122 The State and the Farmer 



nate or contributory groups. It is a question 

 whether, in these new days, a yearly conven- 

 tion is sufficiently effective. The time has 

 come when we ought to distinguish between 

 conventions and organizations. The reason 

 why the grange is so very strong in the states 

 in which it is well organized, is because it is in 

 operation continuously. Association is as- 

 suredly the keynote of the future; but the 

 association of which I speak is very different 

 from the labor-union kind. 



The cooperative spirit is far broader than 

 that expressed in formal organizations. It is 

 also the basis of good government. 



Possible extent :f associative work. 



Every kind of organization that now exists 

 in the open country, and which can be readily 

 extended to the open country, may be made 

 the means of carrying the gospel of coopera- 

 tion, companionship and better farm life to 

 the persons who live on the land. A new 

 meaning must be given to societies. No so- 

 ciety should be maintained merely for the 



