Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1873 — What a Merchant says about Grangers. [ARTICLE]

What a Merchant says about Grangers.

From the Lafayette Courier. - ---- Solomon says “There is nothing hew unclcr the sun,” but we now have in our midst “new';’ societies known as ‘-Granges.” Tliesd societies belong to the rural districts, and are composed chiefly of fanners. Their object is to effect a reduction in the price of the various kinds of merchandise of which they are the consumers. For several days past their committeemen have been in our city, and have visited a large' number of our business men for the purpose of ascertaining wild of them will furnish their societies with goods at their price. Many of our merchants have wisely refused to have anything to do with their proposals. They oiler to pay ten per cent, on the cost of goods. Now, it is a well known fact to every man in trade, that ten per cent, would not pay the actual expense of selling many kinds of goods, while there are other classes that would gladly be sold at that per cent. oHess. Now the farmers have not considered the expense attached to any kind of business, such as rent, gasp fuel, clerk hire, insurance, andmany other TncrdenTai nor have they matte any allowance for damage, breakage, and goods carried beyond their season, which must be an absolute loss or sold at a great sacrifice. Their demanding to see invoices of goods (mud they can know the cost in no other way)is not only unreasonable but an inquiry into business which does uot belong to them; with the same propriety the tradesman can demand of them the cost of their cattle, horses, and every acre -of land they possess, and can require of them an exact account of their grain and produce, and allow them ten per cent, above the cost of production. We do not cherish any feelings of enmity toward the‘farmers,butithink they have taken the wrong way to effect the reduction they desire. If it is well known to every business man, not only in our city but also in the surrounding villages, that a large per cent, of the farmers are owing accounts that .have been running from four months to a year and over. Now if they would pay their bills,, and buy lor cash, thus enabling the retailer to pay cash to the jobber, and they in turn to the manufacturer, then goods could be sold a great deal lower. Goods of all kinds pan be handled for less for cash. Again, in the event of a failure of crops when the farmers havemothing to sell, how will they procure such goods as they must have, borrow money at- 15 per cent, i aiid mortgage their farms for scou-

rity? or will they come back to The merchants who have been their friends, and be furnished vvit,li goods on credit on their own time, which as a class, they have always keen thus accommodated. It is rumored that they intend starting a ‘‘Farmers’ Dry Goods Store” of Their olvn, but the peculiarities of the “Farmers’ warehouse” of a few years ago, is too fresli in their memory to admit of such suieidal folly as that. In a city like ours, where all branchesol business are thoroughly represented, the competition is too great to admit of extortionate prices, but it is to be hoped that the farmers will soberly reflect and take, counsel of their best ibterests by. letting well enough alone- •

MERCHANT.