300 Wisconsin state agricultural soceitt. 
the enormous per cent, now made by special and general agents 
would be broken down by this sharp competition. 
Mr. Graham said that the only secret society he ever joined 
was when he got married—that every man had to look after his 
own interests in this world, that no man, club, grange or other 
organization could do that for him, or furnish him with brains to 
manage and direct his business. He had started in the world 
without a cent and had held his own pretty well, but that he had 
gone on step by step from one occupation to another, feeling his 
way by thought and study, and he believed that the secret of 
success lay in a full knowledge of, and close application to one’s' 
business, with economical, frugal living. He believed these dis¬ 
cussions would do much good, as they stimulated thought and 
inquiry which were the very foundation of better things. 
Mr. Stoddard said that the paper read had given the objects and 
aims of the society, which was to better the condition of the far¬ 
mers of the state ; to make their calling pay better; and hence 
render it more honorable and make it an inducement for our edu¬ 
cated young men to follow the pursuit of farming as a profession. 
He thought there should be no superstitious feeling against the 
order. The secrets were necessary, in his judgment, to the effect¬ 
ive working of the society, and the predudice now existing, he 
believed, would soon be entirely removed. 
Mr. Sherman, of Rock county, said that all other trade interests 
were combining to protect themselves, and it was a matter of self 
protection for farmers as a class, to organize and combine, or this 
great producing interest would be trampled in the dust, and the 
workers of the soil would be mere vassals and slaves to other pur¬ 
suits, when in fact, farming should occupy the highest place among 
the avocations of the world. He gave a list of the trades and bus¬ 
iness interests in the state of Hew York, with the number of each 
society, and showed that their social and financial condition had 
been much improved by their co-operative and combined efforts, 
and that a like healthy and bettered condition was in store in the 
near future for the tillers of the soil, if they perservered in the 
good work so auspiciously begun by these industrial societies. 
Mr. Allen thought that association was one of the best modes of 
culture and for improving the mind; that these were times of 
