224 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



well-to-do saw his capital disappearing ; while the one with 

 small means sold out and went West to seek that market 

 which a new, rapidly-developing country always affords. 

 Eailroad companies consolidated ; they grew rich, and had 

 to water their stocks, to keep clown the dividends to a figure 

 which would not call up blushes of shame to the manipula- 



The Monopolists Mistake NOT the type of the Farmer. 



tors. Meantime, the farmers needs become more and more 

 pressing. Money they must have, and their crops were sold 

 at a loss. Even the less thoughtful began to wonder where 

 the robbery was going to cease. &quot; Let us organize,&quot; became 

 the cry. 



Early in 1869, the agitation began to assume definite 

 shape. Local meetings were held in many districts, and 

 plans were mooted (though all but despairingly, in some 

 cases) for a general organization similar to the Trades 

 Unions, which, in England, and to a smaller degree in the 

 United States, were obtaining great power, in some instances 



