Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16

| P~oPA> "AAA iiOtlQeS 1OOu lOi eiAS Wv
0oO,oOo OF people in the United States,
and in addition have a surplus product
to SEND to foreign nations of exports
Wnlcn range in. value from $I0o,oou'ooo
to Sl.Ooo,0OO,OC0 annually, and with
these interests at the very foundation
OF the nation, why is it not proper ana
IN me OF progress for the government
10 assist IN the cheapening OF trans
portation of the products of the farm
TO market by the building of farm ROADS
by national aid? 1t appears to be the
only and just way to build the roads OF
the whole country.
GAME LAWS.
The game laws of Maine have been
bone OF contention by the different ad-
Vocates for some time, until at the pres
ent time we find many who live on
the borders or in near proximity to
good hunting grounds, who say no one
has any respect for the present laws
and all violate them with impunity
whenever they feel disposed to do so,
and in the same breath say every citi-
zen would assist to enforce a good
wholesome law for the proper protec-
ton of the wild game. But when, as it
| appears, every other interest is to be
| Subverted, that we may appear at the
| ''St. Louis Fair" in the garb of the alb
| origines, with the prevailing opinion
| that already exists in the West, that
| Maine is composed of icebergs and wild
| animals while 1923 ,O0OO coo is invested in
manufacture and as much more in ag-
riculture, it would seem that these in
terests with many others, should re-
! ceiVe some recognition at the hands
of the State in advertising our wealth
of resources.
The serious charge Is made that on
| the northern borders Of the State,
growth in population has ceased III
consequence of arbitrary and unjust
laws for the protection of wild ami
mails against the best interests of the
citizens of Maine. If this charge is
true, it behooves all good citizens Of
Maine to unite in protest against a
! continuance of such conditions. AS has
been we'll said, humanity must be
placed above wild animals. The cause
of civilization is mightier than the
cause of the sportsman, and it's march
must not be retarded to crafty the
, ambitions of the latter. The true pros
perty of a state or nation is evidenced
by the prosperity of it's agriculture.
If the effect of our game laws is the
furtherance of what must ever be a
sport or pastime, is not and cannot
ever be an industry to the hinderance
of progress and the development of
our agricultural resources, then the
time has come for change in the
,, law.
EDUCATION AND COOPERATION
Maine, from purely an agricultural
standpoint, is not the equal of a great
many of the western and middle states,
but for wealth of intelligent citizen
ship, it is surpassed by none, and the
history of tine grange has demonstrated
| beyond the shadow of a doubt, that
| the order cannot thrive when it's edu-
| cational and social features are made
| subordinate to any other features that
| are brought to the front. 1t should not,
however, be understood that its educa-
tional features are confined to the mar
row limits of purely intellectual growth
and development, for education in the
| grange goes above and beyond these
| limits, and in its scope includes all the
agencies which will tend to develop
| true manhood and Womanhood. make
| prosperous, contented farmers, and
| broad minded men and women and
| public-spirted citizens, the develop
ment of strong. honest, capable teach
| ers and leaders of thought and action.
| Character building is its first and
noblest work In all these lines the
| impress of the work of the order is
very marked. and is of untold value,
| not only to our membership, but in
| corresponding degree to the State at
/ large. Yet in very many practical lines
the members have not fully learned
] the necessity of cooperation, standing
| together shoulder to shoulder for their
own interests, to thoroughly under
stand that whether in business of leg
islation, trade. or whatever the effort
may be, that it is only by united ac-
| ton success can be obtained.
| Several years ago the grange pre-.
pared formulas and contracted for
| commercial fertilizers for the benefit
of it's members and for several years
succeeded in reducing the price nearly
| IS per ton, but when the manufacture
ers found the patrons were not using
| their own goods, the price was in
! creased from year to year until 1T is
now back where it waa when the move
ment was first started. I am salts
| fled, with the amount of commercial
fertilizers used in Maine, the farmers
can save s250,000 per year by cooper
alton and in agents fees. Until they
do these things they will not receive
the benefits the grange offers to them
by working together in their own in
terests. Again l say, if they are to
keep pace with other callings in life.
they must employ the same agencies.
Our fire insurance companies are
grand good object lesson of the posi-
bilities of cooperation. The basis of
their success was laid by the old line
| companies making their rates prohibit
| tive The farmers were obliged to seek
insurance elsewhere. l am glad to note
the growth and prosperity of this CO.
| operative feature of our work, de-
tailed report of which will be furnished
at this session. This is but 1.-THE OF
what can be done in cooperation when
we work. unitedly for our common good.
ELIGIBILITY TO MEMBERSHIP.
Again | call attention to the pur-