Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-25
PATRONS OF INDUSTRY.
Prssssen, Partridge Delivers His Annual
address,

t<&~-~~-~- - - - -~--7-~-~-
Address
The MORNINGS session OF the state
convention Of the fAtrons Of
Industry yesterday. was devoted
10 the presentation Of resolutions.
memorials. and tas reports Of
efhcers. They were eaeh IA tuFn re-
terred 10 their proper committees for
consideration. fAs reports OF the Sec
Eetary and treasurer are required 60
pass through the eaads of the auditing
-oumltfee Setore lhey can - given 10
me public. Several resolutions Tor the
good of the order were introduced and
referred.
In the afternoon the only important
natter brought before tho eoay Was
me annual address OF President Part
ridge. IL was well received and con.
tanned some valuable suggestions.
Among other thlngs, Mr.. Partridge
said:
81 hays . good field for earnest
research into the causes which have
brought the American farmer and
lADorer 70 the verge OF bankruptcy and
euin and has forced upon him the
alarming conviction that many Of the
most sacred functions OF government
have been usurped for the ben
fnt OF the favored few against
he many thousands"
Speaking of the oficial paper OF the
order. the Patrons Guide, the president
denounced Is IN unmeasured terms,
md said that it WAS, against his pro-
lest, placed in charge OF the present
bditor who has carefully thrown into
Inc waste basket anything tending to
sriticlss the past financial legislation OF
,he country for the past twenty-five
Years on the plea of Its politics. l have
found it impossible to get matter Of
facts. covered by our platform. pub
hshed and have therefore wasted no
Eme on them. That - the reasOn you
nave not heard from me through the
paper. ASIDE from regular reports Of
stficers, not . full page OF editorial
matter has found Its way through the
Guide during the year, but with d,cta-
soriAl or rather partisan pride the edi-
sor has consigned valuable matter to
The waste basket
What 10 our order but Q reform or
ysnlxation, and what can We accom-
pllsh If We do not do with politics? Mr..
Partridge spoke OF the wonderful
wealth Of the country, the millions OF
bushels of wheat, corn and oats. tons
bf cotton, coal, iron, etc, the millions
bf manufactured products, miles of
railroads, ETC., and tine CSC, 0O0, 900. 900
national wealth and asked: ''This be-
ing the case, Why Is It that the farmer
md the laborer complain that times
Are hard?
The president urges that the demands
Of the Official organ-the Patrons Guide
Se not overlooked. As at present con-
tucted Il ia Of but little use or benefit.
He recommended that the convention
determine who shall be the editor and
Who the publisher and that the editor's
Asslstauts on staff be duly appointed;
llso that lecturer be appointed who
shall work with the editorial sta6 - .
lecture bureauo
The relations Of the Patrons to the
Patrons Commercial union should be
carefully considered. The union
Dhould be managed with economy and
vet Its scope should be broadened on
good business principles. The county
lecturers should be chosen with refer
ence TO their ability TO act as agents of
The union and that the convention
adopt some plan 20 cooperation. The
report OF the 81. business manager
of the union, u. Conklin, shows that
from March IA to December 8, the cash
business transacted amounted to $780,
boo at . clear saving Of 40 per
cent. or $4,000. This u good
but think what the results would
have been had the organization been
perfect The president further recon-
nended that the salaries of the state
officers be fixed and that the constitu-
ton be revised. He recommended that
the county ANIMALS be called for the
third Tuesday in December and tina
state annual one month later. Books.
blanks. etc. for the order should be
purchased by Wholesale by the grand
secretary and distributed at cost. A
badge should be provided for the
order. In closing the president thanked
the convention for the confidence and
trust .eposed IN him.
The convention then adjourned until
this morning Ut o'clock. The various
committees were at work last evening.
preparing reports to be submitted TO.
day. The annual election of officers
q.