The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-21
The Vermont State Grange.

This organization held a large and en-
thusiastic meeting in Bethel December IA,
10 and 16. The annual address OF State
Master G. j. Bell dwelt mainly upon the
different features and phases of the order.
No outline of the policy of the Grange was
given and but brief reference was made to
State matters. Reports of some OF the other
officers were pointed and the Legislature
was freely scored for sins of omission and
commission.
The public meeting on Wednesday even
ing was a marked success The principal
speakers were National Lecturer Alpha
Messer, Hon. M. S. Stone, STATE superin-
tendent of education, and Professor j. l..
Hills of Burlington. Iu his remarks Mr.
Messer defended the State board OF agricul-
ture from the unwarranted attacks of a
faction of the Legislature at its late session.
Mr.. Stone sharply criticised Governor
Smiths plan to invite wealthy men to the
State with promises OF light taxation. He
believed it TO be wrong in principle, unwise
in practice and detrimental to the best in
terests of the State. His address was
mainly in regard to school matters. He
would, so far as possible, give equal school
advantages to all of the children in the
State. He believed that expert supervision
would add largely TO the efficiency of the
schools. Professor Hills gave thoughtful
address upon "Science."
The election Of officers resulted in return
ing the old board, with the exception of the
overseer, G.. w. Pierce, who declined to
serve another term, and @. H. Smith Of
Morrisville was chosen in his place. Two
changes were also made in the executive
committee in the election OF W. l.. Park of
Lyndonville and f. FL. Spaulding OF Brat.
tleboro.
The reports of officers showed an increa, 20
of nineteen new Oranges and large in
crease in membership. The receipts of the
treasury were also increased. The reports
| al ,nAA . Ix.-1 o.,
Oranges, with few exceptions, were in a
very satisfactory condition.
Notwithstanding the lclaims made dur
| ing the recent session OF the Legislature
| that the farmers do not want the State
board OF agriculture, the State Grange. the
| only representative farmers organization
in the State, with membership OF nearly
| 5000 unanimously supported the board
| which Is most conclusive proof that the
| claim was false.
The following are some Of the resolutions
that were unanimously adopted by the
| State Grange:
Whereas, an effort was made by faction
OF the Legislature at its late session to abol.
ish the State board OF agriculture, and
| Whereas, we believe that said board and
kindred organizations have accomplished
much good for the farmers Of the State
| therefore
Resolved that the members of the Yer
mont State Grange. In annual session as
sembled, does hereby express its disap
prevail OF such action, believing 1t to be det
| rimental to the best interests OF the State.
Resolved, that the State Grange appre
| ciates and commends the action OF the Sen
ate in sustaining the board OF agriculture
| but regrets that its membership was reduc
ed 30 much in numbers.
Other resolutions related to the unwar
rantable increase in public expenditures by
State officials, as revealed by the investiga
ton at the late session OF the Legislature
condemned such expenditures as improper
and extravagant, and demanded such re
duction in official salaries and economy IL
the expenditure Of public money as the ext
gencies of the times and the resources o.
the people require.
Recognizing agriculture as the leading in
dustry OF the State, and that its successful
pursuit depends largely upon the intelli
gence OF its rural population, the member
Of the Grange were exhorted to labor with
zeal and fidelity for the diffusion of educa
ton in its broadcast sense, and to this end, TO
} the increase of the strength and iDhuenc,
of the Order OF the Patrons OF Husbandry
The efforts Of the National Grange to SO
cure the free delivery of mail in rural dis
tricts were commended and they besough
the cooperation OF Vermont's members O
Congress to secure the enactment of Law
to this end. They asked such changes II
the tax laws OF the State az would secur
an equitable and proportionate uniform rat
of taxation. They favored the postal saw
Congress, and the amending OF the SheI
: man antitrust law 30 as more effectually I
hold the gigantic trusts In check. Such rt