18 PROCEEDIlSrGS OF THE 



which manufacturers and representatives of the Order would 

 have a better opportunity of becoming acquainted, and of 

 m-parting and receiving a correct knowledge of the merits 

 of what was offered us, than by having an exhibition of 

 implements at that time. 



Consequently. I issued a card of invitation to manufacturers 

 and others, who had given us favorable terms, or wished to, to 

 come there with samples. At the same time I urged the Granges 

 to be sure that their counties should be represented at that 

 meeting. The result was that many of the supplies named in 

 my price lists were on exhibition, and also, some that had not 

 been offered before. 



It was not long after this until I had a large lot of terms on 

 articles frequently asked for by members of the Granges, and as 

 I had some instruction to impart for the good of the Order, I 

 issued a third price list and circular letter. Before this, I pub- 

 lished a card in the St. Louis papers, setting forth the progress 

 of the organization in the southern counties, and asked manu- 

 facturers there to give us terms that would be an inducement 

 to trade instead of bringing supplies from a distance. We now 

 have liberal ofPers from them, and the Patrons in that part of 

 the State will receive decided advantages. I did not issue any 

 more price lists, although I now have quite a large lot of prop- 

 ositions received since then. It would afford me much pleas- 

 ure could I report that our purchasing has been a success, but 

 I am compelled to sa}' it has not. It has failed to meet the 

 expectations of either the Patrons or manufacturers. I will 

 endeavor to point out the defects of our present system, and 

 suggest plans for its improvement. 



The lateness of the season at which I was appointed made it 

 impossible to arrange business for the Spring trade. The local 

 agents all over the country had, by the first of February, all 

 their territor}^ occupied, and a full supply of implements 

 engaged for the year, while we were only beginning work that 

 should have been completed three months earlier. The 

 "rings"' were determined to oppose us by every means in their 

 power, and did not hesitate to offer their goods at less than cost 

 rather than suffer us to introduce our wares at wholesale prices, 

 hoping in this way to lead the trade away from manufacturers 

 who offered us terms, throw their stock in trade back on their 

 hands, and compel them to either leave the field or join their 

 combinations. Added to this, they had samples to show their 

 customers. They were emboldened in their work, too, by 

 knowing that maL-y of their opponents were men of small 

 means, and would not be able to stand a long contest. They 

 were pressed into these extremes by knowing that, unless they 

 diverted the Grange trade from its proper channels, their manu- 



