They have three objects: first, sound and profitable business; second, organized cooeperation with each other to their mutual advantage, as in settling disputes, securing satisfactory rates from railroads, and inducing new industries to settle amongst them; and third, to make their town more beautiful, more healthful, and generally a better place to live in.

Take a labor union as another example, and you will find the same three-fold purpose.

A good union admits only good workmen to membership in its sound body; the members get from the Union the advantages of organized cooeperation in selling their labor to the best advantage; and in addition they enjoy certain special advantages often of overwhelming importance.
The practical value of organization and cooeperation is obvious, and they are being utilized very widely in nearly every branch of our national life.

But what is the case with the farmer?
The farmers are the only great body of our people who remain in large part substantially unorganized.

The merchants are organized, the wage-workers are organized, the railroads are organized.