The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-21
Corporation, No. 2.

Ed. Grange Advance:-A concur
rent effort of certain individuals for any
special purpose would be likely to
create community of feeling as well
as interest, and hence create a much
needed element in rural populations.
It is we'll known that all other trades
and occupations except farmers COM
bine for interest, benefit and protection,
but as yet no movement of general
nature, not even the grange, has been
strong enough to impress itself upon
the masses to indicate an enduring and
lasting influence.
We see that agricultural societies or
fairs have not done it; the grange, as
now constituted, has not done it.
There seems to be an element lacking
in all these organizations, to combine
and cement and enforce lasting inter-
est, may it not be found in this one
move. If the worlds progress is ad-
vanced by the combining Of other
classes, why not by the rural class as
we'll i? Must we be accused of being
clannish, and at war with others if we
thus combine. I think not.
There is no other occupation so Ia
borious, so wearing upon all concerned,
both out doors and in, at least to the
bodily powers, as the agricultural. 1t
has been too exclusively physical.
Could some element be introduced to
cultivate and stimulate the mental it
seems to me desirable, and this is true
equally of all manual laborers, and its
good results would be seen in better
improvements in doors and out, the full
results Of which can easily be imagined.
But I will not stop at this time to spec
ify, but proceed to consider the plan
how best to do it.
This will be best understood by ask.
ing what is desired to be obtained {?
First, freedom from debts and duns, by
instituting the cash or ready pay system;
second, by combining the many in one
to reduce the per cent. above first cost
to its lowest figure, or, in other words,
for one to purchase for the hundred at
the cost Of one instead of a hundred,
and submit that this need not envolve
in any way very difficult problem.
The idea embraces no more than usual
business transactions, (which involve the
principle of contract and responsible.
ty. Notwithstanding the thousand
and one rules and by Jaws so commonly
paraded in matters of this kind, as I be-
fore said, it involves simply a business
transaction, which should and must to
be success, fall on some one person and
the other hundred to be as free and dis
entaugled as the rest of the community.
A responsible financial agent, if you
please, for the head say, one hundred
members for the hands, to supply the
needed funds and enjoy the benefit, con.
stitutes the ground work.
The nature of the business and sur
roundings must indicate what special
rules are needed, the members being
the judges. One hundred members or
shares of one hundred dollars each
would constitute sum Of ten thousand
dollars, which in right hands should
make its mark, and should mark cheap
goods to the one hundred members and
sufficient inducementsto outsiders to
make no more store debt forever, and
thus, in the end, revolutionize the whole
system Of trade, benedtting all classes;
which certainly is the wish and desire
| of the writer Of these crude thoughts
and Of mona more 50 than of the ordi.
nary or regular merchant; a class Of
| men to whom the county owes debt Of