Year: 1874

State Purchasing Agent to the


Grangers.


We extract the following from q COM
nuiiication published in the Prairie
Farmer from the Illinois state pur-
chasing agent.


Never sinae the oranges have been
organized did the members of the order
occupy such a responsible position as
they do at present. Starting out with
the theory that SO Far as the purchasing
of farm supplies was concerned, that
the long 1itcs of iniddlemen could be
dispensed with, and that more dire ct
trade, and consequently a less expen-
siYe aystera cot.ld ee adopted, we formed
ORGANIZATIONS all over the state with
rapidity that surpassed our most san
guine anticipatiens,. We promised nan
ufaoturers .ehab those of them who
wouId dismiss their agents who were
overrunning the country in the fine car
riages and with fast horses, forcing
sales in the most expensive manner (an
of which came out of the farmers
pocket } that w3 would supply theFde.
feet by contracting our trade and giving
it to them in preference Ae ell the 9th
ers. With pTelnp5ness that was fiat
tering to tho feasibility Of its proposi-
ton, many of the manufacturers, from
all parts of the country, offered to meet
us upon that platform, giving us the
usual discounts allowed to the trade,
thereby talking the business odS of the
hands OF n1iddlemen and depending
upon the integrity of the order to fulfill
their promises. It needs no phlloso-
phical argument to convince any one
that the manufacturers acting in this
way incurred the united displeasure OF
those belonging to ''rings," together
with that of the whole army of agents
on both sides. This inaugurated
fierce contest.


No sooner was this move discovered
than the rings" ard their agents low
cred the prices of their goods to those
offered by our manufacturers, at the
same time boasting that they would
break down the system by decoying the
trade away from those who dealt with
us. To more efectually accomplish
this, many OF them sold goods during
the past season at even lower prices
than had yet been offered to us. Some
of the boldest of them have declared
that they will sell at even less than
cost for time, depending upon making
up for it in future trade, when they
drive MS from our position. There are
hundreds of thousands of dollars band
ed against us this year to accomplish
this end. As a general thing they have
the heaviest capitalists on their side,
and, as ii is matter of life or death to
them, they will fight us desperately.
They know full well that We do not
hold out compromising hand to them,
Il hot
so far that they cannot give up while
there is a ray of hope, and consequent
Iy it must be fought out on this line.
Some of them attempt to decoy us
away from our standard by assuring us
that they can n manufacture goods cheap
er. now than formerly, and the price
need not be as high. we know this is
| not SO to any great extent, as material
and labor and interest on money are
about as high as ever. If, too, they
were in earnest why do the ''rings" fight
us and our principles so bitterly?


Strange. indeed, that their converse
tion did not take place until they saw
us in a situation to throw off the gall
ing woke and maintain our independ-
enee. Strange, too, that in localities
where the pressure is not so great, that
| their conversation is not as complete as
| il is here.


So far then as the Patrons in Illinois
| are concerned, they have accomplished
all they started ont for, and; now the
ground they fought for is theirs. The
| question now comes to every one, will
you retain it, or will you forfeit it?
| This is a question fuller of meaning
| than mere common interrogatOries.
Hence the assertion made by me in the
first sentence of this article. If you
say You mean to occupy the position
you now do, it is done only upon the
fact that you fulfill to the very letter
your promise to give your support to
those who came out from the old system
of agencies and declared themselves
with US. Before this change we had no
responsibility. We were mere tools in
the manufacturers hands to gather in
the wealth of the country to the tills OF
"rings." -,


1t is not sufficient to say now that it
is no matter where you purchase, since
machinery, ETC., is as low outside as IN
side the order. If in many instances
this is the case, plesa tell me to whom
is the reduction due? Then let every
true Patron stand by the stars and
stripes of the grange, and see that the
banner that led us to victory is not for
! pOtten