The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-02
Maple River Farmers Club.

uOn. line uay being very favorable
one, the families composing the club
were well represented, and together
with invited guests numbered about
one hundred.
After the usual opening exercises
the club Twas favored with music on
the violin by Henry Moore Of Tellu-
ride, COL, with organ accompaniment
tby Mrs. Perry Duffy.
After tranSacting some routine bus
mess the club took up the regular pro-
gram Of the day. In short talk Mrs.
Julia Moore gave her idea of "What
constitutes model club meeting:"
The regular attendance of mem bers;
each member being in place at the
time for the meeting to be called to
order, each willing to take whatever
part is assigned him with no thought
OF Sinking or being excused; giving
the young people some part In the pro-
gram, were few Of the ways to make
every club meeting model.
Theron GLADDEN. agreed with the
ideas advanced. He thinks there are
those among the farmers who are Ca.
pable Of filling any office within the
gift of the American people, even to
that of president. He took occasion
to pay tribute to Michigan's farmer
governor, Cyrus G.. Luce. Taking an
active part in club work and helping
to make each meeting model meet
ing are not only a present benefit but
also storing up of memories which
will be pleasure to us when old
age comes upon us and we are simply
waiting for the Masters call.
"Slavery" was the subject Of an in
teresting paper by Mrs. @. B. Cook,
which naturally turns the mind back
to the days of the civil war and the
emancipation proclamation Of Lincoln
and we naturally think slavery was
abolished at that time. But under
different forms it exists today among
us, not only as nation but as individ-
ualS There is not virtue nor vice
to which we may not become slaves.
Selfishness, discomfort aud avarice are
some of the worst forms Of slavery. II
we wish to get a good interest In our
happiness share it with others. Some
are slaves to ambition, others to a de-
sire to Guido their more prosperous
neighbor. Fashion is the worst Of
taskmasters, as it's devotees are many
times led to appropriate the wealth OF
others in their efforts to faithfully
serve this tickle goddess.
P. B. Reynolds responded to the top
ic, "Our Constitution and Bylaws"
which he regards as the cornerstone of
our farmers club and as such should
be carefully guarded. We should
study it and become familiar with it's
requirements. Sixteen years of club
work have shown us the ACCESSIBILITY
of some changes in our bylaws. Mr..
Reynolds believes that the discussion
of questions pertaining to politics or
religion should no longer be barred
from our club meetings. Politics in
the truest sense means the settling Of
questions which have to do with the
vital interest of our nation and should
be discussed.
A general discussion followed this
paper and many good ideas were
brought out.
Then we were very pleasantly enter
tanned with music by Mrs. Perry Duff
fy and Messrs. Henry and Frank
Moore. A select reading by Mrs. G. e.
Fuller was followed by a paper on the
Treatment Of Our Criminals" by @.
T.. Cook.
The object is twofold-punishmen
for crimes committed and future re-
formation. After becoming GRIMM
al there is little hope for reform. Mr..
Cook thinks our county jails are too
easy place for criminals. BY playing
cards, reading dime novels and associ-
ating with other criminals the ten
dency is to make men worse instead of
better. He believes contract labor In
our state prison is detriment to free
labor and that criminals confined In
our county jails should be made to
work on the highways.
Sheriff d. J. Gerow was present and
was called on for remarks along the
line Of this topic. He gave as his ex-
perience that criminals almost in
variably desired to be sent to some
place where they could work so as
help to pass the time away.
They persistently shun the Detroit
work house as the menu Is not exactly
up to their idea.
Public sentiment is greatly to
blame for 80 much fault being found
with the manner In which our state
prisons are conducted. He believes
that trying to work criminals on our
highways In the county would not be
q success, as the work accomplished
would not be commensurate with the
expense. Mr.. Gerow is believer In
capital punishment for murder where