Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-11
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION MEETS AT
HARRISBURG. PA.
MASTER BRIGHAM's ADDRESS.
SAYS CONDITION OF THE ORDER IS
VERY ENCOUR AGING.
ReJOices Over the Marked Improve
ment In the Prices of Farm
PrOducts-SOmc Grange Pol
icies-Growth of Grange
Last Year.

Harrisburg. Pa. Nov. 1O-The National
Grange, patrons of husbandry, convened to-
Gay in the supreme court chamber. Dele
gates from almost all the states represent
eu In the national body were present. Ma
tiona; Master j. III. Brigham. assistant see
retary of agrcYlture, who arrived from
Washington lastSnisht. was in the chair.
The morning session was short and was
devoted to preliminaries.
The report of the treasurer, Mrs. f. S.
Mcdowell, of New York, showed the
tirarces of the order to be in satisfactory
cordition, with larger amount of funds
on hand than the previous year. Secretary
Trimbles report showed 1il new oranges
anC nearly 100 reorganizatons. The reports
of state masters were received.
The credentials committee made par
tial report and the grange proceeded to re-
ceive the reports of its officers. Worthy
Master Brigham submitted his annual re-
port.
Mr.. Brigham said that the condition of
the order was very encouraging. One hun
dred and forty new oranges had been or
ganized, and seventy-four ones revived dur
ing the past year.
I'VE have he continued reason to re-
joice over the marked improvement in the
prices of most products of the farm. The
prices now received are not burdenSome to
the consumer but are remunerative to the
farmer. and if maintained will cause a
marked advance in the value of farm lands
1T is also a highly gratifying sign of
the times that the business failures in the
South and Southwest in July, August and
September of the present year represented
in the aggregate of their liabilities only
Si,39iooo, compared with Sill 49s, 900 dur
ing the corresponding period of the preced-
ing year.
/ Earnest efforts are being made to eX-
tend our markets in foreign countries and
TO secure the abolition of the discrimina-
ting restrictions and prohibitions unjIstly
/ maintained by certain foreign countries
| against our agricultural products.
During the fiscal year ended June 30,
1897. We shipped to the United Kingdom,
3Is.459 head of cattle, valued at s35. 374 Ss22
and fresh beef amounting to 300 772
pounds. valued at So, ,62611S.
Congress will undoubtedly be urged by
interested associations to appropriate large
| sums of money to build DAMS reservoirs
and canals for the purpose of irrigating the
! arid lands of the West.
1T is not the policy of our grange to es-
pouse the cause of any political party or
| indorse the policies advocated by either;
but when the people have settled the ques-
| tions at issue. We accept their decision and
try TO secure for agriculture fair treat
| ment in the legislation carrying into effect
the policy indorsed by the people, In pur-
suance of this policy We urged upon the
members of congress the Importance of
dealing fairly with the agricultural sched-
ules of the measure lately enacted into law
am glad to say that our suggestions and
recommendations received due consdera-
| tion. and farmers will be able to judge for
themselves whether such legislation has
been beneficial to them or otherwise.
The National Grange is on record in
| favor of electing United States senators by
| a direct vote of the people. l am sure we
| will make no backward step in the matter
until the constitution is amended to provide
| for it. Until that is done, we should insist
that the people have the right. in some
| measure. to express their preference for
| candidates, which will undoubtedly be re-
Earded as binding upon the legislators of
| the dominant party
National Lecturer Messer's report in part
follows:
In the face of hard times and depressed
conditions, the work of the grange has
moved steadily forward, and the record of
the past year not only shows large gains
1 In membership. but gains have been made
| In all the departments of its work. In
| none, however. has greater progress been
, made than in its educational work.
| public reception will be held at the
opera house tomorrow afternoon and Gov
ernor Hastings will make the opening ad-
dress.