The Portland daily press., 1899-04-27
Committee To Be Appointed to
Arouse Interest.
Address By Mr.. L. B.
bennett.
Expansion, Education and Other
Matters Discussed.

The Presumpscot Grange of Portland
entertained the Pomona yesterday. The
several oranges, Westbrook, Winunam,
Gorham, North Yarmouth, Scarboro, New
Gloucester and Naples, were we'll repre-
scented in the meeting. which was one OF
the most wide-awake ever held in this
county. State Deputy Ansel Hallway OF
Skowhegan was present as representative
of the State Grange, and his mission Is
to add several new oranges In this county
and to increase the membership 5o0 dur
ing the year. He has been prominen'
member of the order for 25 years and
the farmers of Gum 5erland county should
give aim hearty welcome.
The question of state taxation was dis
cussed l.. d. bennett said, in part. that
few days ago the Portland PRESS
printed the following:
The Maine Changers are reported TO be
taking conserted action to cultivate the
next Maine legislature. CultivatiEg the
Maine legislature in one respect is ike
laying down grass land. 1t has to be
done the year before. But the comparison
stops there, for when the crop Is up IL
is like q corn field, much troubled by
crows in the daytime and coons at night.
Taking an interest in the Maine legis-
lature is no Sunrise to sunset job.
The editor of the Portland PRESS has
an intelligent appreciation of the obsta-
Giles in the way of legislation looking TO
the reformation of the present and long
past, unequal and therefore unjust tax
alton in our State of Maine.
The PRESS has long been the wise ad-
vocate of some legislation 10 equaiize the
burdens of taxes now resting heavily not
only upon the agricultural, but upon 9TH
er industries and business of our stats.
not only upon the towns but upon our
ci les rs WE'LL
The political "coons' referred to in the
PRESS editorial, not only we'll nigh de-
yastate our farming, but the pursuits oil
the great majority Of our people who con-
stitute the producers Of wealth, upon
whom the prosperity of our state mainly
depends All classes of our people, except
the political "coons'' and their nomina-
WniSc lutcicolo oiics OOeh oN'SSNN~
and vote for in the legislature, are inter
ested in hard earned cash In the subject
of state taxation to which l wish to call
your attention briefly and merely in out
line. for the present occasion does not per
init me to do more. This is not ques-
ton of partisan politics, the discussion
of which our grange laws forbid, but one
affecting the welfare of our people with
out regard to national politics. The time
has now come when longer "forbearanoe
ceases to be virtue" and when theivot-
ers of Maine, without regard to political
affiliations, should take their own bust
ness of state legislation into their own
hands and away from the claws and
teeth of political 'coons," which leave
the husks for the farmers and eat the
corn themselves.
The PRESS warns us that taking an
interest in the Maine legislature is no
sunrise to sunset job" This shrewd
hint reminds us that the political
| 'coons" work IN the night, that is, in
the dark, or in other words the political
"coons" do not take the people into their
confidence.
While the voters of the state elect the
nominees elected in the party caucuses,
when the nominees are elected and
become representatives and senators and
assemble in the legislature at Angus
ia. they become their masters. not their
servants, and legislate in the interests OF
those who nominated them in the party
oaucuses. The history of past legisla-
lures is my witness
When a few mem bers in our last.legis-
lature endeavored to do something at
least to make beginning upon the re-
formation of our vicious system Of state
taxation, which was the matter of all 9TH
ers of the1highest consequence to the:peo-
pie of our state, the political "coons"
vera thrown into "A state of absolute con
sternation. They found they were caught
in tbs corn field In broad daylight. There
was lively scampsriug to get out an
hide. The speeches made to this end are
among the most amusing that ever en-
tertained the. humorous faculty of man
/ L..