Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1875-12-02
ANNUAL -.
OF WORTHY MASTER
REED,
DELIVERED TO THE
TERRITORIAL GRANGE, JUNE 2, 1875.
DELIVERED TO THE

TERRITORIAL GRANGE, JUNE Z, 1870.
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.
Your present Master has tried to do his duty, but frankly
admits that he has not been able to perform his aoAole duty.
Some things have been neglected, but he hopes 10 give naortt
time to his office during the coming year. lie mas spent
considerable time and some money; furnished his own STA,
tionery, With the exception of a few cents, worth 1qf m smea
by the Secretary, and paid nearly all his postage; mas KEEP
no account of the same, and is happy to contribute tne
amount, whatever it may be, towards placing tins Grange
upon a desirable footing. He takes pleasure IN saying
that, as far as he is acquainted, nearly ever member seems
willing to do at least as much.
The one great need of our order in this Territory has been
the visiting of the Subordinate Oranges by the Master,
Lecturer, and District Deputies for the purpose OF expl am
present imperfect working of some of our Oranges is most
" to be attributed to the non-performance Of this labor.
to the Subordinate Oranges would have a sautary effect is
not to be doubted, but with new Oranges this Is an aG1ual
thy Lecturer, subject to the discretion Of your Executive
Committee, but your Committee have not 1et at liberty 10
and incur expenses in travelling, when they could give hin
no assurance Of any return. The same has been the case
wl ms Y I ha2 Ma already ID Fe stated = o an.D WEor aRS' s Sec esPS,eoo .F.
Parmeter, resigned his office, which makes 1t necessary 1or
that office to be filled by an election at the present meet
You will also elect at this meeting three members M Of the
Executive Committee. Brothers Il. II. Mood, A. Myers,
and @. +. Parmeter's terms, as members of that committee,
expire with this session.
II will be necessary to have the proceedings of this SEES
sion of our Grange printed, in order to comply with the re,
quirements Of Art. Xxx, of the Bylaws Of the National
Grange. Perhaps, it would be advisable to have a sufficient
number Of copies printed to furnish each Subordinate
Grange with two copies, and to enable your officers to re-
turn the compliment OF other State Grange officers, III SEND
ing lis their proceedings.
Our Brothers and Sisters in the States are receiving great
benefits from cooperation in business. 1t is no new idea.
In different parts of the Old World it has been successfully
practiced for many years.
Owing to the nature and systematic organization OF our
Order, It is particularly adapted to business cooperation.
1t is true, however, that our field of operations is somewhat
limited in Montana, owing to our isolated condition as a
people. We are cut off from all the great markets of the
world, and compelled by the force of circumstances to de-
pend upon our home markets for the sale of our produce.
The want of cheap and rapid transportation is a great
hindrance to us in the way Of buying in cooperation; but,
notwithstanding all the obstacles in our way, | believe very
much may be accomplished through this grange in a manner
that would confer. the benefits of this feature OF the Order
upon members in all parts OF the Territory, instead OF their
being confined to certain locations, as is at present the case.
If a system Of business cooperation was inaugurated by
this Grange, it would be a Territorial movement, and all
parts of the Territory would be interested and benefited.
1t seems clear to my mind that we would do well to initiate
the actien of our sister State Oranges by the establishment
of a Territorial Business Agency for buying and selling.
All kinds Of farm machinery, implements, wagons, and car
.ipsin, da through aa a Territorial emMo iT Business neppAA Agency ~ and : hand
some percentage saved to Patrons.
But most prominent, and nearest at hand, among the sew
eral branches of business that could be proftably accom-
pushed through a Business Agency is the supplying of our
1 Montsna, w as pr rod prasa should 81 M Sc sG Drought into into d datfan co 81
tact with the miners and other laboring classes, as consunn-
a most desirable and just work that is well worth an earn
est effort.
The only market of any extent that the farmers of Mon
tara have had for their produce is within the borders of this
Territory, and is created principally by the mines, stage
lines lns;,,a and Govern Government ada, contracts Is;a and supplied almost rnd. e.
r~ghttully belongs to the farmer, and should be under the
joint control OF the farmer and consumer. The farmer
raises the produce by the labor of his hands and places it in
the market, if sold at an equitable price, that price justly
belongs to the farmer. On the other hand, the miners and
mechanics, who are our principal consumers, may correctly
say that the farmer Sells his produce at a given price which,
if equitable, is tho price for which we should receive it.
But the middle men have controlled the markets. BY
artful plans or schemes they have turned the produce into
certain channels over which they have held almost absolute
control. They have drawn a line between the producer and
consumer and, standing upon that line, they say to the
farmer, on one side, we will give you so much per sack for
your flour delivered upoi, this line; then, turning politely
to the consumer, they infcrm him that they will supply hin
with flour at so much per sack, which is usually the price
paid to The farmer with the addition of an e~xorbitant differ
ence which they call profit.