30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



journals were kindly opened to me. To them, then, you owe a 

 debt of gratitude. Since then I have not traveled any except to 

 the meeting of county agents at Ottawa in September, and to 

 the present meeting. 



At the meeting of the committee about the last of September, 

 they passed a resolution requiring all the expenses of the State 

 Agency, for work, postage, stationery, etc.. to not exceed $5.00 

 per week, giving economy as the reason. With the work that 

 came to me I could not obey strictly this mandate, and was 

 obliged to put in more time and expend more money. I, how- 

 ever, obeyed as closely as I thought safe, yet had to let much 

 work go by unattended to. 



I am well aware that any proposition that comes before us 

 clad in the robes of ecouinny, goes far toward covering up 

 faults, and making it popular. It is easily crowded past, and 

 we hasten on to the next matter when it would have been wis- 

 dom to have stopped and considered it well. If, in these 

 instances, economy was the true plea, it is among the inexpli- 

 cable mysteries Avhy they failed to put the same construction 

 upon their own salaries and contingent expenses. If, indeed, 

 the State Grange is so near bankrupt that it has to repudiate its 

 own contracts, I recall all I have said, and with the same sacred 

 and heartfelt devotion I have ever cherished for this noble insti- 

 tution, I come and lay my humble oifering in the shape of cur- 

 tailed remuneration for labor on the altar and depart in peace, 

 trusting that there will be magnanimity enough on the part of 

 all who have financial interests at stake to come and do likewise. 



During the year I have received for m}' labor, up to the lith 

 of this month $492.50, and for expenses for printing, postage, 

 stationery, traveling and exchange paid on money forwarded, 

 $286.25, making a total of $760.75. Laboring under these dif- 

 ficulties, and being unable to bring about a reformation in the 

 system so unwisely forced upon us, I feel it my duty to say in vin- 

 dication of myself I am not to blame for the thousands of dol- 

 lars lost to the Patrons of Husbandry in Illinois during the 

 past year. 



I would plead with you to not leave this State Grange until 

 you are prepared to announce to your constituents that all past 

 obstructions in the way to receiving full benefits in purchasing 

 are forever removed. You know there is deadness at home. Let 

 the representatives here go as missionaries all over the State and 

 rally our forces. 



I would recommend the changing of Sec. 10, Art. 5, of the 

 By-Laws to read " two years'''' instead of one, for the purpose of 

 giving your agent a better opportunity to arrange ahead with 

 manufacturers. Neither can any farmer afford to leave his in- 

 terests on the farm for but one year. 



