The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-02-19
ANNUAL ADDRESS
OF WORTHY MASTER, HON. LEON.
ARD RHoNE. SESSION OF 1889.

Continued from last tceek.)
Owing TO the lateness of the commence
ment of the work, or some other reasons
of which 1 am not aware, only about
twenty-five (25) Deputies returned the
blanks properly executed. To those re-
porting paid one dollar for each Grange
visited, according to instructions. If, in
your wisdom, you determine to continue
the work, we hope the movement may be
encouraged and literally sustained by
Subordinate Oranges so as TO render it
more general and useful.
THE DRESSED BEEF BILL,
which your Committee on Legislation
prepared and had presented TO the Legis-
lature at its last session, failed to become
law. Whilst your Committee were per-
sistent in urging the merits of the bill,
their efforts were uuavailing when met by
the money influence which the Cattle
Syndicate Of the west threw into The State
to create sentiment against it and pre-
vent its passage. We are told that the
courts in some of the western States have
decided against the coustitutionality of
laws containing similar provisions, as in
/
not believe that the bill we presented was
of such a character. No fair construction
of its provisions, by an untramnieled
court, could construe it as an attempt to
prevent the cattle of the west from being
brought into the State and sold, only re-
| quiring that they be subjected to such in
| spection as will secure TO our people pure
and healthy food. We feel assured that
law embodying the principles of our bill
will be urgently demanded by boards of
| health, and will become a necessity to
guard the health of our citizens against the
cupidity of funprincipled corporations and
trusts. Having taken the initiative,
trust the Grange will not rest content un-
| til the measure shall receive the sanction
of law.
INSURANCE AND ORGANIZED RELIEF.
Mature reflection convinces me of the
correctness of my recommendations year
ago in regard to fire insurance and organ
lied relief for the benefit of those who are
unfortunate in losing property by fire or
bereft of their natural providers. wish
| to emphasize what 1 then said upon the
subject. Our people, perhaps more than
any other class, are careless as regards
! insurance, doubtless on account of the
isolation of their property and apparently
| less liability to loss. We admit the danger
is not so great as in towns and cities. But
| this fact is an argument in favor of it.
| Companies that contine their risks to rural
| districts, and manage their business with
discretion and economy, can afford to
make the rates as low that every one own
ing real or personal property can avail
themselves of the protection insurance
affords. When our property goes up in
! smoke, without insurance, and the circum-
stances demand, an appeal is frequently
made to the benevolence of our people for
relief, and, we regret to say, often with
unsatisfactory results. The very first
question is, Why was the property not
insured? Local companies, confining
| their operations TO two or three counties
at most, can be more economically man
aged and the rights and interests of the
insured more carefully guarded, than
those of more extended area. Where such
companies do not already exist, would
recommend to our people the propriety of
establishing such organizations The same
argument may be made in favor of Relief
Associations, affording assistance in the
case of death. The wise and prudent
guard against emergencies that are liable to
occur, while they have the opportunity,
and by prudent and forethought ameliorate
the condition of dependents.
BUILDING FUNDS.
respectfully recommend to your con-
sideration the proprety of adopting plan
by which fund can be secured for the
purpose of assisting our people in erecting
halls for their accommodations, where they
have not the ability to do so themselves.
| Two and half cents per quarter from
each member in the Subordinate Oranges
of the State, remitted by the Secretary
with the quarterly dues, would not be
OF 10 cents annually, from each member,
in few years would create a fund that
| could be used under proper restrictions
| and regulations for assisting worthy
brethren to secure proper places for
meeting. Nearly all Christian church
| organizations and some philanthropic
! enterprises collect and hold reserve fund
for the purpose of assisting remote local
! tiles in the erection of churches and
| benevolent institutions which are monu-
ments of their sagacity and wisdom. May
we not profit by such high and noble
examples and in our generation provide
| for the extension and perpetuity of our
| Order. "Cherishing in our hearts every
/ kind feeling towards all other orders and
associations which seek to promote human
welfare. let us strive with them, working
hand in hand for the good of our fellow
beings" l confidently commend the
subject to your consideration, trusting you
will formulate plan for the purpose L
have indicated, which will be acceptable
to our people and adopted by them.
THE GRANGE
is the real farmers ideal organization To
maintain this high position and retain their
confidence il must be presided over by
actual farmers. So long as the farmer
controls the Subordinate, County, State
and National Oranges he will dominate its
action in the interest of the agricultural
class. 1t is in these technical organiza-
tions that he wields an influence that he
cannot exercise anywhere else. And it
must ever be so. The failure of other ag-
ricultural organizations is largely owing
to the fact that their control slipped into
the hands of other classes who who were
not in sympathy with our class, their ac-
tion and influence thereby enfeebled and
their hold upon the real farmers lost. The
true farmer is jealous of his rights, and
when the honors that justly belong to the
agricultural class were bestowed upon
, others, the last link that bound him was
sundered. The experience of former ag-
ricultural organizations should prove a
warning TO Patrons, and not allow ours to
stand upon the same rock. Worthy and
/ excellent persons in other pursuits and
callings whose interests do not antagonizC
: agriculture, have come into our ranks
l.