THE FARMERS' POLITICAL LEAGUE. 229 



was formed temporarily in October, and permanently some 

 time later, with the following officers : F. A. Putnam of Dudley, 

 President ; G. M. Whitaker of 43 Merchants' Row, Boston, 

 Secretary ; J. C. Poor of North Andover, Treasurer. 



The League is not a secret organization. It has no ritual, 

 signs, grips, 'or passwords. It is confined to farmers alone. 

 The method of organization is simple in the extreme. 



The membership of the League is confined almost exclusively 

 to the States of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsyl- 

 vania, and New York, numbering in all something less than fifty 

 thousand. At present its efforts are directed to the better pro- 

 tection of dairy products against fraudulent imitations. While 

 it may accomplish beneficial results in that line, it is hardly 

 organized with a continuity of purpose, or fixed limits of action, 

 to become either large in numbers or effective in national 

 affairs. However, it is a move in the right direction, and should 

 be encouraged rather than depreciated in its work among the 

 farmers. Any organization that will assist in bringing the 

 farmer to a sense of duty in regard to his own relations to 

 society will do good, no matter in what form it may appear. 



