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Annual Report of the 
could possibly furnish any worse. It should be abolished or the 
attendance of all voters should be made compulsory. And the 
ballot should be made compulsory also. 
There is no reason why the citizens should enact the soldier un¬ 
der duress in times of public peril, while the voter, in equal peril, 
should be allowed to vote. 
There is no reason why the state should educate the growing cit¬ 
izen to fit him for voting and then lose it all by leaving it to his 
discretion. In allowing voters to absent themselves from the polls 
the rule of the majority becomes utterly impracticable. 
All these cardinal considerations, as well as the special, contained 
in the main drift of this paper can be studied and applied most 
effectively by organized effort. Indeed they are a part and parcel, if 
not constituting the foundation of all our grievances. Our hopes 
for justice and fair play being in the intelligent organized applica¬ 
tion of numbers to the remedy of abuses, we may as well strike at 
the source from whence they come. We may as well cut off all 
chances for rings and collusions by which results are manipulated 
in the primary transfer of public authority. We must at all times, 
and forever, say to the office-seeker, “stand aside till we call you,” 
for all experience proves that whoever is habitually found seeking 
public authority is seldom to be trusted with its exercise. In this 
great work, then, of securing to ourselves the just and equitable en¬ 
joyment of the fruits of our toil, it is expedient and proper to com¬ 
mence at the centre of the problem and patiently but promptly 
work it out to its utmost circumference. 
On motion of Secretary Field, half an hours’ time was set apart 
for the discussion of this paper. 
Mr. W ood. I believe I am in full harmony with the sentiments 
of the gentleman as to the importance of association and co-opera¬ 
tion among the farmers. But, as I have listened to his paper, it has 
struck me that all the remedies for the evils he has proposed, lie 
solely through political action; that is, we need to shape our laws 
to correct the evils that are pointed out here. And if to correct 
those evils, political action is required, must not this organization 
that he speaks of, be purety political in its aims? 
Mr. Young. I would say that my impression was at the time I 
wrote this paper, that it would not be absolutely necessary. 
Mr. Robbins. I would like to ask where the remedy for the ex- 
