Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-29

other self Grinding with deXtrous hand
each intricate movement, with perhaps more
though and wisdom than even you possess.
Let him understand and appreciate this, and
he will render you glad and faithful service.
In the words of Professor Walker, let me
say, in seeking to secure these results, "Lel
MS never leave the vantage ground Of free.
high-spirited independent labor, to go down
to the plane Of guilds, tradcs-unions, and APP
prentice laws. DO we need medieval re-
strctions like these IN this land Of common
schools, OF equal rights before the law, and
of universal suifragep Let us welcome to
Our side in the workshop any man made IN
Gods image and having IN wife and children
his reasons for labor. We will the rather
take them freely into our body, animate
them with our spirit, and teach them our
better way. We will convince them that n
standard of generous living, the having
children to be sent tidy to the public schools,
the having house to be kept decent, and
garden to he made TO bloom in season, the
being IL citizen in the fullest sense, with in
definite capabilities of social or political adj
vancemenl, that these ARE worth all the
devices of trades-unions hundred-fold for
keeping up the price of labot." The laborer
also has duties.
Among all the duties manding our at
tention ut this session, aud requiring the
wiscst legislation, | know of none of greater
Importance than distributive and productive
corporation. Already many of our councils
have made very commendable progress in
systematizing their arrangements for pur.
chasing all the more important necessnries
of life. Brother Graves, president of the
Connecticut State Council, says in his last
| quarterly rep Ort: Under our present ar-
rangements (ind they are by no means per-
| lected) II is within the reach of n member to
save, ut the lowest estimate, one hundred
dollars annually IN his purchases. meaning,
| suppose, each family so represented.
"Suppose tie nine million working-men of
this country should organize and save only
one-fifth of this sum, viz $50 each, and the
annual saving to this cass of people would
amount to nearly 5000, 100000 Take IN H.
lustration: In the city and suburbs of
| Philadelphia there are about 100000 peo-
pie. 1t is estimated they have 5000 grocery
|
store costing OH an average, $4,000, or a
total cost TO the consumers each year of 800
0OO, 900 on goods costing $l00,00O,0 900. These
goods can be supplied through the principle
of cooperative purchasing ut five per cent
on cost, or ut II saving of Sl5,000, 900, and
this IN the item of groceries alone. Nor is
this all Cooperation gives ipurer goods
| ouH ;ug, T'nunNniitiOn piypS lie
short weight, shoddy, and adulteration. Is
Gaping nduteration, means gaining any
where from ten to thirty per cent, on sub
stantally everything bought. This is merely
an illustration of what may be saved through
distributive cooperation. Whe n productive
cooperation is secured. MS it will be when
labor can furnish its own capital, no man
can tell what the people might not gain
Verify, my brothers, competition is man,
way! Ia this effort We have offered us the
hearty cooperation Of the oranges through
out the country. Their founders, Hon. Will
liam Saunders and o. ii. Kelly, recently
wrote, saying. ave have great hopes that
the SOvereigns of Industry will act in con
cert with the Patrons of Husbandry."
The farmers of the West are already loud.
~ calling on the mechanics and artisans OF
the East to come and occupy their mill sites,
bringing with them their skill, tools, and
machinery, aye, their hungry families, too
that their grooming graneries may be reliev'
ed. How long shall it be before productive
cooperation shall make these possibilities
blessed realities?
Legislation Required.
| shall simply allude to some Of the more
important matters that require your most
careful and deliberate consideration. And
first am convinced that the revenue pro-
vided for in our constitution is entirely in
adequate to meet the continually increasing
necessities of the order. By examining the
books of the secretary and treasurer you will
ascertain that your officers have practiccd
the strctest economy in their expenditures,
and yet. even with the special tax Qevied for
tho last year only, we have often been
obliged to supply funds from private sources
for temporary use. l trust you will be able
to adopt such measures rs will remove the
cause of these embarrassments, and give the
greatest efficiency possible to our work. Sc
cure honest, efficient officers, and heartily
sustain them.
In this connection am glad to refer to
the uniform courtesy and Kindness always
shown by all the officers associated with
me. Especially do | feel indebted to our
honored secretary for his generous sympa,
thy and efficient aid. Often until midnight
he has been kept AT his post Much of our
10 nlc 10 thn tirin lah a
perseverance, of our worthy lecturer; to his
efficient work we are largely indebted fol-
the able representation we have with us here
to-day from these state councils We have
delayed issuing charters until this time that
we might receive some instructions from
this body whether, MS II national organiza
ton, we should seek to become incorpora-
ted. Recent considerations have been
brought to our notice which indicate the
wisdom of incorporating subordinate coun-
ellis only. | think our trade cards. should
be uniform throughout the entire order, bear.
ing the seal of the National Council, and bt
issued quarterly; all dues to be paid quarter.
ly in advance.
Deputies should report directly to the sec
retary,and our lecturer shouldhavo authority
to organize councils wherever the interests
of the order may require of the Nationa
Council. A song book should be prepared
have also been requested to bring before
you the subject OF insurance, and II sick and
funeral fund. Some changes in our ritua
will doubtless be proposed, but should hi
made with great care. Think our Salutation
should DO improved, and greater care re-
CURED in entering and retiring from the
council room, and perhaps an installation
and burial service be added. After the close
of this session what shall be tho relation to
the National Council of those members