Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-17
The Great Order OF Patrons OF Hus-
bandry.

/ The twenty-third session of the National
/ Topeka, Kansas, on Thursday. Nov. 18th.
/ Mr.. James Draper of Massachusetts, who
1 since the death of tie national master, Hon
/ Put Darden of Mississippi. has been acting
master, delivered an admirable address. Mr.
Draper is also Master of the Massachusetts
State Grange, and is one of the most earnest
enthusiastic member, of this great farmers
organization. The delegates TO the National
Grange from Maine are Hon. Frederick Ro-
Die, State Master, and Mrs. Robe. Ia the
course of his address Mr.. Draper said;
TIE order is in most iiourishing condi-
ton. There have been 1913 subordinate
oranges instituted during the past year The
greatest increase in membership has been
made in North Carolina, while the New Eng
land States show continual increase, both
IN membership and new oranges Colorado
has developed marked activity and progress
and is represented again this year in the
councils of this body The speaker urged
need of improvement in the orders methods
If procedure in attaining legislation favora-
ole to agricultural industries. He thought
that the order should have some one at Wash
ington all the time while Congress was in
session with authority to act for the National
range. He urged further efforts for the
enlargement OF the powers of the agricul
tural department The question OF trusts
and the necessity for suppressing them was
noted. Mr.. Draper also alluded to what had
been done in the way of preventing the
aduteration of foods, and pointed out what
remained to be done.
Regarding the tariff Mr.. Draper sail The
whole tendency of tariff legislation hereto
fore has been to give liberal protection to
the manufacturing and mining industries,
leaving the agricultural products but lightly
protected. while some of its most important
products, notably that of wool, it has been
proposed 70 have on the free list. A care
full study and consideration of our present
tariff law shows that the average duty of all
interests combined is about AZ per cent,
that the manufacturing interests alone are
protected to the amount of 55 per cent,
while the average on agricultural products
is only about 20 per cent. This inequality
has existed altogether too long, and al
though onr political instructors inform us
that the "hOme market" which manufac-
turing industries give to agriculture should
atone in great measure for this inequality,
We are boldly confronted with the fact that
the agricultural toiler3 even in the manu-
featuring districts are having a hard
struggle to acquire the necessaries of life,
The declaration of purposes of our order de-
mands protection for the weak, restra 1t
upon the strong" Equitable tariff legislation
u an issue second To none in importance in
this direction, and, to accomplish anything,
we must use our undivided influence and
organized power in demanding a reduction
of the highly protected industries to CORE
spond with the protection agriculture is now
receiving. or else an increase of protection
to agriculture that shall be just and equi-
table TO all concerned.
And let me a ID in this connection that, #
we are ever tn accomplish anything in this
direction, We must have our interests repre-
&c ted at the proper time by those duly
authorized to represet this organization b.
fore the Congressional committees having
this matter in charge. and supplement this
work with such personal and united infiu-
ences as we are able to exert upon those
who represent our several districts in Con
gress.