Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-02-17
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TRADING COMPANY,
It's True Position as to the Patrons Of Husband
ry---Cireular CT National Grange

The following circular, which explains it.
self. has been issued and will be sent to sec
~retaries of subordinate oranges:
NATIONAL GRANGEPATRoNsoF HUsBANDRY,
LOUISVILLE, Jan. IA, 1876.
Dear Sir and Bro.:-At a meeting of the
Executive Committee of the National
Grange in July, 1879, information was re-
ceived that q deputation representing the CO
operative societies Of England were en- route
for America, in the interest Of international
cooperation. During a session OF the EN-
ecutiye Committee q member Of the deputa-
ton arrived in Washington city, and was
formally introduced to the members of the
committee. Subsequently, the remainder o.
the deputation arrived at New York, and
proceeded at once upon an extended tour
South and West, meeting with members of
the Executive Committee and Of the Order
at Atlanta, Ga, New Orleans, La, Little
Rock. Ark, and st. Louis, Mo. They i'm
parted the information that an internatlona
association had been organized in England,
styled "Thc Mississippi Valley Trading
Company, limitcl,'' with the pioneer of this
deputation as managing director,' with
authority to organize a similar company in
the United States among the Patrons o
Husbandry the two companies were to *
ist under one title, with one managing di
rector and two boards of trustees. In ashort
while the majority of this deputation re.
turned to England, leaving the managing
director to complete the organization.
In October, 1875, the Executive Commit
tee Of the National Grange met in Louisville
KY, and by request several interviews were
held by the members with the managing
director" OF the F" Mississippi Valley Trad
ing Company, limited" and other friends,
looking to the development of international
cooperation. 1t was Don discovered, how
ever, that the power of attorney given the
.rnanaging director" by the English board
of trustees was not properly authenticated
and was therefore null and void. Further
investigation proved the articles of associa
ton Of the "Mississippi Valley Trading
Company, limitcd,o unsuited to the wants
Of the American producer, and therefore O
little advantage to the Patrons of Eus
bandry. The Executive Committee, there
fore, declined further negotiation with tlt
an. VT. c., limited,' as at present con
stituted.
They did not, hover, abandon the idea o.
international cooperation, but drafted a sc
ries of rules for retail cooperative stores
which they submitted to the Nationa
Grange for their approval, believing tina
their general adoption would result in th'
| establishment Of wholesale cooperative
stores, the oatgrowth Of which would b.
successful international trading. The Ma
tional Grange approved these rules, and
Worthy Master Of the National Grange tx
use every effort to procure and disseminate
such additional information upon the sub
iect of cooperation as in his Judgment nigh
be deemed for the good of the Order.
Fervently impressed that it is through til,
channel Of cooperative stores alone that tn
Patrons of H%usbandry are to realize the ben
| etits resulting from cooperation, the EXecu
tive Committee have sent Il commissioner t
England as a pioneer to prepare the way 10
inaugerating u scheme. which, ii successful
VIII result Ill cStaOllsNiHg Il peTHhaieilb s3s
tenn Of international cooperation between
the Patrons of Hnsbandry OF America ant
co-operators of England.
They therefore urge Patrons e~yeryWher'
to utilize the rules for cooperative stores
published in tho proceedings Of the ninth an
nual session of the National Grange. whicl
have been sent to the Secretaries Of the Stat
Oranges in sufficient numbers to supply TIL
subordinate oranges III the respective State
with one copy each. These rules, with ex
plantations. and forms. and directions for or