26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



on my price list, much dissatisfaction was expressed. What do you 

 now think of the County Agencies laying in whole stocks from 

 them ? If the test of fidelity is based upon the precepts laid down 

 by the State Grange two years ago, I dou!)t if there are more than 

 three or four Grange stores of the Patrons of Husbandry in 

 Illinois. I, in obeying the directions of the State Grange, could 

 not purchase their selection of implements if the orders had 

 been sent to me. 



There is an all-important principle involved in this that you 

 must decide at this time. Whether we shall stand by our first 

 pledges to patronize those who came to us in the hour of need, 

 or abandon our true friends when the prejudices of some of our 

 members call for the forbidden fruit. If we depart from our 

 first principles we forfeit all claim to future confidence, while 

 on the other hand, if we decide to hold to our first declaration of 

 principles, we condemn the action of the county agencies. For 

 my part, I Avould urge the maintenance of the true foundation 

 first laid down, and would patronize those only who recognize 

 us as a Worthy Order, and desire to obtain our trade only through 

 the legitimate channels of the Order. They should not be 

 accepted as loyal to our cause until they offer fair prices through 

 the State Agent, and allow him to publish terms and sell to 

 Patrons thi-oughout the State. 



If we unite our orders your State Agent can offer a trade that 

 will command respect, and insure prices vastly lower than have 

 yet been offered. To illustrate. I was told by a manufacturer 

 that a 14 inch double-shin turning plow does not cost over $8.50 

 to manufacturers. Presuming that the manufacturer should have 

 a profit of 50 per cent., we could pay it and still have a margin 

 of from $2.00 to 82.50 inside of the best wholesale cash prices 

 yet offered. On the quantity of plows bought from one firm 

 alone this year, at these rates, we could have saved $10,000. 

 The same principle holds good in every article used in the house 

 or on the farm. 



If there had been monthly communications from your leaders 

 to the Subordinate Granges, there would be more life among the 

 members. The almost unbroken silence of the chosen leaders 

 for the past year has had a bad influence. I have insisted upon 

 a change in this respect, hoping the Executive Committee would 

 furnish this means of imparting information that I believe should 

 be constantly sent out Ijy them in connection with the Secre- 

 tary and State Agent. 



This is the practice in other States, and there is probably no 

 other better means of keeping up that spirit of enterprise, unity 

 and success, we so much need. 



Failing in my efforts to open communication with you in this 

 way, I applied to the editors of the Prairie Farmer and Western 



