The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-11-29

the Kentucky riding and walking cultiva
tor Climax reaper and mower, and sever
al other articles of farm machinery. That
they had published tract upon the prin-
ciples and management of cooperative
stores, based upon an example that has
been in successful operation for several
years in this country, but they question
whether or not the conditions of success
exist to any great extent among the men,
bers of the Order, that where large man.
ufacturing establishments are in operation
these stores have been advantageously
managed, but where population is scant
and widely distributed experience will be
required to modify existing methods.
They further said, and very truthfully, i'll
respect to cooperation, that success will
be in exact,proportion to the sincere inter-
est that each individual member of the
Order takes in carrying out its minutest
details.
At the Louisville session, in 1875, the
Executive Committee reported that IN
some States the agencies were doing
large business-some on the usual COM
mission destitute of cooperation, and some
paid by salaries from State Oranges; that
they had recommended the abolition of
commission agents; that in their judgment
uniform system of business cooperation
might be inaugurated; and later during
the session our worthy brother Jones,
from this committee, reported, correspond
ence had taken place between the Eng
fish Cooperative Union and the Commit
tee, inviting the Order of Patrons of Hus-
bandry to cooperate with them IN the in
auguratien of a system of international
exchange between the co-operators of
England and the Mississippi valley. This
subject they report was referred to sub
committee, who in turn reported: First,
that there was an ardent desire among the
subordinate Oranges for active co-opera
ton in business enterprises; second, that
they pledged to their brothers across the
Atlantic their readiness to cooperate
with them in all laudible efforts to secure
for productive industry its Just rewards;
to restore honest dealings in all CONNER
cial transactions, and to advance the NOR
al, material, and intellectual interests of
the masses of the people; third that they
approved of the Rochdale plan; fourth,
that it was important to procure from
England such printed rules, regulations,
articles of association and other writings
as might be deemed necessary, and have
so much printed as seemed advisable to be
distributed to the Executive Committees
of the States.
Still later in the session our worthy
Brother Chase, of this committee reported
the rules for the formation and govern.
ment of cooperative Associations, which
have been so generally circulated over the
country, and which were approved by the
National Grange at that time.
At the Chicago session, in 1876, worthy
Master Jones in his annual address advert
ed to the rules adopted in 1875 as being
part of the system of the societies of
Great Britain, and as such part would be
most valuable, but taken alone they are
disjointed link in chain, the perfection
of which by our British friends has been
the work of their educated, thinking,
practical men for the last thirty five years;
that these cooperative stores are without
head, like so many islands in the sea,
and without even boat plying from one
to the other, without that principle of
unity which is the life of cooperation and
the guiding star of humanity. With the
perfection of our system is the necessity,
he says, of educating our members in the
principles of cooperation.
In consequence of the interest taken by
the National Grange and the Executive
Committee, and the friendly messages re-
ceived from the societies of England, it
became expedient to send a special mes
senger to England to confer with the au-
thorities there, and to represent our ideas
and intererest in this connection. Brother
Wright was appointed such commissioner
and rendered important service in secur-
ing changes and notifications in the arti-
cles previously agreed upon, and the for
nation OF what was termed an Anglo
American Association. His report occu-
pies from page 40 to page o. in the pro-
ceedings of this session, and shows a great
amount of labor performed by him in be-
half of the subject of cooperation and
the dissemination of the aims and purpo-
ses of our Order. Later on in the session
at the instance of Brother Webster the
Interstate Co operative convention then
assembled were requested to appoint
committee on cooperation to adi ust differ
ences OF opinion and to perfect plans.
The Committee on the Masters address
through Brother Whitehead, reported that
the views therein contained, met with the
hearty approval of the committee; that the
greatest demand of our membership at the
present time, in all parts of the field, is
more real business cooperation, more uni
, tormlty in our business relations, more real
security in our transactions; that the i'm
portance of devising plans by the Nation
al Grange this session is great, and the
representatives of State Oranges should
impart instruction as to business princi-
pies to the members, and that State lee
turers should make it an especial duty to
perform this work. In closing their re-
port they use these words: we hold that
all successful cooperation must commence
at home. Patrons must first truly CO.
operate and work together in their own
neighborhood; then having become fully
versed in business and business principles.
they will be prepared for successful state,
interstate and inter national cooperation.
Following this the Executive Commit
tee reported they had published and dis
tributed several thousands of copies of
cooperative rules; that they would dis.