The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-12-13
Lansing Filled With Tillers Of
the Soil.
TWO ORGANIZATIONS MEET
Association of Farmers Clubs and
State Grange Meet at the Capital
City-Worthy Master Horton and
President L. n. Ives Preside.

the state capitol, and the gilded cham
bers of house and senate are echoing
significantly to the tread of robust
agricuIturists. In the senate chamber
800 delegates to the Michigan State
Association of Farmers clubs have
pre-empted the soft political seats;
across the rotunda $50 delegates to
the State Grange met in secret con-
ciave.
President l.. H. Ives jollied the SEN
ate of farmers into good humor and
ordered the music turned on. Rev. w.
H. Pound of Plymouth Congregational
church, Lansing, invoked a prayer
upon the assembly, and the situation
was up to Mayor James Hammell.
Il compliment the farmer on being
foremost among the producers of
wealth." said Mayor Hammell. The
mayor pictured the advance from
scythe and fail to modern appliances
and told of his own farming expert
ences. He extended a cordial well
come to the delegates and declared
everything open TO them but the city
Jail.
In her annual report the association
secretary, Miss Julia Ball, Hamburg,
excellent results of the organization.
Nearly every other business in life
is organized" she said, even tramps
organize. Only one-third of the local
clubs have joined the state associa-
ton. When a club is organized it
is Invariably permanent"
The principal address of the after
noon was then made by the old secre-
tary, A B. Cook Owosso, who though
young farmer, has won his spurs in
past conventions.
The State Grange.
simultaneously with the farmers
clubs, the State Grange went into ses-
sion. The executive committee will
have to decide where in Michigan the
next annual national convention will
be held.
Worthy Master George b. Horton
in his annual address congratulated
the organization on it's progress,
which, he said, has been superior to
that made by any other state organ
iZation. The oranges organized and
reorganiZed during the year will near
ly if not quite equal those of all other
states combined. Four new counties,
according to Mr.. Horton, are repre-
sented at the meeting, and the mem
bership has grown from 5000 to
10000.
Grange insurance companies, organ
lied under the law recently enacted
in Michigan, were warmly commend
ed Master Horton dwelt at length
upon the undesirability Of the town
ship unit system of school govern
ment. He also censured roundly the
practice Of centralizing the upper
grades of schools in cities, reducing
the district system to the lower
grades only, and urged action against
the tendency before it should become
too late.
Reforms Advocated.
The following national legislation
was advocated: Extension of free
rural mail delivery; postal savings
banks; election of United States SEN
ators by direct vote; constitutional
amendment granting congress power
to regulate and control all corpora
tions and combinations; enlargement
of the powers of the interstate COM
merce commission; national pure food
law; an antitrust law clearly defining
what acts of corporations are detri-
mental to public welfare; speedy con-
struction of the Nicaragua canal by
the United States; construction of a
ship canal connecting the Mississippi
to the great lakes and the Atlantic ;
revision of fees and salaries of fed
eral officials antitrust law with pro
vision for state railway commission
ers with power to fix maximum
freight and passenger rates
Evening Session.
Before the evening sessions, in evil
dent rivalry, the grangers and club
delegates held a jubilee. The corri-
dor dividing the two camps was
crowded with people rushing from one
gay scene to another. The grangers
threw business to the winds and bid
the heavens rejoice. Fruits and flow
ers filled the air and the professors
and pupils of the Agricultural college
gave an entertainment, President
Synder OF the college presiding. The
veteran past master, also of the Ma
tional Grange, was made the lion of
the reception.
crowded auditorium and gallery
listened to the addresses Of President
Ives of the farmers clubs, Atty.-Gen.
Oren, and Miss Maude Gilchrist, dean
Of the woman's department Of the M.
A. u, PRESIDENT ives was greeted
with marked applause and many of
his references were cheered. His talk
embraced the many subjects in which
the farmer is interested.
Committees Named.
President Ives named the following
committees:
State. T. Daniels, Clinton; J. b.
Tagiman, Livingston.
National-A. b. Cook, Shiawassee;
l.. ID. Lovewell, Oakland; p. w. Rog.
ers, Lenawee.
General. M. Grim, Isabella; w.
ID. Bagley, Grand Traverse; o. p. Rich.
ards, Jackson.
=. Credentials-M. H. Crafts, Jackson;
]. T.. Lewis, Tuscola; III. A. Curtis,
Hillsdale.
Constitutlon-Capt w. M. Horton
l.. ID. Watkins, Jackson; Julia Ball
Livingston.
Today both great organizations will
be in full sway and important resolu.
tons will be adopted.