The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-03
COUNTY ASSOCIATION
OF FARMERS CLUBS.


The February meeting of the County AS
sociation of Farmers Clubs was held Satur-
day in the council room at COrunna, with
little less than the average attendance,
owing to the clustering winds and the very
rough condition of the roads, A consid-
erable number of the best and most wide
awake farmers of the county were present
that class always Is we'll represented IN such
gatherings-and the meeting was prOfita.
BILE one. The retiring president of the
association, Mr.. Frank Whelan, of Vernon,
presided at the meeting.
| The election of officers for the ensuing
term resulted as follows: President. Mr..
K. j. Cook; vice president, Mr. Thos.
Cooling; secretary and treasurer, Mrs.
George T, Mason. Before the meeting ad-
journed the association voted to have a
committee on extension with the object of
increasing the scope of the work done and
securing the interest of more club smem-
bers. Mr.. VIM. FL. White, of the Venice
club, was elected as such committee. =
The subject of how best keep up the in
terests In the farmers clubs was discussed
by number of those present, and Mr. N.
K. Potter apparently touched on an i'm
portant phase of the matter when he's ex-
pressed his regret that so many OF the
younger farmers felt that they could not
afford to join because of the expense in
entertaining. He advocated rule restrict
ing the club dinners to plain bills of fare.
Mr.. Potter is an old Grange enthusiast and
thought certain amount of secrecy,
countersign and pass word, wouldibe of
use to the clubs in keeping up interest.
Both of these points occasioned iconsidera-
BILE discussion.
The question of the dinners was favor
ite one and the men seemed to take
much pleasure In discussing 1t until some.
one suggested that If they did not stop talk
ing on that subject they would all be so
hungry that they would not stay any long.
or. The ladies took an active interest in
this discussion, the general opinion SEEM
ing to be that while rule recommending
plain dinner might be beneficial, yet each
woman who entertained would have to de-
eide the matter for herself aud should. have
the courage to get up no more elaborate re-
past than could be offered without making
it burden.
Pros. Atty. A, l.. Chandler took an active
interest In the secrecy feature mentioned
by Mr.. Potter, of which, however, he did
not approve. The prosecuting attorney is
now full fedged club member himself
having been made member of the Maple
River Farmers Club at its last meeting
He thinks much Of the fraternity featur,
secret organizations would increase thei
efficiency.
The question box was in charge of j. III
Moyses and it proved to be an interesting
feature. Perhaps the most interest ant
discussion was aroused over the matter o
the best methods of fighting trusts, and thi
soon became confined to the best metho
of getting around the twine trust to secur
. that commodity at reasonable rates. On
or two members wished to have the count
association take measures to purchas
binder twine for the whole county, bu
: wiser advice prevailed. Mr.. e. j. Coo
= told how the Maple River Club had unite
. in the purchase of twine last year and ha
saved money. He thought 1t would not b.
best, however, to attempt to have the coun
: ty organization buy for the whole county
The separate clubs could do 1t Just as well
and as pointed out by another, the twin
,, would then be nearest the home station Q
each. The talk on trusts was by no mean
: unreas asonable. As pointed out by variou
speakers the farmers did not wish to max
: unjust demands of trust. even. The
" did not wish to buy of a trust at less tha
" cost, but they did not on the other han
. wish to pay an exorbitant price and wishe
to have their own rights preserved.
% would be quite impossible to mention a
!, who took part In the discussions whic
!, were quite general and full of interest. an
- there was scarce a member of prominenC
70 present who did not have one or moi
: valuable thoughts on some subject.
II The association adopted the followin
!. resolutions unanimously:
Inasmuch as our state senators an
y members of the legislature were electe
:. with the express understanding that the
!. would do all they could to secure, th
:, passage of the Atkinson equal taxatio
bill; therefore, be it
!. Resolved, That in 90 far as they hay
10 done so they have justly met with OF
D, appreciation, and in 30 far as they ha,
9. allied to do all they could to secure IL
IS early passage they have greatly disal
a pointed us.
" Resolved, That we believe the Kimm
I. county salary bill to be just and right an
y. we insist upon Its early passage.
Whereas, those places where free rur
mail delivery has been tried report i
"A complete success,
Resolved, That we are in favor of e.
3 tending its operation in every communit
" where the same can be profitably su
u tanned.
o. Resolved, That the farmers of this cou
30 ty should make an effort to obtain be-
sugar factory, and should do all they ca