The Portland daily press., 1888-12-19
PATRONS OF HUSBANORY AT BANGOR.
Every County In Maine Well Repre-
sented In the Meeting.
Address of Worthy Master Robbie of
the Maine State Grange.
Good Work Accomplished by the
Farmers Organization

BANGOR. Dec. 1S.-The annual meeting of
the Maine State Grange, Patrons of Hus-
bandry, commenced here this morning in
City Hail. The meeting was called to order
at 10 o'clock, Hon. Frederick Robie, Worthy
Master, presiding. All the officers were
present except Francis Barnes, lecturer, and
Mrs. Frederick Robie, Ceres. Hon. ID. III.
Thing of Mt. Vernon was chosen treasurer,
and Mrs. Joseph White of Bath, Ceres.
Every county in the State was well repre-
sented, and the session was one of the larg-
est for years. This afternoon, at O'Clock,
Worthy Master Robie delivered his annual
address, which was listened to with earnest
attention. 1t was thoughtful effort, full Of
valuable suggestions, and eloquent passages.
In the beginning, Master Robie paid an
eloquent tribute to agriculture, and reviewed
the wonderful progress it has made within
the present century. Speaking of the work
performed by the Grange, he said.
1t cannot have escaped the notice of the
Patrons of Husbandry that by our persever-
ing efforts, more than by all other causes
combined, we have practically secured cab
met position for the head of the Department
of Agriculture. We have done much to re-
strain the avarice and greed of corporations,
the burdensome requirements of our patent
laws. and the evils and frauds of adulterated
food and articles of common use. We have
secured the passage of the oleomargarne
laws, the Interstate commerce law, the es-
tablishment of experimental agricultural
stations for each State in the Union, and
have advanced the interests of public educa-
tion and morals everywhere. We have or
ganized farmers life and fire insurance COM
panes, cooperative stores, farmers ex
changes, and other organized and co opera
tive business helps. These are among the
triumphs of the Grange, and they place it at
once at the head OF the column as band of
aggressive and progressive workers for the
interest OF agriculture, and the Grange Is
therefore worthy of the confidence of the
American husbandman, whether he tills the
soil and follows the plow among the rocky
and sterile hills of Maine, or cultivates the
corn belt and wheat fields, reaching from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, or is engaged
In the raising of the fruits and products of
the sunny lands of a more southern latitude
We have the same and one common interest
We have stood and acted together, and have
accomplished much that we have demanded
from our State and National legislatures, fol
the interests of the farmer. There still re-
mains much to be done. Grange halls must
be erected. the citadels of our strength.
reaching from ocean to ocean. These forts
must be held by a resolute and aggressive
band OF Patrons of Husbandry. The farm
ers must come to the front, and demand
by their numbers aud wealth that combina-
tions. monopoles and trusts, which destroy
confidence and wrest from a burdened peo-
pie profits which are unreasonable and un-
just, shall forever cease by the power of law,
that gambling in farm products by dealing
In futures, shall be regulated by an honest
government in the interests of the people.
The Grangeis opposed to the giant strength
of mOnop0lies under the control of heartless
capitalists, who by despotic combinations
compel the people to pay exorbitant prices
for what they must buy Trust companies
hold and control the entire sugar business of
the country, thus making to a few capitalists
enormous profits out of the pockets of the
people. The New York Times recently tab
ulated long list of trust companies organ
lied to control the production of linseed oil.
school states, steel rails, and even those arti-
cles upon which successful agriculture de-
pends, such as plows, reapers, mowers, bind
ers, nails, and even commercial fertilizers
The spirit OF the Standard oil company of
pennsylvania, the prince of monopolies, has
taken possession of many other corporations,
winch are walking boldly and defantly over
the rights of the people.
Brother farmer, consider these matters,
and lD the language of Senator Edmunds of
Vermont, to the farmers of his State, keep
up the organization and contiue to press for
simple JUSTICE and the fair play that you are
entitled to-"
We recognize the efficiency and the favor
able results which have followed the work
OF the State experiment stations in the sever
al States, and especially our own, and we de-
mani their continuance. with such liberal
public appropriations ''as will insure that
they shall be administered ON business prin-
ciples, and make it possible to retain and de-
velop the highest efficiency, the best special
lists and investigators in the different
branches of knowledge and the arts which
pertain to agriculture in its highest sense"
to the end that the department of agriculture
may have ample means to collect, compile
and disseminate all the information resulting
from the work of the experiment stations of
the Union, by calling in and utilizing the
best science and other useful means to help
them In their work, and thus serve the inter-
ests OF the greatest agricultural nation in the
world.
The Grange is one of the best schools for
the young farmer to educate him for an ac-
tive participation in the town meeting, con-
yentions and the legislature-for too many
farmers of liper years have already found
out that men of far less ability ard influence
than themselves, oftentimes get the advant-
age In a discussion of public questions, by
better knowledge of the rules of parliament
ary law. Let our farmer boys come to the
front in this respect, and cultivate self reli.
Grange, and not be compelled hereafter to
take back seat, or display on common oc-
casions an ignorance in parliamentary law
unworthy of an American citizen.
Master Robie next gave an Interesting ac-
count of the meeting of the National Grsnge
at Topeka, Kansas. Fifty-six delegates
from 35 States took part in the meeting.
There is $4,000 in the treasury well invest
ed. During the year 1893 subordinate grang-
es have been formed, and the membership
is increased by thousands. Master Robbie
paid an elegant tribute to Capt Put Darden
of Mississippi, late Worthy National Master,
who died short time ago. The tax on su-
gar was one of the principal topics discussed
by the National Grange and in regard to this
matter Master Robe has this to say
to the Maine Grange:
Let the oranges of our State, place them
selves on record in favor of protecting this
home industry by the payment of a bounty
OF from two to four cents per pound to the
sugar making interests of the country, in
stead of the present burdensOme method of
protection. The bounty of four cents on the
present yield of 200 000, 900 pounds of sugar
would be tax of $8,000,000 annually: it
should protect and develop the sugar indus
try OF the nation, and would probably re.
sun III Vic odfiuB dDnudlIN TO
tue people. for the next 10 years, equal to
81 apiece to every inhabitant now in this
country. The people should demand this
protection for themselves, and the grange
should consider this great question.
Master Robie urged upon the Grange the
Importance of sustaining the agricultural
papers of New England. and especially the
the Maine Farmer, which, he said, had done
much for the farmers of Maine, and was
closely identified with Grange work.
Concerning agriculture in Maine, Master
Robie said:
There has been a commendable advance
and continual progress in the agricultural
history OF our State, since the days of forest
clearing and stump pulling, as is shown by
the better farm lands, comfortable and beau
tiful homes, larger barns and graneries, i'm
ments. Our agricultural, State, county and
town fairs give good evidence of improved
farm stock, and that all the crops of a north
ern latitude can be raised in Maine, equal in
quality and quantity to those of any State in
the Union Similarly situated. Some of the
farms located long distance from business
centres, have suffered in consequence of the
lack of home mark6ts-others BY the neglect
of judicious cultivation. Here and there
are found farms entirely run out and fast
becoming waste land, because the owners
have too long depended upon the fertility of
the virgin soil, without restoring its yearly
discounts of plant growth, by adequate
manuring. 1t is grave question whether
the State of Maine would not be better off
II it should encourage the occupancy of
a. Au1 f..