101 



buyers, the retail trade will be injured. There is a limit- 

 to which all such trading can be pushed, and beyond this 

 profitable inducement cannot be offered to the purchaser. 

 If a farmer wanted a hat, it is not probable there would 

 be eeonomy in attempting to induce the entire Grange to 

 join in and buy a hat each to save a few cents on the pur- 

 chase. And just so with innumerable other purchases 

 that each and every farmer has to make during the year. 

 These will always be sufficient to warrant a sufficiency of 

 retail trade to meet the demands of any community; but 

 beyond this there is no necessity for retail establishments; 

 and to-day there is in existence one-half more 'stores' 

 throughout the land than the legitimate mercantile wants 

 of the country demand, and if the half of them were 

 closed up by the general adoption of the principles of the 

 Grange, the country would be greatly benefited. 



"The purpose of our Order is to do the greatest good, not 

 only to the greatest number, but to all the people, and 

 when properly understood it will be clearly seen that the 

 Grange wages a warfare against no interests, but is equally 

 the support and help to the poor and the friend and co- 

 laborer of the rich." 



In conclusion, Worthy Master, Brothers and Sisters, re- 

 ceive my heartfelt thanks for the kind attention you have 

 given me, also for the fraternal zeal and spirit manifested 

 in the interests of the Order at large; and let us hope 

 your deliberations at this session will bring us a step for- 

 ward toward the bright beacon-light of Progress, gleam- 

 ing in the distance. 



Respectfully submitted, 



W. A. Hendricks. 



