The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-04
Letter from an Ohio County
Granger.


Recently you gave EDITORIAL publicity
10 the fact that Grange store" was re:
Gently sold out by the Sheriff Of Wetzel
county, as an illustration Of how "Gran-
gers succeed as merchants" Now the
lac, is, Grangers can conduct n store as
well as other people II they follow busi-
ness principles. They have better
chance to succeed, as their only object is
10 save, not to speculate. As specula-
tion il would be in conflict with Grange
principles, and would therefore be very
likely 10 fail. Speculation should be left
TO those whose business is to speculate.
The Patrons Of Husbandry do not war
against any legitimate business. Grange
stores, rs they are termed, were not orig
inally contemplated in the establish
ment OF the Order, but grew out
Of the combination and co-opera.
tion OF the farmers, which enabled
them to get their supplies at the lowest
rates, and at the same time TO realize for
themselves a fairer profit on their mer.
chantable products without additional
cost 10 the consumer. The Grangers do
not desire to break down one monopoly
simply in order to create another and Il
greater one. The merchant has right
to raise his own garden vegetables, and
probably his own personal health, indeed
| NAV say the general healthof the COM
munity, would be better il more of them
did so. Seemingly your article conveys
the idea that Patrons have no right to eS-
tablish Grange stores, and as conse-
uuence they are failing all over the coun.
Try. Allow ME to suggest that the iail-
ures were rather on account OF the men
who we're put in management OF the stores
than Of any false principle inherent in the
plan. You would not certainly take this
little Wetzel county failure asa text from
Which to deliver sermon condemnGaory
OF the whole business. You know better
than any Granger that there is loo
great a range between buying prices
and selling prices, too much margin
of profit on some articles, and that
| il has been growing greater from year TO
year. There has been too much bumming
and drumming; too much machinery, too
much convassing and commercial travel
ing. All this has to be oiled up 80 that
some
"May ride ingigs and chaises
While Others walk by Jaesus."
Is il any wonder that in these hard
times any class OF citizens should try to
save money by making purchases from
hands as near at least rs possible. .
The Order OF the Patrons OF Husband
nv was not started to do mercantile
business, notwithstanding which the mat
ter Of grange stores absOrbs more atten'
ton Just now than anything else. They
are minor interest which will continue
TO grow less as business gets into bet
ter channel. Not one OF the SO call
ed grange stores is in any way
under the regulations Of the Or
der of Patrons OF Husbandry. They
are independent Of the order itself
notice that in all wcll.regulatet
farming communities the Grange pros
pers. or course there are communitie:
in which nothing will prosper, anc
Oranges have broken up with nourisl
Of revolvers and n pulling Of hair.
OF the doings OF the Order in Ohio
county may write you at another time
feeling us do that neither you nor youl
readers, when you fully understand th'
principles Of the Patrons, can have augh
but good wishes for the prosperity OF lht
Order. NJ. OF lG3.