The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-04

State Master Wiggin, Secretary McKeen
and Other Agricultural Experts Pres
ent-Gov. Powers Makes an Address
and Gives Farmers Some Excellent
Advice.
[sPECIAL TO THE PREss.]
Alfred, September 3.-The York county
seat, whose normal condition is one of
rest and quiet, was today enlivened by
the gathering of Changers and their
friends, to the number of nearly two
thousand. They came from all over York
county, the occasion being a field day Of
the York Pomona.
Not only were the prominent Grangers
of this section here in large numbers,
but they had the honor of entertaining
quite a squad of Maine notables, includ-
ing Gov. Powers. Secretary McKeen of the
State Board of Agriculture, Grand Master
Wiggin of the State Grange, Gen. G. P.
Mattocks of Portland and several legis-
lative representative.
There was forenoon session given over
to speech making, but the heaviest
guns were scheduled for the afternoon
meeting. The court yard was well peopled
and the neighboring streets were bordered
with vehicles of all kinds when Eliot
Fernald of Saco, master of the York
County range, called the forenoon meeting
to order. The court house steps served as
platform from which the oratory of the
day was fired off. Libby's orchestra of
Sanford was on hand and helped to hold
the attention of the assemblage
Master Fernald called to the chair Hon.
Amos L. Allen of Alfred, who made q
brief address of welcome and then made
way for DR.. J. W. Dearborn of Parsons
field, who presided at the meeting. After
Introductory music by the orchestra and
prayer by Rev. W. n. Cotton of Alfred,
Hon. j. A. Roberts, senator from Ok
ford county, was introduced and he gave
an address, being followed by Prof
Woods of the University of Maine, Hon.
g. W. Hanson of Sanford, Ralph Kay of
Dayton and B. G. Jordan of Alfred. All
the speeches were along general agricul-
tural lines.
1t was announced that the afternoon
meeting would be held in the town hall.
Hither DR.. J. W. Dearborn headed his
span of handsome bays, conveying Gov
ernor Powers and Grand Master Wiggin
from the railroad station after the arrival
of the 1.45 train. The yard in front of
the town house was filed with people,
awaiting the coming of the chief execu-
tive. He was ushered into the hall, and
five minutes later there was not vacant
chair, and scarcely foot of standing
room to be had within the hall. Word
came in that at least 20Oiwere. outside,
unable to gain admittance, and it was
decided to adjourn to the court house yard
for the speech making.
Very little time was wasted..in starting
the flow of oratory. Hon. Amos L. Allen
made the Introductory speech and intro
duced State Master Wiggin Of Presque
Isle, who spoke 90 minutes, giving an in
teresing outline of the growth and work
of the State Grange. He spoke of the
Importance of agriculture as compared
with other industries of the country and
lauded the farmer in his daily routine Of
honest toll. Speaking of the influence of
the farmers, the speaker said: We are
beginning as an organization to make a
start along political lines. We have served
notice on the professional politicians of
the state that we are here to stay, and
they had better begin to get us into their
calculations. If there is anything radical
ly wrong, and legislation that Expresses
the farmers of Maine, it will have to be
removed within the next few years.
No legislative plan Of late pressed for
ward by the Patrons of Husbandry has
ended in failure
The speaker declared that the Grange
is tending to elevate the farmers, social
ly, intellectually and morally. In closing
he urged his brother agriculturists to get
out. of trodden ruts and in their methods
and work evince spirit of progression.
Gov. Powers was greeted with cheers
wlen he arose to speak. His address was
one OF the best extemporaneous efforts
taat has come from his lips since he
to )k the oath of office. He was frequently
interrupted by applause. ss
After remarking that this was his first
visit at Alfred, and congratulating the
town on its natural beauties, the Cover.
nor took occasion to remark that the
farmers of Maine have nothing to apollo
gize for. To them the state looks tor its
future grandeur and to them it gives
greatest credit for the place of promi-
nence it now occupies in the Union. He
said he was proud to have been born and
raised on farm; he had known what It