Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-20
MAINE STATE GRANGE.
Continued from Page 0ne.)

ul'lAp baye dedicated seventy-siX
yen .aus and today we stand alone
ui"-'o -, 10 the number OF grange
III n'-ncd by the oranges. as COM
h''i' ,,it, any state in the union. BY
pai'u ..,aI inventory of the property we
%ava invested in grange homes soi4'ooo.
~ Mine. which is the best evidence OIL
IVA stability and permanency : Oh the
III, There are. and always will be,
irving to create distrust and dis
-honce hut on the whole, peace and
"a fellowship prevail in our great
s.atornitv; the best agency that mas
a,.or vet been produced in the interests
- agriculture, and the uplifting ana
.nbnlding of the people of the rural
sections OF our state.
aOn,r grange fire insurance companies
.o doing a large and constantly IN
cling business, and furnish to the
n,,rons safe means of insurance at a
cost that has saved to the farmers
many hundreds of dollars through this
agency alone.
I'm the matter of cooperation in
buving and selling, many OF our
rranpos avail themselves of the bene-
6ts thercfrom, all of which tends to the
end that by and through the means of
association, education. and cooper
aticn. the grange will yet. when the
time is ripe for it, bring to our members
the benefits they are entitled to receive.
Sometimes we think our progress is
slow. but when we review the past de-
cadc and note the results. we feel en-
wifi, no hnf
ter equipped condition of our order. to
advance to still higher plane of use
fitness during the next decade.
IN legislative work much has been
accomplished through the efforts of
vour legislative committee, backed up
with your cooperation. The tax on
steam railroads. electric roads, tele-
phone ami telegraph companies. cor
porations, trust companies, express
companies and Pullman cars has been
increased, the monopoly clause in the
telephone law repealed. and support
furnished that prevented the repeal of
our state road law at the last session
of the legislature. all of which demon
s.rates the power of the grange when
APPLIED along proper lines by we'll di-
rected efforts.
The improved social conditions
wherever the grange has become estab-
lshcd in our rural towns, which alone
is we'll worth the entire cost of the or
der to the members is lasting monu-
ment to the grand purpose that
brought the order into existence. and
forecasts the high plane the order is
destined to occupy in the future, and
congratulate" you upon the splendid
condition of the grange in Maine to-
day
After this Introduction, Mr.. Gardner
went on to discuss at length the sub
jccts of field meetings. extension work.
taxation, rural mail delivery. parcels
post, highway improvement, last
months meeting of the National
Grange. the deaths of members during
the year. etc. He devoted much more
time 10 an arsufnentinf ;tver efaremer-
ing the Internal revenue tax on alcohol
To be used for manufacturing purposes
than t" any other subject touched upon.
In closing he paid the following tribute
to Maine and the work of the Grange
within its borders:
Patrons. in concluding this address,
| wish TO again call your attention to
the many advantages embraced within
the borders of the good state in which
We live. that have too often been over
looked in the past. An enterprising
and intelligent people dwell within the
borders of Maine. We still have the
lcaTHn of that stern old Puritanism
that has meant so much in the past and
still means so much to the future of
this nation.
TIL" ships upon the ocean take our
products 10 other states from our 5000
miles of coast and bring back materials
Tor our factories and mills. Our fertile
anu Well-Watcred lands give bOuntifully
of the products of Nature. i'm grain,
vegetables and dairy. to the art of the
skilled laborer and maid cultivator and
shepherdcss. The hills and noun
tains Weld their treasures to the skill
ol inc husbandman and artisan. while
our railroads bind us to sister states in
Iona embrace. In every direction we
can hold converse with friends else
"here through magic telephone. or re-
celVe messages in symbol over electric
vines. Rich in tradition and history
surely Maine is the worthy parent OF
pray" sons and fair daughters. Let us
'Acll serve our grand old State. May il
ever be said that the Grange in Main,
s'an!S for betterment in life, fol
equality OF opportunities and for fail
ueaiiilSs between man and man. LIE
us hui!I our structure on the principl,
Vi equity to all and malice toward
h"n"' and as rotten planks are discov
cred III the sub-structure let US neithe
hesitate nor falter. but standing shout
oer 10 shoulder In our organization. Ie
US untedly tear them out and cas-
'hem aside as being detrimental to gu
progress and injurious to the State.
Ii takes courage sometimes to stan,
Hiih upon convictions of right but fire
P"cIitlE occasions arise when to falte
I'ehiis loss of battle in the end. TIL
pain OF progress toward betterment o
,'"oi'l'hS must be hewn out by har
"''"S ny those who travel it. The hes
i.''''S's Of home and family. of reli
si'' ana politics. of country and state
III embodied in the work of on
"'F' Let us meet the demand of tn
''cS squarely and assume our full
snare of the responsibilities of life fl