92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



watching the drift in agricultural circles, we do not realize 

 what competition means in the great marts of trade ; and, 

 failing here, do not apply the lessons as we should. I say, 

 again, the man who enters business to-day, observing closely 

 the conditions and standards of ten years ago, invites ruin, 

 and will be sure of a permanent guest. Profits have been 

 dropping, dropping, dropping, by reason of competition, 

 until now they are found in the mills, not cents, and in the 

 discounts for cash. 



Right here may be found one of the conditions for success. 

 If, as I have attempted to show, the margins on farm prod- 

 ucts have been dropping because of competition, the first 

 lesson seems naturally to be to combine in competing for 

 what may be secured. Right or wrong, and the justice or 

 injustice of the question, we will not pause to discuss ; com- 

 petition must meet competition, combinations must be made 

 against combinations, organizations must be pitted against 

 organizations ; and here is the first condition for success to 

 which I would urge attention. In the few minutes allotted 

 me, I can only hint at thoughts I would be pleased to elab- 

 orate. All through the business world men are turning to 

 organization as a means of relief. Boards of trade, trusts, 

 brotherhoods, trade unions, — all these but represent the 

 same idea, that through co-operation — a mutual coming 

 together — better results may be secured. 



I am not here to-day to speak especially for organization, 

 though it must be reckoned one of the first conditions for 

 success ; but I should be false to every consideration, false 

 to my obligations to my brother farmers, false to my man- 

 hood, if I failed to call attention to the grand work which 

 the order of Patrons of Husbandry is doing in my own 

 State, and the assistance it has been to farmers in helping 

 solve this great problem. My life for the past few years 

 has largely been spent on the farms, and in the farm-homes 

 of Maine ; and wherever the grange has established its home, 

 and lifted its halls, as it has all over the State, it has not 

 only offered the opportunity, but, by the faithful labors of 

 the patrons, it is securing substantial results. You may 

 have your farmers' clubs or other organizations ; but I tell 

 you farmers of New England that to-day more can be 



