erefrom. It was
weary work for a long time. These gatherings were miserable affairs
compared with those which greeted our political speakers."

The experiences[70] of another of the little band of devoted workers,
Mr. R.A. Anderson, now Secretary of the I.A.O.S., throw an interesting
light upon the nature of some of the obstacles which the new movement
had to encounter.

"It was hard and thankless work. There was the apathy of the
people, and the active opposition of the Press and the politicians.
It would be hard to say now whether the abuse of the Conservative
_Cork Constitution_, or that of the Nationalist _Eagle_ of
Skibbereen, was the louder. We were 'killing the calves,' we were
'forcing the young women to emigrate,' we were 'destroying the
industry.' Mr. Plunkett was described as a 'monster in human
shape,' and was adjured to 'cease his hellish work.' I was
described as his 'man Friday,' and as 'Roughrider Anderson.' Once
when I thought I had planted a creamery within the town of
Rathkeale, my co-operative apple-cart was upset by a local
solicitor, who, having elicited the fact that our movement
recognised neither political nor religious differences--that the
Unionist-Protestant cow was as dear to us as her
Nationalist-Catholic sister--gravely informed me that our programme
would not suit Rathkeale. 'Rathkeale,' said he pompously, 'is a
Nationalist town--Nationalist to the backbone--and every pound of
butter made in this creamery must be made on Nationalist
principles, or it shan't be made at all.' This sentiment was
applauded loudly, and the proceedings terminated."

Eventually, however, the zeal of the preachers, coupled with the
economic soundness of the doctrine, prevailed over all difficulties. By
1894 the movement had outgrown the individual activities of the
founders, and the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society was
established in Dublin in order to promote and direct its further
progress. That progress has been rapid and continuous, and to-day the
co-operative societies connected with the I.A.O.S. number nearly 1000,
with an annual turnover of upwards of 2-1/2 millions. They extend over
the length and breadth of the land, and include creameries, agricultural
societies (whose main business is the purchase of seeds and manure for
distribution to the members), credit societies (village banks), poultry
k