The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-27

Address delivered Before the Michigan
State Grange by Governor John T.
Rich, December 10, 1895.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Michigan
State Grange.
1t Is a pleasure to welcome you to the
capitol of the State for your annual meet
ing. You are today the Oldest and most i'm
portant organization representing the in
terests of agriculture in this State. Your
age as an organization has made you con-
servatiye In many things, but 1t is a con-
servatism induced by wisdom gained
from experience. You still fight with as
much force and vigor as ever, and more
effectually, because OF experience and educa-
ton gained in many a hard fought battle
for farmers rights.
Many OF your recommendations in rela-
ton to legislation in the past have been
most valuable and practical. This was to
have been expected, as all your members
are familiar with the practical every day
affairs of life, and among your members may
be found men who have held the highest Of
fetal positions in the gift of the State, and
who have performed their duties with credit
TO themselves and to the calling they repre-
scented, as well as to the satisfaction of the
people generally. AS representatives OF
the people you have rendered valuable
services in the past, and have shown a FORE
sight and wisdom that has commanded the
admiration tandsrespect of all those with
whom you have come in contact, whether
socially, in business, or in official life. But
meyer before in the history of your organiza-
ton have you been called upon to exercise
greater wisdom or to be more fertile in
resources thantnow.
Some of the difficulties which meet the
farmer, and. to some extent, all other class
es, may be mitigated by legislation. But
there are others, growing. out of mechanical
invention; such as bringing under cultiva-
ton large empires of agricultural land, here
tofore producing nothing for the support of
mankind, and uwith lno proportionate in
crease of population, or demand for agri-
cultural products; the modern cheap and
rapid transportation, which, while it has
undoubtedly benefited mankind, has had
the tendency to materially reduce the in
come of the farmer, so that, while he buys
what he needs for ordinary consumption
much cheaper than formerly, the margin
left for profit and the payment of debts has
been nearly or quite wiped out; the substi-
tuition of electricity for horse power in the
propulsion of street cars, and of the bicycles
as a means of personal transportation, al
most extinguishing the use and value of
horses, and thereby reducing the demand
for hay and oats; and the horseless carriage,
which promise to complete the destruction
already SO far advanced. 1t is probable
that in the end all these things will, like
other Inventions, result in the bettermelt
Of the human race. But there is a transit
ton period to pass through, a REIMBURSEMENT
Of occupation to be accomplished, which
calls for an exercise of wisdom, and a fertil-
ity of resource, that has seldom, if ever,
been required In the past. 1t is safe to as
sumo, however, that a people who have
made this country what it is will be able to
find some way to preserve 1t. 1t is also
safe to say that the farmers Of Michigan, |
who have reclaimed these magnificent farms
from a state of nature, cleared the forests,
drained the swamps, constructed highways,
the buildings, both public and priv
ate, educated their children, and many of
them, giving from one to four years of the
best portion of their lives for the perserva-
ton of the government, will find some way
10 overcome the difficulties which now be-
yet us.
1t may not be uninteresting to give a few
acts In relation to State finances, and the
,ause OF the present high State tax.
There is one unpleasant thing about it.
cannot assure you of any relief this year,
,ut next year there will be a substantial re-
luction. The State is growing rapidly, and
Iome increase In the amount of State tax is
psuy,osidable, as the demands Of the State
Increase. In the present case am not go
pr to give anything startling or sensational,
charge anyone with embezzlement of the
money. There have been charges
corruption in every legislature which has
since the admission of the State, but
here is very little on our statute books to
show that any considerable amount of the
money has been sacrificed. The
State business is not carried ON with that
strict economy which d prudent man exer-
cises In his own business, but it comes as
near to 1t as any public business with which
1 am acquainted. There have been some
improvements made In methods, and there
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