Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-16

energy and united free of numbers
such as shall make thy politicians fear
, you and the battle is Won
| would particularly recommend, as a
measure upon which bill patrons ought
to be able to unite. thabill for eutlaliZinp
the burden Of the schPl tax by increas-
and reducing the per cfpita tax to a cor
responding degree. ThF is measure the
justice of which eanlHt be successfully
denied and one which il enacted into
law. will bring much relief to tho rural
portions of the State.
Cooperation.
So much space has nthis address been
devoted to the three Important topics of
agriculture education and legislation
that the other subjects usually mentioned
cannot be dealt with in detail. They
will be fully discussed by the several
| committees who have Them especially IN
charge,
Meme If the reforms heretofore indi-
Gated can be brought about without
hearty. systematic cooperation. CO.
operation is the corner stone of our or
der. 1t is organized effort on the part Of
those who are united by a common tie
and who are interested in a common OBJ
ject.
necessity OF estabiishiig grange stores
for the purpose OF supplying the farmer
with the STAPLE articles of trade needed
BY himself and his family has been al
inOSl tntlTeIy removed Ly ilit sharp COIIl-
petition among traders, which has re-
duced the margin of profit to avery small
figure. 1t must be Dor lie in mind, how
ever, that this compel ltion was induced
and this reduction o. the margin of
profit was brought alb nut largely by the
operations of the gran.-e stores that were
established In the lily days of the
order
While. therefore, We would give. to the
grange stores the entire measure Of credit
to which they are entitled, 1t would seem
that, In Maine at least, they have OUT
lived their usefulness and the few that
remain are proving a source of trouble
and weakness instead of strength to the
oranges with which they are connected.
l am still of the opinion that large
| saving could be secured to our members
by cooperation in the matter of pur-
chasing agricultural implements While
there is in our State no one mandatory
which turns out all the different imple-
ments required by our farmers still Ii
the members of each grange even would
combine their orders for each variety OF
implements needed and choose one OF
their number to make the purchase for
the whole a great saving might be made
AS will be seen by the report of the
executive committee an arrangement was
entered into with manufacturer of com
mercial fertilizers to furnish a first class
article of goods. compounded according
to the formula prescribed by the conf
mittee, at considerable reduction from
the lowest price previously secured.
This arrangement had the effect OF
causing other manufacturers to reduce
the price of their goods in a correspond
ing degree and to make Il sharp effort far
the grange trade. The result has bee.
that a first class article of fertilizer has
been furnished TO the patrons OF Maine
at a less price tndn ever beto'e.
National Grange.
The soth annual session If the eta,iona.
Grange of Patrons of iitiSplnIry Of the
United States assembled in the city of
Washington. D. c.. on Wednesday Nov.
H. and closed It's labors on Thursday
afternoon. Nov. 49, The very gratifying
report was made that no voting mem
Der of the national body. nor any past
| master or wife had died since the last
annual meeting. For this reason the
usual abbath memorial services We're un-
called for and the grange accepted an
invita- ton to attend the services at Rev.
DR.. Talmage's church, where seats were
reserved for the members. AZ will be
seen by the report of the proceedings vi
| the session which will soon be issued 70
the oranges many important questions
We're discussed and much business IN me
interest of the order was transacted. As
usual. attempts were made to use the
order for the furtherance Of private IL
terests and for pushing forward of IA
vorite schemes. and the endorsement Of
the national grange was sought for al
most everything from patented article
of soap to an export bounty on asrlcul7
tural staples. Fortunately men and
women of conservative ideas We're in the
ma jority and no attempt to lead the Or
der away from Its letigimate work was
even partially successful. \ resolution
was unanimously adopted recommending
Col. j. II. Brigham of Ohio, the present
! master of the national grange to the posi-
ton of secretary of agriculture in the m
coming administration, and committee
was chosen to wait upon the PreSldent-
| elect and urge his appointment. An
effort will also be made to seHd a strong
| endorsement from every SunordiIiate
grange in the United States and from as
many prominent citizens outside the or
der as possible. Col. Brldgham IS wen
known in Maine and the addresses de-
| livered by him in various portions OF the
| State during the month OF August las.
were enthusiastically received
The national grange and visiting mem
| Cleveland and were very cordially re-
| ceiyed Excursions were made TO AIRING
ton. to Mount Vernon and TO othtf poi!aa,,S
of interest and many of the pubic bhlid-
were visited. 1t was voted to noid ,he
next annual session either i'll Phiiadei-
phia or Harrisburg, as the Pennsylvania
State grange might decide.
Closing Words.
This annual message has already eN-
! tended itself to what | fear has proved Il
wearsome length; but if any are dis1
posed to criticize it on that account !
must shelter myself behind the plea Una !
amid the press of other duties J. mad not
thc time to make it shorter.
In closing, l wish to thank the mem
hers of the order for the uniform klho-
ness and sympathy extended toward me
in my work during the. year that IS now
closing Only words of Kindness ah2 OF
fraternal consideration have come 10 ny
ears from all portions OF the stare. lo
those brothers and sisters who nave Ut
tered these encouraging words say
cod bless you And if any there be VINO
have uttered words of unkindness' or OF
purposely ungenerous criticism. TO lhose
i would say God bless you, 100 lof ne
is too short to quarrel with you.
And so. brothers and sisters. as we APP
nroach the festival season oil the yeai
whom peace on earth and good VIII
amonp men" shall be the motto every
where let us cultivate spirit or charity
and of love for all mankind and say Witf
T'inv Tim, God bless us every one.
After the address of the worthy mas
ter. Secretary e II. Libby of Auburn
read his annual report which followe
in full.
i Report Of the Secretary.
The following is the report OF the sec
retary of the grange. Mr.. E. II. Libby
Worthy Master and Patrons: In ac
cordance with constitutional require
IL nr9G4D