484 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



would {2;ive substantial relief, they should not overlook those items of 

 puhlic; cxponso whicli may I'ensonably incroaso the afi<?re<i:ato amount to 

 be liiiscd. Ollicial salaries should be in accordance with Ihe abilities 

 reipiired and (he value of the work to be jierformed. Econom,y in manage- 

 ment of all public institutions and legislative sessions. Also a judicious 

 care over aj>propriations should ])e demanded. The lai'ge majority of lax- 

 payers ai"e forced to si rid economy in all their ailairs, and especially in 

 the expenditure of money. Therefore extravagance in the mana*gemen.t 

 of any of the j^eople's affairs should not go uncriticised. 



F<H* Ihese reforms and to encoui-age that interest in public affairs 

 which will make our people well infoiined therein, our order should use 

 its sti'ongest influence. No partisan bias should be permitted to deter 

 our mend)ers from doing that which is light and in presenting a solid 

 fi'ont in these requests. 



PURE FOOD. 



No work of the Grange is more gratifying than Ihat put forth in the 

 interest of having enacted laws foi- the protection of our honest food 

 producers from unfair and disastrous competition and at the same time 

 to assuie the i)urchaser and consumer that he gets what he asks, desires 

 and pays for, and further to permit the consumer who desires or prefers 

 the cheap oi* adnIl<M'at(Hl articles to buy at their true value. The work 

 in Michigan has but fairly commenced, and so valuable is it to both con- 

 sumer and producer that the system cjui never be abolished, but instead, 

 the laws will be perfected and their jiow^ers extende<l and the field of 

 work for the Food Commissioner enlarged. 



COOPERATION. 



Allliough Ihe term apjdies to every feature of (Jrange woi'k, its con- 

 sideiafion here has a more especial reference to co-ojterative trade. The 

 farmei-, to be successful, must reduce cost of ])roduction to a minimum, 

 buy at the cheapest and sell at the highest prices obtainable. 



In doing this he imiy consider and use the world as his market place. 

 There is no law, UKual or otherwise, in oi)eration, to dictate that the 

 farmer shall sell or buy only through prescribed channels. Moreover, it 

 is a. duty to investigate for himself and to a<-t in accordance with the 

 plan tiuit will leave tor him the best net results. The social standing 

 of the farmer and his family de]>ends upon his success in business. The 

 amount and kind of schooling, books, clothing, advantages and oi)]>or- 

 tunities that may be fuinished de])ends u])on the degree of succf^ss that 

 follows his elfcu'ts m<»asui*ed in dollars. 



SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



One of tlu' important movements formerly instituted at the National 

 Orange was that to secure^ the appointment of Col. J. H. Brigham, master 

 of the National (ii'ange, to.tlu^ i)osition of Seci'ctai'v of Agriculture, and 

 as such, to a i»Iace in the l*resident's cabiiK^. The t^hnation of the 

 National DepartnuMit of Agricultui-e so that its secretary may have a 

 voice in the highest councils of the nation w^as first proposed and urged 

 to tinaJ success by the Orange. This de]»artment, having in its keeping 

 the geneial interests and wellfare of farmers, should be presided over 



