Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-22
Mir. Gardner said:


State Grange:
The ceaseless march of time has
brought with 1t the bio ;SOms Of spring,
the summer with its growing crops.
the autumn with its world of mItuICG
harvest. and VIC again enter upon the
season Of winter with a full realization
Of what this season portendS in Maine.
We realize that the cycle OF another
year has passed and gone and with its
passing we are brought face to face
with the fact that our duties rs citizens
Of the great republic ana members Of
the grand order Of Patrons Of iius-
banGry. are as constant. rs cNi"tin@
and as ccas"lesS as the march Of time.
We can consistently congratulate our
selves that never in the history of our
order. has it been in = position to better
project the interests Of the great basic
industry. Agriculture which we rcptc-
sent, than at tho present time.
Our membership he's incrr: sed as
fast rs consistent with sound substaH-
!iai growth; our subordinate oranges
have become more firmly established in
homes of their own. ana above all we
have demonstrated the ability of tn
grange to remain true TO its principles
AMI occupy its own field Of WORK, with
out Being diverted or entdng,ivd along
lines that. if uttered upon. must ineTit-
ably result in disaster. Numerous at
tanipts haze been made within the past
wear to draw thu graner in Maine into
The field Of PARTISAN politics. urged in
many instances by our own mCmDers.
II has stood tn. test ana is stronger in
cnne..u1curn While tht. grange teaches
rs members tn" responsibilities Of citi-
zerSl,ip and it is incumbent upon each
member 10 90 all in his power to secure
honest LEGISLATION. q just representa-
ton. ana equal taxation. we cannot
hold cauvu-cs. nominate candidates, or
even discuss their merits in their meet
inss. Yet it does encourage its mem
hers to act upon the higher plane OF
politics, and While 1t is pro3"E ana
right for the members 81 our "rder 10
obtain all the political positions they
can, to see that the rights OF agficult-
ure are protected. yet ! WISH 70 h'Ie !"
on record. ~ my defih'Fdte opiiil""'
| that no master @ state SrdhSe' h"S
a moral right to accept a partisan
no,nination for a political Office while
;u that positiou. =.
,..,......-,,..,.i,.,, ,,ol, Of ,bi.
great fraternnl order. represcnting a
membership q ~ r'lltir..i Pa.,ie,, ,1 I'LL
cannot propetN iVriss" - r+;.an
membership WINE ioH"'s az q 70 81
L peileVe 'his Greer II worm iiio.
the farmers OF TINS great 'i'l''ii Il ~
true to its nigh mission Oh "oiN' 'ns.H
all the poilticai par'les' anu als - 81,
Der VINO uhueitaNes = IT III IL = onar,y
"a ISL inrtna;nad - snc,Il inns freely
| am constrained 10 sP'"h 'iu'
that my posi'iou may iio' 'e
stood m TINS h nI.e ,,rsoa and gone
gu, s' az r,at IN ann,,a1 session in
s.''e Io,.i.ton ,.at we do NOT re
.ne ','s - = s.,,an~ars y. i, Doubt as to
| turn ''e'S 90 - - !, III aan-
| what our reception VIII ~ n 'ne se'i
erous hospitality OF the citizens oi
| Lewiston has become proverbiai.
| With this return we trust we Will i,o'
only renew their good fellowship OF the
nast, but that both the city of Lewis
ton and our order will mutually receive
substantial benefit. Since we last met
here. we not only notice the srow'n AZ,