CO-OPERATION OF INDEPENDENT, ETC. 16? 



dice public opinion against all combinations of farmers. At 

 first, many of the politicians and political editors were 

 especially anxious to assist in working out the problems 

 that agitated the agricultural masses. The more sensible 

 of them are now inclined to allow these organizations to 

 manage their own affairs. This is especially true of the 

 Granges, and for a cogent reason, namely, they can not, to 

 use a slang phrase, get the inside track. 



One of the leading journals of Chicago, which, when not 

 indecent or vulgar, is bitterness itself, in calling attention 

 to the meeting of the Illinois Farmers Association which 

 held its annual session at Decatur, on the 16th of December 

 last, headed a double-leaded leader on the subject, &quot;Agri 

 cultural Jackasses,&quot; and rounded it off with &quot;Dam phool;&quot; 

 by such terms referring to men like Professor Turner, W. C. 

 Flagg, and others of justly high standing for intelligence and 

 philosophical breadth of mind. 



If these men are not capable of discussing questions re 

 lating to agriculture, and agricultural interests, as connected 

 with national or political economy, it is not probable that 

 the penny-a-liner of the Chicago Times will ever shine 

 in that direction. That journal might well be proud if its 

 entire staff possessed a moiety of the scholarly attainments 

 that belong to either of the two working farmers above 

 named. 



