The Newtown bee., 1905-09-08
KENT.

FIELD DAY MEETING OF THE HoUsA-
TONIC VALLEY POMONA HELD AT
KENT, AUGUST 81, 1905.
AS was announced, the Field Day
meeting of the HouSatonic Valley Po-
mona was held, but not in the grove,
for the rain of the day before left it
rather damp eAen in Kent, so we went
to the hall, and after forenoon spent
in social intercourse and sightseeing
around the village, we partoOk Of a
sumptous dinner, then were ready to
listen to the speakers. The meeting
was in charge of Prof Phelps. Rev G.
H. Smith gave the address of welcome.
He was followed by State Master o. S.
Wood. State Lecturer L, H. Healy
and G. E. Bacon, Secretary of Patrons
Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Then came the silver-tOngued orator
Of the day, G. H. Bachelor of New
Hampshire. an ex-governor and past
master OF his state and now lecturer
of the National Grange. He had been
speaking in behalf of the Grange in
different states for the past i've weeks.
He had addressed audiences in many
surroundings in churches, court house,
once IN a factory, at fairs and at Chau-
tauqua gatherings. This was his
thru day in Connecticut. The day
before he spoke at the Mountain Coun-
ty Pomona at Winsted, where they
were driven by the rain into the large
and cOmmodiOus barn Of the High
land Lake farm, where they were hold
ing the meeting, and which seemed a
very appropriate place surrounded as
they were on all sides by the produc-
tions of the farm. The farmer, he
said, was all the one that actually pro-
611oo6 onuthiror Tho m fun TN a re
do not produce only add to the value
Of products. Transportation does not
produce; trade is only exchange. Dur
ing the five weeks tour he had looked
upon the greatest crops ever raised in
the country. And because of these
immense crops we shall have prospect
ty. 1t will come to transportation
and to trade. But agriculture is the
one industry which stands under them
all, when we have poor crops it under
mines other industries. He then
spoke of the value Of organization of
farmers. Between the great organic
ations of capitol and labor, what posi-
BILE chance is there for the farmer, ex-
own. And, of the useful organizations
of the. farmers, there is only one ma
tional in character, and that is the
Grange. Farmers should do some
thing and have some influence in pub
lie affairs. This organization helps
them. Speaking of what had been
through its aid, he said it had brought
about rural free delivery by which
more than one-half of the farmers OF
their country have their mail brought
to their doors. By the way, Brother
Bachelor and Aaron Jones, master of
the National Grange, who spoke at a
field meeting in Danbury, last yea !,
were two Of the three men sent by the
National Grange to Washington to
confer with the postmaster general
for the first million dollars appropri-
alton for rural delivery.] He said 9TH
er Improvements which the Grange is
working for is the establishment of a
parcels post, national help in the i'm
provement of highways, and the cleo
tion of senators by the people. He
said he was thankful he was farmer
and his father and grandfatherS were
also and he always expected to be one.
He was so much interested IN Grange
work, he had spent 20 years working
for the interests of the Grange.
He was followed by F. P. Johnson
urging the boys and young men to stay
on the farm or in the home town
Mrs Mary w. Phipps, a college educat
ed and very talented woman spoke or
"Woman's Work in the Grange" The
exercises of the day closed with the
singing of "America.'