Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-12-18
NEW ENGLAND IN THE NATIONAL
GRANGE

GRANGE.
The Influence Of New England push,
energy aud common sense bas never
been more clearly demonstrated In .
nationSl party or national organization
than In the Nationsl grange, the annual
session OF which has recently been held
in Washington, ID. c. When the Nation
al grange was established thirty-three
years ago the states comprising the
New England group were 80 small 10
area, compared with the great states OF
the West and South, that there WAS some
opposition on the part OF the delegates
from those great states to allowing each
New England state two delegates, as
provided Ia the constitution OF the Ns-
tional grange. IL was finally decided
not to make an exception Of these states,
although small In area and limited In
agricultural resources, and each has had
equal representation in the eouncils Of
the national organization with the more
populous and larger states.
During the hrst TWENTY-FIVE years the
National grange met In New England
This meeting WAS heralded as 90 event
Of rare occurrence, Aad such Il was, for
II was the first OF It's kind In New Eng
lAnd, and u was supposed that another
quarter century at least must pass be-
fore the National grange would again
pitch Its tent upon New England soil.
But the grange began TO take strong
hold upon the farmers Of New England
and to-day this is the banner section Of
the country In grange work, Influence
and enthusiasm. The great states OF the
West and South hsye not kept pace with
the firm tread OF the New England men
and women In pushing this great farm
ers' Organization along.
In 1so2 the Nitlopsl grange made It's
SECOND visit 10 New England AT Concord.
n. H; in 1895 IL csme TO Worcester,
Mass. In lS9S 10 Concord second tlme,
aud In 1901 Il Il TO cor,e To Portland
making four out OF ten sessions held 10
New England, with Indications that
ABOUT every other session thereafter will
come this way. While this condition
must be pleading In sn eminent degree
TO mem bers of the organization here, IL IL
also pleasing To people OF New Engisud
In general, all OF whom take pride 10
their locality and like 10 see New Eng
land people succeed. The national ses-
siou comes here frequently becsus. the
organization IL signslly prosperous
here, and because New England mem-
bers have Influence In shaping It's course.
In we should anslyzs the question
little farther aud inquire ~hy The orsani-
zition Il strong here. giving t, through
iis representatives. inflaence la the
national Organization, we should fiui
that IL Is Influential because IL Is pros
porous, and thst II Is prosperous because
il has studionsly and persistently kept
In Legitimate lines OF work. |, has not
been led Hstray by false leaders, captured
hy political sehemers or trapped by
iems goxues who would use it in som.
pretended assault upon corporate ia,er-
ests solely for personal sggrsndiz-ment
and preferment, out IL has kept along It's
own legitimate path, furnishing fnsn-
clsl benefits 10 IL members 10 some ex-
tent, and social. educational and frster-
nal advantages that are appreciated and
are resulting in fitting men and women
for positions OF honor and trust TO
which they are rapidly being called.
A glance at the record OF the organize
ton 10 some OF the states that sre not
represented In the national organization
to-day will show that the very things
the CHANGERS have shuuDed here hsve
been forced 10 the front there and forced
the organization out Of existence. Ina
few of the states the organization was
successful in carrying through legisla.-
ton which caused Its downfall and
wrecked itsel in doing It, and while the
measure was secured, or the man pro-
NOTED, IL was not worth fraction to
the state what an active grange organi-
zstion would have been. There never
hs, been a law enacted through grange
influence in any state that WAS worth TO
the farmers Of that stste one-tenth part
the value Of the grange to-day to the
farmers Of any New England state SO
long as Ii is conducted on present lines.
These facts should be appreciated By the
members and regarded ~ reasons why
the grange In New England has strength,
viriiIty and Influence to-day.-Airror
and Farmer.