Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-11-25

ARMY OF DRUMMERs.
1t is carefully estimated that at least
200, 900 drummers 10000 from New
York city alone) parade our Streets
throng our railroad cars, and dll our
hotels at the expense of the consumer:
We will figure Drummers command
a salary, including expenses, ct ut least
eight dollars per day. Eight times two
hundred thousand foots up one million
and six hundred thousand dollars per
day; forty-eight millions dollars per
month, and FIVE hundred and seventy
six millions dollars per year Think OF
it! And still we complain of hard times
and taxes, when We deliberately and
voluntarily pay the enormous sum nell
toned above. We must stop this
wholesale robbery. Every man, woman
or child that drinks a cup Of tea, or
wears pair of shoes, is concerned in
this matter. We can not expect to
stop this traffic at once; but time aud
pluck will bring all things into shape.
IL is not merely the
NAME OF CHANGERS
that enables us to make special terms
with manufacturers; but the knowledge
that we favor cooperation, and pay
cash tor our purchases, is what enables
us to buy goods from 25 to 80 per cent.
discount.
Now we have noticed the buying
business. Let us see about the selling
of onr products. Not many years ago
my father used to sell his butter, eggs,
corn and potatoes TO the village mer-
chant, taking i'll exchange dry goods,
groceries, etc, and the balance in cash
in the fall. The merchant generally
paid up in the fall, and his profits made
him so liberal that | can remember he
once made my mother present OF a
new dress, which was the usual custom
in those days with good customers. He
made a
PROFIT OF 50 TO 100 PER CENT.
each way. If there was corner in wool
or butter in New York, the merchant
knew Just how to take advantage OF the
farmer, and the farmer was ignorant
and unconscious of his own interests
Now we have market reports compiled
expressly for the farmer. If there is a
rise in produce, we know it. We have
good men TO keep us posted, and the
niddlemen can not buy all our produce
at his own figures, and realize his hand
some profits. We have good men in
the principal cities that sell our produce
at good round figures. We have men
at New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati,
ard other places getting only moder-
ate salary, who are working tor the in
terests of the Grange at one.tifth the
expense of au ordinary commission
house. They are heavily bonded, and
still they do not work for pay, as they
are men that are able to live without
this additional salary. But they are
doing it tor the
GOOD OF THE ORDER,
and time has proved them worthy OF
their trust. We are establishing COM
mission houses, in many large places
throughout the United States, and will
soon attend to our own exports and im-
ports. We have men in the Grange
fully as capable of handling our interests
as any other organization has in theirs.
The farmers are walking up, and the
wheel can not be stopped. The slur of
"Granger" grows less and less.
THE GREAT CENTENNIAL ENCAMPMENT
at Philadelphia has been the means of
convincing men that business principles,
as well as hay seed, can be found under
the Changers hat.
The extensive correspondence be-
tween the yeomanry of England and
Oranges of the United States, in regard
to establishing an association between
both countries for commercial purposes,
as well as the great railroad results in
the West, confirm the statement that
THE GRANGE HAS POWER.
We only ask our rights as tillers of the
soil. We do not wish to interfear with
the manufacturer or mechanic. We
want the manufacturer to take our wool
direct from us, and give us cloth direct
in return. We will encourage railroads
and commerce in general. We demand
that the mechanic buy his material dir
ect from the manufacturer, and give US
the benefits; but we will not encourage
the middleman, that merely lives on
our purses, giving US nothing in return.
We wish to be our own clerks.
Remember, these few ideas and facts
are only a few that can be presented in
favor of the Changers. Volume upon
volume has been written, and more will
be added. This is exclusively farmers
institution, and men are wanted
In union there is strength. All mon
opolies are the result Of combinations.
Let farmers combine to protect their
own interests; laying aside fogyism to
see where We are drifting. We have
everything to gain, not much to lose,
in this grand movement. While at the
Centennial Eucampnent, we heard a
great many good things said in favor Of
the Granger, and found the subject of
cooperation was inexhaustible. Broth
er Woodman, Master of Michigan State
Grange, made remarkable statement
that during the last year
NOT ONE LAWSUIT
had occurred between two Changers in
the State of Michigan-signiican of
reform, showing We can dispense with
that great element, the lawyer. Then