18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Graiio^e, and so far as we were concerned, was a private business 

 of which we had no right to inquire. 



Of those who reported, eleven were doing business upon the 

 plan of sending for goods when ordered, known as the Order 

 Plan. Every one of these are reported unsatisfactory, and many 

 are about to incorporate under the statute. Four are doing 

 business on the '' Sample Room Plan." These are reported even 

 more unsatisfactory than the first mentioned. 



Eight have been incorporated; have been doing business, on an 

 average, nine months at the time of reporting. Have an aggre- 

 gate capital of $30,000, a large part of which was not received 

 until late in the season. Probably not more than half the amount 

 has been in use during the time covered by the reports. With 

 this small amount we could not expect to transact a heavy 

 business, yet sales to the amount of $210,000 have been made, and 

 in every case the business was reported on the increase, and the 

 result satisfactory. The more successful of these stores seem to 

 be those in Peoria, Stephenson, Coles, McLean and Cumberland 

 counties. While we would recommend this manner of conduct- 

 ing business agencies, yet we believe a fuller recognition should 

 be given to the vital principle of co-operation, which we under- 

 stand to be the division of the profits after paying the running 

 expenses, including the usual rate of interest on the paid stock 

 upon the amount of the purchases. By adopting this principle 

 competition as to prices is avoided, which is always annoying 

 and often disastrous to new enterprises, and the temptation to 

 conduct this business too much in the interest of the stock- 

 holders, who should receive the usual rate of interest, and no 

 more, for the use of their money is removed. With this principle 

 fully recognized, honesty and ability combined in the manage- 

 ment, we believe these enterprises may be undertaken with more 

 than ordinary assurances of success. W hen local co-operation 

 is secured in this direction, wholesale or distributing depots 

 will follow as a matter of growth. Thus may a thorough and 

 permanent sfjsfein of co-operation be established which will not 

 only become a means of relief to the farmer class, but another 

 bond of union in our beloved Order. 



The condition of the Order throughout the State would seem 

 to require more active labor on the part of the Lecturer. We 

 would recommend that this officer be allowed a sufficient com- 

 pensation for his time, and that his traveling expenses be paid 

 by the Grange or Granges desiring his services. We believe this 

 plan will prove beneficial to the Order generally, and profitable 

 to the State Grange. 



We have herein called your attention to only a few of the 

 many subjects of vast importance that will claim your considera- 

 tion. Trusting you will be able by your own personal observa- 



