434 Wisconsin state agricultural society . 
of the farmer. Here legislation can only indirectly help. The 
present system of selling them is justly complained of by farmers,, 
while it very often is unsatisfactory to the manufacturers. The 
large commissions can be wholly or partially avoided, in some 
cases, by dealing directly with the manufacturers, especially 
where a number of farmers will unite in making purchases. Often¬ 
times complaints come from those who have allowed themselves 
to be induced to purchase that for which there was no absolute 
need, or who have, by their own lack of care, made repeated pur¬ 
chases necessary. In co-operating in this matter we have one 
great good of associations of farmers. 
farmer’s associations. 
We have thousands of granges and great numbers of open as¬ 
sociations. There is no reason why these should not work to¬ 
gether in harmony for the one great end of securing the greatest 
good not only to the members but to the whole class. To some, 
the secrecy, the pleasing ritual, the regalia, the compact organiza¬ 
tion of the grange have special charms. To others these things 
are distasteful, and they prefer to work in the farmer’s club, but 
this is no reason why there should be lack of harmony. The 
close connection of the granges gives certain elements of power, 
and also makes possible certain evils and dangers against which 
cautions may be needed. I have regretted to see the advocacy 
by members of both clubs and granges of co-operative stores, 
managed by farmers, as such ; of large manufacturing establish¬ 
ments under their control—of the assumption by farmers of the 
management of most kinds of business. I have regretted to see 
advocated the utterly impracticable plan of compelling higher 
prices by combinations to hold farmers’ products from market— 
advocated generally because of a greatly exaggerated idea of the 
ease and frequency with which similar combinations can be made 
by purchasers. 
Farmers can make these associations of great pecuniary advan¬ 
tage to them, but far more important than this is the educational 
effect they can be made to have, increasing interest in all that re¬ 
lates to agriculture, and helping to acquire information concern¬ 
ing it. 
