«the Farmer Is of More Consequence than the Farm, and Should Be First Improved:

The movement to organize the local Farmers' Clubs into a State association for the purpose of concentrating their forces to give greater influence and power in certain directions, and to form a kind of fraternal union that shall encourage and assist each local club, is very suggestive. I t proves that there is a general and growing feeling among the farmers of the state that organization and cooperation are desirable and essential. It proves that to have such organization effectual and competent to accomplish desirable ends there must be a concentration of forces above and beyond the neighborhood and county associations. This, certainly, is a step in the right direction ; but when the state union is complete there will then be left the most important move of all, i. e. The union of states. Nothing short of it will accomplish in any great degree, the objects sought. Nothing short of it will place our great agricultural interests in the just attitude for influence before the nation. Nothing short of it will place us on an equal ground with other organized interests. Nothing short of it will accomplish the greatest good for the farmers' interests either socially, morally, intellectually, financially, to influence legislation, or the protection of our rights and privileges against attacks from whatever source.