Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-03
For the VERMONT FARxER.
Grange Councils.

All organizations formed for purpose,
and operated to that end are morally respons.
ible for its results. In this view of the case
it behooves the grange organization of this
state to reflect seriously, and act wisely in
their deliberations at their annual gathering
at Burlington.
Tho organization has become 6xed fact
and is numerically aud materially growing
stronger day BY day. 10 displacing time.
honored customs, and ignoring the old ruts
in which tho mercantile vehicle has heeu run,
it is important that new ruts should take
right directions to the end that, tho present
may be easier and the future safe. The
Puritans left the old world for the new to
escape religious intolerance. Roger Will
Jams, some years later, left the Puritans for
the same reason. Shall we be only the
repeaters Of history2 A prominent object
Of the grange movement is to break down
monopoly, aud support igst a. few middle
men as is peceaary.. In the infancy Of the
organization, 1t might have been we'll for rs
to mass ourselves together that our orders
might be Of q wholesale character but We
have now outgrown our childhood and should
put away childish things. Manufactures
and dealers everywhere seek our t,ade, %
is natural, having 4 tyada worth seeking.
Any large grange or council of oranges can
obtain. satisfactory terms from nearly all
manufacturers or dealers, and il there are
any who refuse to deal direct, their wares
can either be dispensed with or obtained by
a little flank movement.
White River Council perfected its plan of
trade at an early date, before the state plan
was adoptedl aud with no capital tsave $500
furnished by the ageutl have purchased aud
delivered about S25,0 900 worth of goods to
its members the past year embracing every.
thing used, from pins and needles up To car.
loads, except drugs and medicines, aud /
might add, liquors. The saving to its NON.
bers has not been less than $4,000; all
without any connection with the state grange
save to pay our dues in loyal obedience to
our constitution and bylaws, and l may
add that never has bill reached maturity
without payment. What has been done
in this council may be done by every
knot or council Of oranges in the state.
Would it not be we'll for our sachems at
Burlington to adopt some plan to aid and
encourage coqncils iormeA by ma tural hound
aries, lot county Ines 10 the state Of Yer
mont are not known 10 God aud man, only
to lawyers, judges and criminals, and they
are revolving TO horse flesh at that. BY 50
doing oranges and councils will learn to be
independent and transact their own business
Any other method adopted is virtual
declaration that the mass Of farmers are To-.
capable Of doing their own mercantile basi-
ness. thus stultifying their oft-repeated
words, 1--WE can transact our own business {"
This course will the more completely carry
out the prscepts Of the Order, dispense with
one middlomaD, and avoid building up a
greater monopoly than any we have aimed
to tear down, should our Order assume the
magnitude aud Importance that il is its
privilege to In our state. 1t may DO said
that no grange is obliged to trade thJaagh
any channel marked out by the executive
committee Of the state.
Very true, but every grange must pay its
dues aud may reasonably hope for soma re-
turning benefits instead Of seeing the state
treasury yearly emptied into the lap OF hotel.
keepers in lOrty-eight hour scramble, with
no results but the sanctioning Of the plans
prepared by four or FIVE leading spirits.
MORE ANON.