STATE GEANOE OF ILLINOIS. 28 



I resigned, there would liave been no one else who could furnish 

 the desired information. In counseling with members high in 

 the Order, it was considered that it would be very injurious to 

 resign, and consequentl.y I determined to not desert the position 

 I accepted in good faith, but would go on in the disc'harge of 

 duty as well as I could. 1 did but little traveling in the first part 

 of the year, being once in Chicago and once in Bloomington. 

 Although it is more satisfactor}^ to have a personal interview 

 with manufacturers, I thought it best to make their acquaint- 

 ance by letter, and visit them afterward. I expected to perform 

 this duty in the less busy season. Under the arrangements 

 made by the Executive Committee, I had to abandon this part 

 of the programme, as I could not meet the expense. I made 

 a trip to Peoria at the time of the State Fair, where I saw many 

 manufacturers I wanted to visit, and had a very satisfactory 

 opportunity of examining implements and machiner}^ It being 

 still evident that we were not to have any change in our 

 purchasing sj^stem, I determined, as a last resort, to call a con- 

 vention of the County Agents at Galesburg, in November, and 

 try, if possible, to make such arrangements as would insure 

 success during the next season. This is all the traveling I felt 

 justified in doing. That meeting was very satisfactory to all 

 concerned, and the general plans recommended in this report 

 were heartily endorsed. 



By the accompanying report of receipts and expenses, y©u 

 will see that the commissions received since the 9th of June (at 

 which time the committee made the change) tall far short of 

 paying the bill of postage and stationery used in correspondence, 

 to say nothing about the time I have been actively engaged in 

 the work of the office. I believe the money received as com- 

 mission on purchases should be returned to the parties who 

 paid it. If we pay our dues to the State Grrange to defray the 

 expense of that branch of the Order, I claim that it is injustice 

 to fall back upon the membership to pay any of the State 

 officers from their own private funds. All agents and emplo,yees 

 should be paid a reasonable salary and then required to perform 

 the duties of their office without any additional compensation, 

 unless business increases so as to make the hiring of clerks 

 necessary. If commissions are paid, it opens the doors for 

 corruption and fraud to enter, and dissatisfaction must follow. 

 It is wrong to create any position that may pa}^ an unreasonably 

 high compensation for services rendered, or so poor a remunera- 

 tion that duty cannot be faithfully performed. If we preach 

 reform, let us practice it. 



I ask you, worth}^ Patrons of the State Grange, if you will 

 require me to perform the work I have done and go unpaid? I 

 accepted the offer first made, in good faith. The contract was 



