The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-12-29
The State Orange.

The 10th annual session of the Maine
State Grange was held in Bangor last week.
aDd was in all respects a most success
full session. Below We give comments
on the address of the State Master and
summaries of the reports of other officers:
State Master Gardner gave the first adj
dress he has spoken to Maine Patrons in
annual session since his election. 1t is a
, paper of mucn interest and will command
thoughtful attention from all to whom it
is especially addressed, as well as to
thoughtful farmers generally. For it
does not deal strictly with official
matters OF interest only to those of the
grange-it embraces those concerns in
which farmers at large are deeply con
cerned. Master Gardner reviews the
present condition OF the order in Maine.
with survey of the work of the subordi-
nate and Pomona oranges, and the over
sight which has been given these branches
by the county deputies He enf01ces the
Importance of education OF a progressive
system, not as one welded 70 and govern
ed by past traditions He treats of CO.
operation and gives an object lesson in its
work; treats at some length on the import
ance of good roads and believes the time
has come for Maine to take step towards
better highways by having a State high
way commission which shall begin this
much needed work of reform. and gives
an account of the meeting of the national
grange. But by far the most important
feature of his address is that dealing with
the subjects of legislation and taxation.
Master Gardner is very outspoken and ex-
plicit upon this subject, and his position
cannot be mistaken. After referring to
the history of State Legislation upon this
subject during the past eight or ten years,
rebuking the tendency of Legislature to
extravagant expenditures of the people
money, he says:
Another legislature is soon to assem-
BILE; already rumors are rife that schemes
innumerable are being matured, larger
AID more of them than ever and unless a
counteracting influence is effected the re-
cords of the last two years are likely to be
repeated with increased emphasis. Do
the farmers of the State endorse such
policy? If not let them come forward
through the organization and protest
against such wanton use of the people
money. | think the members of our
order in Maine are unanimous against any
attempt at reckless extravaganza il mat
tiers of public economy, and l trust you
not only define your position, but also tend
to movement that will enable the %, 600 !
Patrons of Maine to enter their protest
with no uncertain sound. At the same |
time, we wish it understood. we, as a
class do not ask any favOrs. We simply |
demand what is justly ours in all matters |
of economy and that agriculture shall be |
given the same protection other interests |
obtain: we ask nothing more; we will be |
satisfied with nothing less
There can be no misunderstanding |
State Master Gardner on this subject or
of his desire to lead the Patrons of Hus- |
bandry of Maine up to their responsible
ties and duties in the matter. Bangor
Commercial
The annual address of the Master of |
the State Grange has considerable to say |
about good roads, or bad roads, for he
admits that the most of them are bad. /
But he appears to have no very effective
remedy to offer, except the choosing Of |
men for road agents for their ability and !
knowledge rather than for political skill |
and stfavoritism.' A State commission he |
evidently does not approve of. intimating
that it is expensive and will eat too much |
at the public expense. The master seems |
to be after way to get good roads with |
out spending any money, and if anybody |
has plan of that kind it can, undoubtedly, |
have his endorsement. But we are afraid |
such a plan will not be forthcoming.
Portland Press.
The Master of the State Grange seems to
think that all the opposition to listing
hill comes from people who are trying to |
.v,,;d their inst share of taxation But
such is not the case. we imagine the
great majority would make no opposition
TO listing bill if they believed it's effect
would be to fairly equalize tax burdens.
But they do not think so and they have
GOOD reason for their opinion. The testi-
money in States where it has been in exis-