St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-09-21
FARMERS AND ORGANIZATION,


to concerning the necessity OF organ
ling in their own behalf. This was
the burden of National Master
Brigham's address to his fellow
Changers at Lyndonville a short
time ago. He laid great stress on
the fact that, as other lines OF indus
try had successfully combined for
their own benefit, it was the bounden
dutv of the farmer to do the same.
Mr.. Brigham had nothing new to
tell the farmers on this subject
nothing more than they have had
preached to them from time to time
by other speakers and through nu-
merous publications-in fact, he adj
mitted that what he would say to
them on this occasion was in sub
stance but repetition of what he
told them in an address given sever
al years ago.
Now the farmers apparently do
not want, and will not have, organi-
alton in the sense in which certain
advocates use the term. This has
been proven over and over again, in
this state as well as in some others.
If the organization advocated by
the national master and Others
means combination for political and
business purposes, the extent to
which such Organization" is likely
to succeed is shown by the
record OF the erstwhile Farmers
League" of Vermont and the "Alli-
ance" in certain other states, and the
failure of numerous cooperative
stores and farmers exchanges. The
combination of any one class in
these directions, with no regard for
the interests of other classes, cannot
result successfully in the long run,
and is not to be urged or commend
ed, since interests are so closely in
terwoven that over-reaching on the
part of one class brings more or less
disaster upon the others. The far
mer, in common with the represen-
tative OF any other branch of indus
try, has within his individual reach
the means of effectively expressing
his political preference; and the
thrifty tiller of the soil has also at
his command all the business facili-
ties that are vouchsafed to Others.
So there is no call, it would seem,
for formal organization by which
the demands of the farmer shall be
enforced in fixed antagonism to-
wards the manufacturing and mer-
camille portions of the community.
And we believe that a large majority
OF the farmers take this view of the
matter, as proven by their lack of
interest in and failure to respond to
the emphatic calls which are issued
from time to time by would be or
ganizers.
True, there is maintained, in this
state and others, an order known as
the Patrons of Husbandry, which is
looked upon as farmers organiza.
ton. 1t must be remembered, how
ever, that not every farmer in the
state is Granger, nor every So
called Granger farmer The
Grange has nothing to do with poll
tics, does not go into business coer-
cion, and is operated mainly along
educational and social lines. Ii these
be the lines along which the nation
al master would direct his cry for
organization, then the cry should be
echoed and re-echoed, for when any
class combines for educational and
social purposes, good is sure to come
OF TIA benefit in which the whole
community shares. The farmer here
may well be in close touch with the
farmer there, and any combination
winch looks to the development of a
more intelligent cultivation of the
soil and more complete realization
OF the possibilities within the farm
ers' reach, is Organization" in the
best sense of the term.
Let us believe that just such or
ganization the national master had
IN mind, and let US hope that to-
wards a combination of this sort
the farmers of this and other sections
OF the state will press forward with
due earnestness.
TROUBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA.
A heavy war cloud hOyore o,,.