Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-18
co.op.ratIon.

Worthy Master, Brothers and Sisters of
the Maine State Grange:
Your committee find in considering the
subject of cooperation. that it is the
great UNDERLYING principle of all pro-
gress. From the simplest forms of life.
of society," of trade. of government to
the most perfectly developed forms of
today. We find simply a more perfect and
complete appreciation of the true prin-
ciples of cooperation.
We find it perfectly carried out in ma
ture. The blade of grass for Its growth
requires the cooperation of light, heat
moisture, and the necessary elements of
fertility. and he who causes two blades
to grow where only one grew before, sim
ply co-operates with these elements to a
fuller national development. In animal
life from the simplest forms of being to
the best educated and most cultured
man of today. We find this same system:
and the better developed the animal. and
the more cultured the man. there We find
the better cooperation of the elements.
faculties. and surroundings which help to
develop such being.
Cooperation underlies all trade and
commerce. The failure of transportation
companies and spectators to cooperate
with producers and consumers to bring
about a perfect and economical trade re-
lation, has been and Is now a just cause
for complaint, and should call forth the
hearty cooperation, not only of all pa
irons, but of every lover of right and jas
tee in the country. and to interfere, with
their rights as corporations and individ-
uals. but to demand and insist that they
do not infringe upon the rights of others.
The grange has done great work In
this direction by securing the passage of
laws, not only favorable to the farmers
but inst to the whole community. This
is cooperation in it's broadest and truest
meaning. The continued prosperity of
any industry of our country depends
upon the prosperity of every other indus
try.
Through the cooperation of Patrons of
4 IllSbHpflrV from n
country comes a better knowledge of the
condition and needs of the people, and
with it the spirit of fraternal interest,
and brotherly love that breaks down
sectional strife and jealousies, making
1t possible for many questions of vital
Importance to us as patrons to be taken
out of partisan politics and discussed ana
settled upon their own merits.
In many of our states arrangements
have been made to bring about closer
trade arrangements. While the grange
was not instituted as a money making
organization, still il is our Judgment that
the grange should take advantage of
every opportunity that presents itself to
save money for its members. We would
not advise the general establishment of
stores by subordinate oranges, for our
experience shows it to be dangerous to
the best interest of the order. However,
there are grange stores today doing
good business, saving money to the
members and being a source of revenue
to the grange. We have in Portland ii
especial benefit of patrons: and we
would advise that every grange, where it
is practicable. club their oriers or sup
plies. and procure them from this store.
thus saving to themselves the profits of
the retail dealers. We are aware of the
fact that other Wholesale dealers would
gladly fill these orders and will often un
dersell, even at loss, in an attempt to
cripple and eventually kill ont our bust
ness II we would continue to ourselves
this benefits, if We are true to our own
interests as patrons we shall not be led
away by these delusive offers. but stand
firmly by our own institutions In the
matter of selling, it is the judgment of
your committee. that the greatest need
of aggressive cooperation is to secure
just treatment in the markets of the
world for our surplus farm products.
We always have surplus of cotton.
corn. wheat beef. pork. and apples that
must seek foreign market. But there
is such unjust discrimination between
our product and the Canadian product,
both in our only means of transportation
via English steamship lines and in the
markets of England. us to make this sur
plus Improbable to the producers of
this country and unduy expensive to the
foreign consumer. This condition of af-
fairs calls for protest from the produ-
GERS. that should Immediately receive
the hearty cooperation of the executive
department at washington by using
every means within it's power to stop
this unjust discrimination and exorbitant
charges. 1t is the unanimous opinion of
this committee that the interests of Pa
irons of Husbandry and all other pro-
ducers of this country can best be sub
served by the establishment of Ameri-
can steamship lines to compete in our
foreign carrying trade; and that this
State grange should ask the cooperation
of every other State grange. through
our national organization. to secure the
passage of laws necessary to the es-
Establishment Of such lines.