Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-30
STICK TO THE MERCHANTS.
A Granger's Common Sense Notions
About Country Agents and Cooper

~
afive Stores
R.D. Jamison, in the Murfreesboro Monitor.
A few weeks since the Council of our
county sent out some propositions TO the
different Oranges of the county to con-
slider, they being in reference to having
county agent, cooperate store or something
of the kind. The MurfreeSboro Grange
decided to have an agency, the plan OF
which was published in the Nelcs. AT the
next meeting of the Council, Nj. Z. Jordan,
of Linden Grange, offered plan similar 10
the one offered by the Murfreesboro Grange,
with some material alterations, but neither
was adopted, consequently the subject IS
open for discussion, and we hope few re-
marks on it will not be inappropriate, as 1t
is now agitating the public mind We do
not propose to discuss the merits OF either
system now being spoken of, but merely
to speak of the expediency of adopting
either. at least for the present. Our y. der
is powerful in numbers, and great care
should be taken for fear we make wrong
step. We must deliberate lrell, and then
act.
If we understand correctly the principles
of our order, we do not desire 10 injure any
class who are engaged in legitimate occu-
patton, and is not antagonists to the IN.
| terest of the farmer. By either one OF
| these systems we iDjure materially the In
terest of our merchants, and probably not
help us much. If we pay more than we
! think we ought TO for merchandise, We
should find out first whether 1t Is the
| merchants fault entirely before we dis
| card him. To illustrate: Suppose we
complain that we have to pay l2c Tor
smear when it can be bought in New
| OrIean, for &c. Does the merchant
make the most of this profit? If so, cease
TO deal with him and have our own stores
II however, upon investigation we ind he
has only made a reasonable charge for time
and trouble, We have no complaints tC
make. and if we do not deal with him we
have treated him unjustly. The next thing
10 learn about this sugar is whether the
charge for transporting it is unreasonable.
| II 50. let US direct our efforts toward:
having this corrected, and so on, until We
find where the fault is. We must tnc
where the flea is before We can catcf
him. or whether there is any flea at al
or not. All good soldiers have an OBJ
iect at which to direct concentrated nre
when II ey wish to break the stronghold o.
the enemy, and they must select the pom
of attack. So we must know what we arr
about to try to accomplish before we make
the effort. All classes should work TO
getber harrnoniOusly for the good Of all
SimpIy because farmers have the majority
is no Just reason why we should seek q
break I'D other legitimate occupations Win
out cause. If we have cause then we
can act, but not before, or we violate law
of Justice and equity. :.
The practical question presents Itseli sell
what are we to gain by an agency? If we
have to pay our merchant a reasonable
charge, so do we propose TO pay our agent
and what advantage is it TO MS whether TN
agent or merchant gets 1t? Always pa
our merchant the cash as we would th'
a sent, and we would sOOn see such chang
as would surprise us. There are ehanqei
I'M which zoe could sdre hundreds Of doudr
to tchere ace tcOvld Sdre one by an asenI,
we would direct our efforts to them lie
rs work on these for the present, ana tr
our merchants little longer, and II the
fail to act squarely, then work on them'