The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-26

in our legislature to secure The passage
of such a bill failed However the
CITATION caused the REIMBURSEMENT OF
the salaries in several counties ON a
more equitable basis Have we become
convinced that further effort along this
line would prove fruitless or that the
saving and the better business basis
which would be given to our county
affairs would not be worth the effort re
quired for a continuation of the fight
AS we review these matters which we
have championed and been but partially
successful we have the comforting
words:
mo force Is lost, no action dies,
Let this great thought be ours:
No good once spent in sacrifice,
No effort of our powers
Can ever pass or ever die;
1t changes, but remains.
Life everywhere grows rich thereby
And strength eternal gains"
IN MEMoRIAM.
I would not think this address COM
plete did it not pay tribute to the first
president of the association, the Hon.
VIM. Ball, of Hamburg, who passed to
his reward since our last meeting. Mr.
Ball was thoroughly well known to the
agriculturists of Michigan. He was
active in all that he felt led to broader
manhood and womanhOod. He was an
energetic business farmer, grand good
citizen, almost invariably at our asso-
ciational gatherings, and we will sadly
miss his kindly face and his advice in
our councils. While our good friend
has gone on little space ahead, we
cherish in our hearts a happy memory
of one who labored faithfully in Gods
vineyard, and now the sun has set, the
work is done, our good friend is at rest.
THE YEARS WORK.
The years work of the associational
secretary has already been outlined to
you. In the capacity of president of
your association 1 have responded to
large number of calls to meet with
Clubs, Club picnics and county associa-
tions and believe that the interest in
the work in the state is as good as it has
been at any time in our history. At a
suggestion of one of the best friends
that the. Clubs have in Michigan we at
tempted last winter to arrange meet.
ing with each of our six directors and
with the leading workers in his locality
and counsel with them regarding the
development of the work in their
locality This, of course, meant work
for the directors in arranging the de-
tails of the meeting The plan did not
appeal to the Associational directorate,
and the plan practically failed. Still I
believe that if such a meeting could be
held each winter, attended by an officer
of the association, much good would re-
suit and until such measure is taken to
draw the Clubs more firmly together
and to enlist the interest of Clubs not
now in the Association, and in a manner
more forceful than any yet used to assist
in the establishment of Clubs in favor
able localities, the advancement in Club
work is not going to be as rapid as its
friends would wish. 1t may be that the
present plan is best, but let us carefully
regard the situation and if broadening
one would promise yield of many fold,
let us enlarge our resources and our
field of action. If the results do not prom
Use to be commensurate with the ex-
pense let us by all means continue as at
present The Clubs are a practical in
stitution made up of practical people
and we want results and will not be salts
fed with anything else. Is there a
broader field for action? Can we reach
out more than we have with our pres
ent resources? These are pertinent
questions.
THE SOCIAL FEATURE.
We are proud of the growth of the
Clubs in Michigan. We are proud of
the fact that these Clubs have been
organized and maintained by the united
effort of all the members of the families
belonging. The family the whole family
is unit. We are absolutely sure that if
our wives, mothers and sweethearts
were debarred from the privileges of
membership, the Farmers Clubs of
Michigan would come to very speedy
end. The presence of the children at
the Clubs not only is help to the Club
to-day but is going to be factor in the
future
FINANCES.
AS we review the work that is before
us we rest assured that the best thing
will be done. We will be conservative
in our demands and a careful study of
our subject will precede our demand.
This is the only way that we can COM
mand respect, attention, and favorable
consideration. If we can use more
money in the matter of advertising, in
pushing the work along in the ways we
deem necessary, the money is going to
come. We are here for two days, let us
employ every minute of the time. We
have attamDtad to ouf1iua tho most inn