The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-03-16
For the EAGLE.
Items for Changers,

SS't ohN hOb W ith VIZ OiaCis
1t is as an outsider then that l pro-
pose 10 submit ''iter;s for Changers,
and not ''as one having authority"
hesitate not to say that thoroughly
understand the principles upon which
the Order is based and am in sympa-
thy with the reciprocal, "hand in hand''
cooperative and other eodlike fea-
lures of the Brotherhood. Co-opera-
ton in England has effected wonders,
and is daily advancing in wisdom and
in work. The wonder TO me is and has
always been that so well and
so kindred an institution as Granger
ism" does not more visibly permeate
the masses and effect vastly more good
particularly as the Order is now no
child, but has arrived at the age of
/ mature manhood and should be growth.
Why is this so? Cause and effect are
inseparable. The Order, or the basis
of the institutions, is undoubtedly rcli-
giously square and capable of accom-
plishing the most extensive good to
the greatest number. Changers. how
ever, complain TO me that the benefits
are not commensurate with the prom
Uses that the edifice, when explored.
fails to develop the proportions of the
foundation. If this is true there can
be no objection TO our indicating what,
in our Judgment, is at least one of the
causes of this weakness. Let the Or
| der wipe out from the statute book the
''secret" or pass word clause, let her
doors, her meetings, her benefits be
thrown open TO all who pay and be-
lieve in the great and fundamental
principle of brother helping brother !:
who recognize the godlness of the
men that band together for doing
good He is the bright and morning
star of the Order who accomplishes
the most whether in word or in deed.
Are We not all brethren 2" There can
not be any doubt that to this catholici-
ty of spirit and perfect freedom of as
ISOLATION is owing the gigantic strides
and success of the English cooperative
companies. | ought TO say in this con-
nectiou that have had years of close
intimacy with the English cooperative
system, and know of what | speak,
and whereof | affirm. We care not
to pursue this question further, but
simply to suggest the ACCESSIBILITY of a
more vigorous and expansive develop
meat of what ought to be the Gran
gers idea of cooperation.
Take another idea. Grangerism
should look upon itself as the parent
organization From it, sections of
country, and the whole country at large
should be led &c look for movements
for the general veal. Is the Grange
established in a section of country
monopolized by railroad exacting the
very life-blood from its patrons, as is
the case in more places than one! 1t
surely then becomes the Grange, as
| leading the van of anti-monopoly and
in the interest Of ''right against might"
to agitate, either for the reducing OF
freight rates, etc, to fair and lcgiti-
mate Give and let live" basis, or for
the establishment of a competing rail-
road. Let tine ask the leading "spirits"
Of the Grange in this valley, whether
they have not at their very doors the
most crying evil of the kind here in
Dictated and the most absolute want of
rival road? Aud yet the Orderi is ST.
lent. The van that ought to move is
stationary. The wheels INCREASED and
no signs of life within. We have gone
too far. 1t has actually come to our
knowledge that one or two bees of the
hive have suggested that they were in
duty bound TO take this question in
hand. The crowd, however, has re-
| ceived instant scare at the rod OF in
creased taxation, etc. Poor creatures.
they might be taxed to the tune of five
and be reimbursed twenty-five per cent.
And so they continue to this day.
This Subject could be expanded to
several columns of your paper, and al
though tempted to enlarge, we dare
not. for fear of the EDITORS pruning
knife.
One more idea. We are constantly
being advised by the press and 9TH
erwisc to purchase our implements, etc.
at home, not to be guilty of the So
called reprehensible practice of trad
ing outside the precincts of our own
State. We approve in part, the advice.
and apply the principle of the admo-
milton to the Changers. Why do they
stand by and see their profits absorbed
by so many middle men?" A well
devised system could readily be cstab-
iishcd by which the profits of a groce-
ry store, hardware store, meat market,
bank, ETC., could be divided amongst
its customers, as in the case of the
Rochdale Pioneers Society. Is there
any reason in the world why the Gran
gers of this valley should not manipu-
la!c their own banking operations in
wichita? They could certainly con-
duct bank as wisely, efficiently and
economically as those at present in ex-
istcnce. The profits of bank in the
hands of the Changers could then be
appropriated, not merely amongst the
stockholders as is now the case, but
amongst the ordinary and regular Gus
toners of the bank. In this event the
bank would not be worked TO accumu-
late and declare large dividends to
small section Of stockholders, but its
customers would participate in its re-
suits. Thus conducted, the greatest
good would result to the greatest num-
Der, and if any special and exceptional
claim for interest, or otherwise, should
be exacted, the party or parties from
whom the exaction may be made will
receive, pro rata, HIS share Of general
results at the expiration of fixed pc
Rod A bank conducted on these prin-
cjples would. there can be no doHbt,
speedily possess large resources and
ample business, inasmilch as every one
having business with it would feel a
common interest in its success.
| am not quite sure whether the ideas
here set forth may not seem Utopian.
The writer, however, assures his read