STATE GKATs'GE OF ILLINOIS. 21 



to the manufacturers who have come out from combinations 

 and offer to adopt our theory, and any Patron who proves 

 untrue to his obligations, should be expelled from the Order. 

 We need none but loyal members in our warfare with the powers 

 that rob the farmer of his hard-earned money. A thorough 

 canvass should be made of each county that it may be ascer- 

 tained what number of implements are wanted. We see other 

 agents understand thi , and until we take hold of business in a 

 business way, let us not complain about our situation. 



Inquiry should be made in ever}^ Grange, not later than Sep- 

 tember each .year, how man.y and what kind of implements and 

 machines will be needed for the next year. These reports 

 should be immediately sent to the County Agent who would 

 classify them and forward them to the State Agent, who would 

 report the whole amount to the manufacturer. In this way a 

 wholesale trade can be made up that will bid defiance to all com- 

 binations, and totally subdue the haughtiness of ''rings/' It 

 will present a trade that will command respect, and be sought 

 after, rather than be regarded with indifference or contempt. It 

 will also give manufacturers the information they need in laying 

 in stock. If they have to work on uncertainties, the purchaser 

 must pay for all the risk run. If they manufacture more than 

 is needed, they must dispose of what they do at such prices 

 as will pay interest and risk on stock in trade carried over to 

 another season. If they fall short of supplying the demand, 

 vexation and disappointment are in store for those who come 

 too late. 



These are statistics that can be obtained with as much 

 certainty in the Fall of the year as they can in the Spring, when 

 we are ready to begin . air work. If the State Agent is furnished 

 with orders from all the counties, he cannot fail to purchase 

 supplies at the lowest possible rates, and shipping in large quan- 

 tities the lowest freight rates can be obtained. 



In order to secure the concentration of trade needed, all must 

 be willing to surrender some of his preferences for what he has 

 been accustomed to using. It cannot be expected that every 

 one can be favored with exactly what he wants. It is not wise 

 to be too tenacious, when it is a fact that the goods we have to 

 offer are as good as the best sold by our opponents. Of all the 

 goods purchased through the Grange during the past year, I have 

 heard of but one complaint, and in that case the article was 

 returned to the manufacturer. I have received many letters from 

 those who made purchases, and their testimony is that their 

 wares are better, or at least as good, as any offered by their 

 home trade. The efforts put forth by our opponents to prevent 

 the introduction of the manufactured articles sold through the 

 Grange, should be sufficient to convince the most incredulous 



