons for their hatred Of middlemen.
Var prices for produce filed the
farmers pockets % they never were
Mled before. Especially did the
gfain-growers and cattle raisers of
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois. Wisconsin,
Iowa and Minnesota find themselves
With more spare money than they had
ever dreamed of previously. They
we're consequently in condition to buy
many things they had up to that time
felt obliged to do without. These
two facts-the ability and the desire
to buy-became known outside Of
those States and speedily found lodg-
mnt in the minds Of class of manu-
farturers Of cheap articles, merchants
who dealt in poor goods and that large
cirele of men who hate work. but love
talk, snd have 90 amply . supply Of
brass that they would rather solicit
orders for an undertaken than to
buckle down to steady labor. These
three classes of men, therefore, look
ed upon the Western farmers as fair
game for their operations.
As the brass of this third class
could neither manufacture cheap
wares nor purchase poor ones, they
formed the advanced column Of raid
ers in the shape Of patent right deal
ers. Sometimes one was bought for
song; and in other cases the worthless
patentee, the worthless patent and the
worthless owner were represented by
the same person. Sharp managers
we're secured, agents employed, men
hired, coaxed and bribed to certify to
the excellence of the various inven-
tions, and system Of merciless can
vassing entered upon. Prizes were
offered to the agents that made the
most sales. while the owner of the
right or his head man met the agents
at a general rendezvous from time to
time to gather in the stamps and notes.
make suggestions and urge on the
work of cheating. :.
In some localities there appeared
to be no end or limit to the number
Of agents or the inventions which they
we're so anxious the farmers should
buy the rights of in the township OF
county. The honest tiller Of the soil
could hardly start his team from one
agents raid before another would con-
front him. The merits of new horse
hay fork, washing machine, churn.
reaper, mower, gate, p0st-hole digger,
baby-rocker, and SO on through an
endless list, would all be crowded
upon him in q single day. The forged
opinions of we'll known men would be
dragged in. These sharpers effected
many sales and feeced the farmers
out of large sums of money. II is NO
wonder, for with all their cheek, skill
and adroitness they were we'll calcula-
ted to deceive. It is hardly necessary
to state that in ninety-nine cases out
of hundred these patent rights thus
forced upon the farmers were utterly
worthless. And so general was this
that laws we're passed by some of these
States iEvalidating notes given for
patent rights where the patent proved
worthless: and Is most Of them were
worthless this Law nearly broke npithe
business. hnt the III feeling aroused
against agents or such middlemen re-
mained and intensified with lapse oi
time and new phases Of cheating.
Close upon the heels Of these fellows
were another horde Of cheats. Sew
ing machine agents palmed off theil
wares for five times their original cost
Squeaky, miserable cabinet organs and
cheap, shammy pianos were forced OF
the farmers by the thousand, as FIRST
class instruments at heavy advances
upon first class prices. Printed daNbs
costing about ten dollars cart load
in New York city, were hawked from
farm house to farm house a. higl
priced pictures. Shoddy, not w0rtl
making up was sold for imported
bgoadcloth, with cheating in samplinl
and measurement at that. Agents il
selling farm machinery retired viii
ample fortunes after few years at tn
business, and the horny handed son
of toll saw it. But how was all thi
cheating accomplished Surely tn
farmers were not compelled to patron
ixe such fellows. Well, these agent
and peddlers cajoled the husbands b
praising their crops and horses, an
concilnted the wives by free distri
button of circus candy among the lii
.. tie ones and the iudicious use of fiat
terry. To all this was added persist
ent fslsifying that must have shane
, the father Of lies himself. Thes
middlemen lahored constantly to max
the farmers believe that all manufat
turersa and merchants, other than thos
they represented, we're the most III
!. mitigated seoundrels; that even the
7 village or city merchants we're Il
! greatest cheats In the world, and tn,
everything they bought Of them y.
= poor in quality and enormously hig
I UnluckilY for the farmers they listel
ed to these corm0rants instead Of kicl
4 ing them out doors.
~ If united refusal to patronise the
vampires could be accomplished in I
other way, the grange movement vi
II in this respect be blessing to Il
farmers. But there are things in th
~ connection the Grangers should a
h lose sight Of, There must be middl
to men, and in warning upon those It'll
ne Grant cormorants, no hostility shou
ua be shown towards the substanti'
to legitimate merchants and dealel
The manufacturer cannot leave l
!, mills to peddle goods, nor can t
~ farmer make long journeys to dista
!" manufactures. And besides, the
merchants are among the best frien
the tillers Of the soil have, In o
- cities aud villages they are geaera
the most enterprising citizens. III
be usually settle in place for . term
|la years or for life, and have every
- ducement to deal Airly and Aonest
e as any other course would tell fearfi
q; 2; " against them. And all over
III West, if these agents and peddlers b
'e. been treated Is they deserved, 4
ee trading had been confined to kno
be- and reliable merchants and deale