68 THE AGRARIAN CRUSADE 



organization. The stock of these stores wa^ sold 

 only to Patrons, at five dollars a share and in 

 limited amounts; thus the stores were owned by 

 a large number of stockholders, all of whom had 

 equal voice in the management of the company. 

 The stores sold goods at ordinary rates, and then at 

 the end of the year, after paying a small dividend 

 on the stock, divided their profits among the pur- 

 chasers, according to the amounts purchased. 

 This plan eliminated the violent competition which 

 occurred when a store attempted to sell goods at 

 cost, and at the same time saved the purchaser 

 quite as much. Unfortunately the Rochdale plan 

 found little favor among farmers in the Middle 

 West because of their unfortunate experience 

 with other cooperative ventures. In the East and 

 South, however, it was adopted more generally and 

 met with sufficient success to testify to the wis- 

 dom of the National Grange in recommending it. 

 In its attitude toward manufacturing, the Na- 

 tional Grange was less sane. Not content with the 

 elimination of the middlemen, the farmers were 

 determined to control the manufacture of their 

 implements. With the small manufacturer they 

 managed to deal fairly well, for they could usually 

 find some one who would supply the Grange with 



