THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 473 



money of the articles desired in cash. These are sent 

 to the State agent, who forwards them to the manufac- 

 turer, with instructions for the shipment of the pur- 

 chases direct to the purchasers. 



The Grange thus makes it to the interest of the 

 dealer to sell to its members direct. A large cash order 

 is given, and the manufacturer or dealer is relieved of 

 the ordinary risks of business, while the farmer is 

 enabled to purchase his goods for much less than he 

 could formerly buy them. A single farmer, or a single 

 local organization of farmers, could effect nothing in this 

 respect, for they would be powerless to compete with 

 the middle-men or local dealers; but the trade of a 

 county or State is a valuable consideration, and the 

 manufacturer will make advantageous concessions to 

 secure it. 



Perhaps we cannot better illustrate this feature of 

 the Grange than by presenting here an account of the 

 successful inauguration of the cooperative system in 

 Iowa, where it has been tried with admirable results. 



" One of the first lessons which the Grange of this 

 State seeks to teach its members is to buy for cash, to 

 avoid as far as possible the purchase .of agricultural 

 machinery not absolutely needed, and when in rare in- 

 stances the farmer must buy implements for which he 

 cannot pay, to borrow the money outright, furnishing 

 the required security on his place, rather than to pur- 

 chase on three, four, or five years' credit, giving ' iron- 

 clad ' notes, and paying the enormous prices which are 

 always charged under such circumstances. This has 

 been no holiday job ; machinery-bankrupt as thousands 

 of the farmers have been, with their notes, given for 

 implements, in the hands of every sheriff of the State 



