292 THE FARMER AS A COOFERATOR. 



"fraternity," which is one of the corner-stones of all secret 

 organizations. There can be no question of the effectiveness 

 of farmers' clubs as educating influences. They can do some 

 things to better advantage than any secret society. It seems 

 difficult, however, to devise any bond of union by which their 

 united influence can be exerted in state and national affairs. 

 Certainly there could be a state and national organization of 

 farmers' clubs, just as there is of political clubs, but the lack 

 of any rule of discipline common to all would be quite sure to 

 result in efforts to commit the organization to action on con- 

 troverted topics, which in turn would lead to disruption. 

 Tiie freedom of the meetings of the clubs would render this 

 the more certain to be attempted, and the more likely to 

 succeed. If this rock were escaped there would be that of the 

 lack of revenue. No society, secret or non-secret, can make 

 its influence felt outside the circle of its habitual attendants, 

 except by the expenditure of money. I am a member of one 

 farmers' club, and familiar with several. None of them have 

 any revenue of consequence, and the general opinion is that 

 any serious attempt to raise it from the membership would 

 merely break up the clubs. Some clubs which have a large 

 nominal membership find themselves entirely unable to con- 

 tribute to the small expenses without which no popular move- 

 ment can make any progress. The early meetings of farmers' 

 clubs are likely to be well attended and interesting. After 

 a time the regular attendants who can talk or write have said 

 to each other about what they have to say; there is no ritual 

 to occupy a little time; no "initiations" to prepare for and 

 carry through; there is seldom the fraternal feeling which, in 

 a hearty rural community, is apt to find expression in the 

 loaded boards of the "Harvest Feast," which invariably brings 

 out the membership; there are no "communications" from 

 superior authorities suggesting discussion or action for the 

 common weal; there are no visits from state or national 

 officers to renew interest and inspire to effort. In the absence 

 of all these tlie tendency is for tiie attendance at farmers' clubs 

 to gradually fall off, until the local press no longer deems 

 them worthy of attention, for dues to become delinquent, and 



