The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-12-17

eNpedienee that every patron should labor to
preserve the majesty, dignity, honor and high
standing Of our Order and that we should CON
stantly guard against every act that will bring
teproach. contempt OF dishoner upon oar
Association.
Let US lay aside all sclhshness aud labor for
the common good. Chccrfuly obey all laws,
a long they remain laws, and if obnoxious
strive IN legitimate way TO compass their
amendment or repeal. Our labor is "A laudable
nne. We are striving 10 elevate our calling to
position worthy Of its importance, In this great
and worthy work lat us move with perfect
unanmlty. In hue in all the departments OF
life, in the grange, on the farm or wherever our
lot be cast, let US remember that labor diligence
and perseverance, are the price OF success. and
will ultimately win il properly applied and
directed. II we ever attain to higher moral
and Intellectual standard the effort must be
made by ourselves. and our work must be in
unison, and If we seek with unanimity to en-
deaVur to bring our standard To higher levels,
good results will surely follow.
TAXATION.
At the last session OF the State Grange a
committee was appointed, one Of whom should
he in attendance all the time during the session
of our state legislature, to present our claims
and urge that body 10 pass law equalizing the
burden Of taxation. At quite an expense 10 the
state Grange that committee served you. with
what results you are fully We may
have erred in the means taken to secure our
ends, but the effort and expense is not wholly
lost il judciously followed. trust you will
at this session adopt measures and formulate
some plan by and through which another effort
may be made to secure Justice and equity by
which the farmer may bear his Just proportion
Of the public burden, and no more. Keep this
question before the people, push it to the 'front.'
and in the near future shall be rewarded by
securing the coveted reform.
| fftll To
what regard one ofthe most unequal and
unjust burdens which rural towns called
upon to bear. | refer TO the per capita tax, so
called, for the support Of our common schools
II would seem that for a purpose generally
conceded to be for the public good as this, the
expense should be paid from the public treasury
as the mill tax is now.
As few If the greatest extremes under the
present system will cite from the report Of the
Superintendent Of schools Of 1879. The city Of
Portland paid 50 cents and Bath 90 cents on
each " 900 Of heir valuation, while Oakland
plantation in Aroostook County paid over $40
and the town Of Prescott Sll %; yet it must be
admitted that it is just much public benefit
to educate the youth Of Oakland and Prescott
as those Of Portland and Bath trust you will
give this question the consideration its i'm
portance may seem to demand.
EDUCATION.
We have declared that 1--WE will advance the
cause Of education among ourselves and for
our children by all just means in our power"
Tins is the chief factor on which we must rely
To elevate the condition of the American farmer
to higher planes Of influence and usefulness.
This is one interest more than any other that
should claim our undivided attention and care
that not only the present but the rising genera
tons may be better prepared to meet and
overcome successfully those obstacles which
must inevitably be met while passing through
bn hpI NJ no ia eIu
tor. through it we have learned more fully
than ever before that self.reliance is Of the
greatest Importance. 1t has become apparent
more than ever, that it is 10 here or 10 there
but to ourselves we much look for relief Self
reliance with proper appreciation of cooperative
effort, will ultimately bring relief to our tax
burdened people, and will make our Order no,
only efficient but permanent Education from
Grange standpoint is OF practical scope and
vital importance. II makes better farmers
better citizens, better men and women, prepares
the farmer to take part IN the discussion Of all
questions at issue, to present his claims and
defend his rights. In fine it prepares him for
all the duties Of life and leads him to feel that
his mission is something more than the beast Of
burden, that he is no longer like dumb driven
cattle, but that he is hero in the strife" Al
though agriculture is the great basis on which
rests all other industries, yet education is the
mains spring, the principle factor that will bring
the farmer out of the deep ruts of the past to a
more improved condition.
"hnowedge is power" And upon this we
must build as our chief corner stone, and plant
our influence and energies on the side OF equity
and Justice and all that is coed and pure.
AGRIcULTrRE.
United by the strong and faithful tie Of agr-
culture mutually resolve to labor for the
good of our ORDER our country and mankind
these in part are the basic principles that un-
DERBY our order
Agriculture is the great driyewheel that
sets in motion and sustains all other indus
tries. In fact agriculture is the only indus
try that could sever its connection with all
others and still survive. Notwithstanding
its greatest Importance to the nation and the
world, the farmer is unjustly burdened by laws
that discriminate against them colossal fortunes
are being amassed by comparatively few indiyid-
uals at the expense and disadvantage of the
many. Trusts and combines swallowing up
our small industries and thereby destroying
healthy competition. We may well feel alarmed
at these conditions, but wherein lies the rene
dyi We have too long allowed the scheming
politician, who has direct interest in our
affairs, TO lead us and legislate to our dsadyan-
tage. That apathetic state which exists among
farmers in regard to their civil duties and ne
glect to cooperate questions directly in their
own interests, is to be deplored. No matter
how un just the laws, or how much they discrim-
mate against us, we have no right to complain
So long as we allow ourselves to be ca oed and
led by others But thank God and the inspira-
ton that gave the Grange through its
tt"eniiiN' i"i"i.'s @ie 'i"y ""ah'nB "oh,
are being brought forth regenerated and rein
yigorated by its principles. Through the grange
we have been more fully brought to see the
many disabilities laid upon our industry and to
more fu ly know our rights and duties, and now
knowing them, let us dare to MAINTAIN and de-
10. Il al
if true to themselves will be found in the front
ra,ts ips,ead nj fornnin,, ,ba haol, ,,J M
here,nfare VI '''''e '''e 0'"u 40
heieto'oie'
NAlIoSAL GRASGE.
Tn. tvcn,v .Gnb annual ,,s.,,, n tho \ ,;t
Grange was held IN the CIV nl Si,rinr6,lJ rh,o NJ
yrpbcr NH Ia Ih,h ,p,us,t. Ih, .,,,,,, ,',r,l
this great representative body OF farmers by the citizens
Of Springfield and the state Grange Of OHIO truly
1P1n''nGous ana generous feh1e' harmony prevailed
auilhg the session oi nine days IN laet 1t was remark
co ny some OF inc oder men9efs mat there never vas
30 i sc W amount Z" "oIk uohe WIN 50 'ttlc friction
iiA "l.e states were represented AT the session OF
1879 the National ',r'nEe adopted resolution appro-
Pi'tns 42oooo, Tor the funds OF that body to erect
temple 10 OeTeS or 'l Tor Inc use OF the order IN the
ty % Washington PROVIDED an additional $4,000 IS
- y ~ ~ ~ u'''e'e"' s'''es o' tc
Orange OF any individual member OF the order to
at least BRICK IN this contemplated structure
our National Grange has provided that deputies
shall receive from the National Grange treasury hye
dollars for every subordinate grange organized and
Two dollars and fifty cents for every dormant grange
gained with twenty or more charter members, In
the fec has been supplemented by further
fee from the treasury OF the State Grange which has
ptouuoeu very h'ofapie results IN addilion to this
a,b drnni,cs ,In;, r. ,, ,h,S ~ % ~ W
,,r,r.,,, would Ic ,,r,L, ',,,,I IL, ~ -, -
| i, "a .,,u,e lr, l,,,cs " 900 w 'f
| "
WOMAN 5 "okk'
The noble work being done by the sisters Of our order
cannot be highly appreciated nor words Of com
mendation too fully emphasized. Their labors are OF
nesmable yalne. The founders Of our order buildet
perhaps better than they knew when they adnliief
woman to full fellowship in this order. They have
ever been element that has constantly striven Il
| build up, sustain and dignity the grange and make il
what 1t is, the greatest industrial order Of the world