The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-02-26
THE GRANGE
Conducted by ]. w. BARROW.
Press Correspondent Ncp York State
Grange
NATIONAL GRANGE.
THIRTY-SEvENTH ANNUAL CONvEN-
TON AT ROCHESTER, NY.

In "a strong Address National Master
Aaron Jones Urges the Extension
of Agricultural Education - Re-
marks on Farming In General and
Its Decline.
The national grange, Patrons of Hus-
bandry, opened its thirty-seventh an
nual session at Rochester on Nov. IL.
The local committee, aided by the
chamber of commerce, had prepared
an excellent programme for the public
meeting Mayor Rodenbeck gave an
address OF welcome, which was re-
sponded TO by National Master Hon.
Aaron Jones of Indiana. Governor II.
j. Bachelor of Concord, n. H., lee
turer Of the national grange, spoke
most entertainingly on 'The Nation"
Hon. George A. Benton discussed Fra
ternal Societies." and Hon. Il. d. Nor
ris, master of the New York state
grange, discussed various features of
grange work. Music and recitations
added much to the pleasure of the
meeting
The executive sessions began on
Wednesday morning, Nov. IL, to con-
tinue ten days. The national master
gave his annual address, synopsis or
which follows.
On education the national master
said: "Public opinion is becoming more
and more pronounced each year in IA
yor of nature studies and elementary
principles of agriculture being taught
In our public schools. / believe that
in the near future this feature will be-
come a part of our public school sys-
tenn. Every grange in the United States
should, in fact and in practice, be
school for the practical demonstration
of the possibilities Of the farm; 1t
should be a farmers institute, lit
erary society teaching practical agri-
culture and developing trained minds"
On the subject of cooperation among
farmers he stated: 81 am more and
more convinced that the time has come
when the farmer must provide for the
distribution and sale of the products
of the farm. Shall farmers longer de-
pend upon others, petitioning legisla-
lures and congress to enact laws and
await the delays and uncertainty of the
courts enforcing them to protect their
rights, or shall farmers get together in
q lawful. orderly, business way to
guard their rights, as other great inter-
ests are guarded and protected? Farm
ers should provide granaries and stor-
PEELED to rush their products into pub
lie elevators and into the hands OF
SPECTATORS"
On agriculture in general Mr. Jones
said that Notwithstanding the indus
try, frugality and energy of the $500
600 sturdy farmers and the aid render
ed by the department of agriculture,
agriculture has not expanded and pros
pered as other great lines Of industries
have done. The treasury bureau says
that the increase Of agricultural pro-
duction in thirty years was 92.1 per
cent, while the export during the same
time increased 1918 per cent. The pro-
duction Of manufactured articles was
enlarged 2091 per cent, while exports
Of manufactures increased 537.7 per
cent during the same thirty years.
'In 1856 farmers owned $3.50 per cent
of the entire wealth of the nation In
1900 they owned only 21.27 per cent OF
the wealth of the nation; thus farmers
are losing their relative position in the
wealth and production Of the nation.
If this be true. it is our duty to in
vestigate and discover the causes that
have contributed TO this condition and
aid In their remedy or removal. II
found that the laws have discriminate
ed and contributed to this condition,
amend or repeal them; IL 1t be found
that combinations of capital or labor
unions. excessive and discriminating
transportation charges are some Of the
causes. correct these abuses"