Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-03
in IRELAND'S AID.
Mr.. Plunkett On the Agricultural
Organization Society.
Its Methods for improving the Condition
of Farmers and What Has Been
Accomplished.

New York, Jan. Fright Hon. Hor-
ace Plunkett, NJ P, chairman of the
Irish Agricultural Organization Society,
who is now visiting the United States,
has contributed to the January number
of the North American Review, which
will be issued tomorrow, an account of
the efforts that have been made since
the death of Mr. Parnell to further the
cause of Ireland through the develop
ment of her commercial and industrial
resources. This new movement Mr..
Plunkett points out, depends for its sue
cess upon the cooperation of Irishmen
who are politically opposed to each 9th
er, and 1t has the means Of bringing to-
gether in a common endeavor promi-
nent men of the most diverse political
factions.
The conviction out of which the new
movement arose was that the Irish diff
ficulty has long been rather economic
than political, and that it is so more
than ever today.
Solve the economic problem says
Mr.. Punkett, "and in the process the
Irish people will be so elevated and
llclitQ THAT lIGS Will NC ebiC ~
solve the political problem for them
selves
Being entirely practical in their aims
and processes, the patriots who inaug-
urated this new ovement sought sug-
gestions and Inspirations in countries
where similar efforts had already been
made. Commissioners were sent to Den
mark, to Germany, to France and other
countries on the continent to observe
the results of attempts made to organ
ize Industries of various kinds, and the
work of the Irish Agricultural Organi-
cation Society was pursued along the
lines suggested by the representations
of the commissioners.
The program of the refoimers is based
upon the principle of voluntary associa-
tion for industrial purposes, and the at
tempt made is to give practical effect
to this principle, by the establishment
of societies of farmers for common ad-
vantage. The success which has at
tended the work has been most encour-
aging.
The Irish Agricultural Organization
Society, representing almost all classes
of Irshmen, was formed to provide
funds for carrying on the movement
and 1t has been instrumental in estab-
fishing some ITO of these farmers So
cieties in Ireland, scattered throughout
81 of the 80 counties, with an aggregate
membership or some lf,UUO.
These societies. says Mr.. Plunkett,
s'var.ously embrace every branch of the
farming industry, They cheaper pro-
ducton by the joint purchase of seeds,
implements, machinery and other re-
Quirements of their industry. In dali
rying districts they erect creameries,
which they show a capacity to operate
for their own profit. They jointly sell
what they produce with a view to saw
ing middle profits. They are in many
districts applying the principle of CO.
operation to agricultural finance, and
are thus securing a great reduction Of
interest upon farm loans. The advant-
ages derived from combination of in
dividuals is enhanced by joint action
between societies."
Mr.. Plunkett says that it is only lack
of funds sufficient to send organizers
qualified to educate bodies of farmers
who are ready to listen to them in al
most every parish Of Ireland, which de-
lays the universal adoption of the new
scheme. and he calls attention to the
fact that in providing the means to ac-
complish this purpose, a splendid op-
portunfty Is open for some wealthy
lover of Ireland to confer upon her peo-
pie an incalculable boon.