MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE. 345 



vanced age be without intelligence and command the respect and admira- 

 tion of society? The mere "dirt groveller" belongs to the barbaric age; 

 sonl and brain form an excellent combination for the present civilization. 



The work of Farmers' organizations socially, morally, educationally and 

 legislatively cannot be estimated. But financially, there is much left un- 

 done. The farmer is controlled hand and foot by other organizations; 

 and he will continue to be until he rises in his gigantic might and de- 

 mands his just rights. 



The Board of Trade not only fixes the grade upon the wheat the farmer 

 grows, but by the pounding and fighting of the "bulls" and "bears" fixes 

 the price also, while at the same time the farmer supports both animals 

 with a good living, and pays the fiddlers engaged for the dance, by a 

 deduction from the price his crops should bring. The salt trust fixes the 

 price of a barrel of salt to the farmer. No manufacturer of salt that is 

 not in the ring can succeed — he is boycotted. The sugar trust virtually 

 controls the price of sugar ; the oil syndicate the price of illuminating oils ; 

 the lumber organization controls at least the sale of lumber in a manner 

 so that if a farmer wants to buy a carload of lumber he will have to get 

 it from the agent, paying him a profit, or else buy it at his retail price. 

 It is time for farmers' organizations to become better informed as to the 

 extravagant expenditures of money without adequate returns. Many 

 of the organizations mentioned are necessary and productive of much 

 good, and this is true of all of them no doubt, so far as related to purposes 

 for which they were formed. Only a few of the many organizations exist- 

 ing have been mentioned and these have been named mainly to prove more 

 forcibly the necessity of farmers' organizations to protect their interests. 



Organization or co-operation is today the lever that moves the world. 

 We have two grand State organizations for farmers. They are working 

 on parallel lines, dealing with every day problems. They look towards 

 the future, and are means of untold good. The interests, the aims, and 

 the hopes are mutual; and there is mutual fellowship and brotherhood 

 between the two organizations. 



But the end is not yet. Why should not the greatest reforms and the 

 most potent influences for good origmate in our organization? It is, 

 however, only by concerted action that the desired results can be obtained. 



The association is officered as follows : 



Oflicers. 



President — Hon. I. R. Waterbury, Highland Station. 

 Vice-President — Mrs. J. G. Adams, Oakwood. 

 Secretary — Miss Julia Ball, Hamburg. 

 Treasurer — Mrs. Anna Edwards, Jackson, R. F. D. No. 1. 



Directors. 



J. T. Daniells, St. Johns, R. F. D. No. 1, term expires 1903. 



C. M. Flumerfelt. Rochester, term expires 1903. 



L. C. Barer, Wolf Creek, term expires 1904. 



Capt. W. M. Horton, Fowlerville, term expires 1904. 



A. L. Chandler, Corunna. term expires 1905. 



E. H. Richey, Vassar, R. F. D. No. 3, term exires 1905. 



JULIA BALL, 

 44 Secretary. 



