Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-06-28
A DEFENCE OF THE GRANGE.

by w. Iratt, to PratCSDHfg orange, ~. !.
on the occasion of it's third anniversary. In
speaking of why farmers are so reluctant in
availing themselves Of the advantages OF
the Grange he says:
A second reason is an apprehension that
the grange will not prove to be long lived.
They have frequently heard that the whole
thingis waning and will soon 60 down. Mer-
chants tell them that the Laws of trade will
govern, that existing systems OF business
cannot be changed, and that the farmers
prosperity lies in the direction of a wide
and lively competition among dealers. Po-
liticans tell them that the farmers are not
tit for official places and that they have got
the oranges under. And the sentiment OF
the general public perhaps is that the farm
or is best employed when he is faithfully
delving in his fields to draw from moth
er earth those products which are the basis
of all business and all wealth, and that he
does well and wisely not to bother his head
with the question whether he gets fair val
ales, nor at what rate of profits they are
subsequently handled. They listen, hest
tate, and finally decide that it will be pru-
dent to wait and see what it amounts to.
SO the great majority of farmers stand back
and look on. For three years now they
have done so. IF the thing is to succeed
they are going in with it; if it is to 60
down as SO many outsiders tell them
they are not going with it. Prudent, care
full, thoughtful men! They forgot that the
promised benefits from cooperation cannot
be had in full measure if they refuse to CO.
operate with us. The force, weight and ca.
pacity for usefulness of the grange will be
in proportion to its numbers. A dozen
much in a business way !; a hundred or two
of the most conspicuous ones hereabouts,
acting heartily together, could accomplish
all they desired to. They would be a felt
power. They might not be willing to main
tain a dozen or more retail trade establish
ments in a small village like ours, but they
would sustain as many rs were necessary.
They might not permit two or three store
proprietors to gain title deeds to a consid-
cradle part of the town, but they would per-
init to them as many as the public interest
required, or as would be for their own real
good. DO you fear that were the farmers
to combine generally and to a considerable
extent obtain their tools and supplies from
first hands and wholesale rates, the effect
would be to close up business places and
thus impede the growth Of villages II
such should prove to be the result, 1t wonlc
be a cause of congratulation, for even o
the town is everything and the country moth
ing, the growth Of cities and villages is con,
slant, while strictly rural districts retrograde
More pecuniary ability on the farm would
be Il public advantage. But If you woult
have it as it is, perhaps you would
advise us to give up our notiona of saving
and join you in the benevolent work o
maintaining two dozen stores in our village
with a double complement of fashionably
dressed clerks to wait on us. | do not be
lieve we can support adyantageously to our
selves the number we already have; at tn
same teme | doubt not we might labor 81
industriously, and cultivate a spirit of self
abnegation to that degree as even to supper
the double force of traders. But / do no
think it worth while to make the effort. TIL
notion that farmers must pay high retail
profits on all their supplies in order that al
excess of tradesmen beyond the public need
may live. or for fear that a village ma,
d%ilapidate, re utterly %repndiate.