Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-30
MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

grange all over the land, and the councils Of
Sovereigns in the East, is born Of necessity
"the mother Of invention" There was need
Of reform in the political system, and the
great farmers movement sprang up and is
rapidly removing that evil by breaking down
party lines and electing honest men in spite
Of both the old parties, and 10 other instances
the parties have been compelled, through
fear of defeat, to recognize the rights of the
people and put clean, honest men in nomin-
alton. There was need Of reform 10 the 50.
cial relations Of the farming class, and the
farmers united in the grange for this end
they found greater fields before them than
they had anticipated. While gaining great
social advantages from the new organization,
they saw it was possible to make il also
pecuniarily advantageous, by buying their
goods more directly from the producers aud
saving the profits Of a large number Of agents
and dealers. The mechanics of the cities
and large towns saw the advantages gained
from cooperation by the farmers, and they
formed the council for the purpose of secur.
ing to themselves the same benefits.
Thus far the movement has progressed,
but this is only the beginning These soci-
cites are on a track that will lead, ultimate.
ly, to complete revolution of the system of
trade, whereby consumer and producer shall
be brought into closer communication, and
the cost of exchange will be reduced several
hundred per cent. but this is not all. There
is grand reform to be made in the entire
business Of the world, and if these societies
will so elect they eau be the medium where.
by the change shall be brought about.
The farmers have protested loudly against
the extortions Of railroads, and justly, too
they did this because the burden imposed by
railroad mismauagement and extravaganza fell
the most heavily upon their shoulders. Are
there no other corporations which grind the
faces of the poor to afford the choicest luxu-
ries of life to those who toll not, neither
do they spin?" Are there no drones in the
hive Of human industry who produce nothing
for the support of mankind, but consume
more and Of better quality than twice as
many farmers or mechanics? Look at our
insurance companies with their general and
local agencies, their thousands of Offices rent.
ed and clerks hired, their thousands of dol.
lars expended in advertising for customers,
(victims,) their agents retaining fifteen per
cent of the premiums paid for insurance, and
their fat dividends. What is the need OF
our paying three or four per cent for the
insurance of buildings against fire, when the
losses amount to less than one.haf Of one
per cent? 1t is because the business is done
through a pouderous system of machinery
which requires three and half per cent to
pay the agents who do the business which
secures to the insurer the average protection
of one-half per cent. Three dollars and q
half paid to the company and its agents for
doing business of fifty cents Here is truly
a broad field for reform. and these new or
ders will find it. In fact they have found
it, for in some parts of the West the Patrons
have already formed local insurance compa-
MES and insure among themselves.
Then there are the army of lawyers who
subsist chiefly by preying upon those who
are weak-minded enough to throw themselves
into their hands 1t is probably true that
law ten 60 to lawyers as fees. The remedy
for this evil is also ready at our hand, is to
some extent made of avail in the grange, is
inculcated in the council and Ieven eDjoined
by its obligation, and that remedy is, to
peaceably settle all differences by arbtra-
ton. There are so many Of these evils in
our social, political and financial economies,
that to simply enumerate them would be to
occupy too much space, but we venture the
prediction that as these subjects come up and
are discussed in the oranges and councils,
not only will the people see it," but re-
forms Will De lnaugurated ana successfully
carried out which as yet are not dreamed of.
1t is progressive age, and the Americans
are progressive nation, and it is not too
much to expect gigantic results from the
reform movement when there is such
fruitful field before them, white for the har-
vest.
Thank Heaven, we are not under an abso-
lutte monarchy, but in free republic, and
the workingmen of the nation, if they but
awake to the situation, are the majority and
can be the ruling power. Then, and not till
then, will the words of the glorious old con-
stitutiOn be brought to pass, aud the poorest
workman and the proudest millionaire will be
free and equal" VIA