The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-12-27
MIR. Gardner and the Grange.

this State, has already enrolled one
twelfth of our population in its mem
bership and it's influence Is undoubtedly
proportionately greater than it's numeri
cal strength 1t therefore follows that
the address delivered by the State Mas
ter at the annual meeting of the order.
is awaited with great interest and prob
ably obtains a more extended audience
than the utterances Of any other citizsn.
This great order of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry has come into it's commanding
position 40 rapidly that we hardly real
ize its possibilities and the statement thai
the address of State Master Obadiah
Gardner at Augusta, last week, is the
most powerful factor of the year just
past, in shaping the policies of this com
monwealth, may cause some surprise,
yet it is undoubtedly the case.
SO far as State legislation is concerned,
Mr.. Gardeners most definite recommend
atoms were on the three subjects of tax.
alton, improved highways and the Initia-
tive and Referendum, and the striking
thing about it Is that none of the chang
90 In the statutes of this state, or of the
nation, asked for by him, can be fairly
considered as "class legislation" In
this sense the Grange Is very much
alone in its demands. We know of
scarcely another instance, where purely
economic legislation is asked for by
those who are not to become It's immedi
ate beneficisries, but the Grange of
enactments which all must concede will
not benefit Its members except In so far
as they result in general prosperity.
The Initiative and Referendum best
illustrates the broad purpose of the
Grange This measure seeks to place in
the hands of the whole people the power
to initiate laws by petition and to accept
or reject them by vote at the polls. 1t
does not aim to abolish the legislature
but asks that the people may have the
power to revise or supplement its action.
There is obviously no way that the Pa
irons of Husbandry could profit by this
privilege except to the extent that it's
influence upon legislation might result
IN greater justice to everyone.
Mr. Gardner recommended, In the
field of national legislation, the election
of United states sena' ors by direct vote
of the people, the establish Dent of Pos
tai Savings Banks the continuance of
the rural free delivery system, national
control of corporations and the restraint
of monopoly, regulation of the use of
shoddy, pure food laws, laws to extend
tho markets for home products, govern
ment aid to ship canals and to highways,
the establishment of a parcels post and
telephone and telegraph service in con-
nection with the postoffice, and the pay
ment of government employees at the
same rates as In private enterprise.
Many of these things are In fair way to
be realized in the early future, and part
must see many years before their full
omplishment, but the trend of the
times is strongly In the direction of the
suggestions made by the State Master,
and the Grange will be an important
factor in whatever progress is made.
About 10 per cent of the 1000 mem.
bers of tho order in this state reside in
Somerset county. Thev are chiefly en-
gagged in agriculture, IT, industry upon
which all others depend. They are
among our best people, our most worthy
citizens. They are naturally conserva
tive 80 much so in the past as to look
with distrust upon change of almost
every kind but now full of a spirit of
progress that promises great results in
the immediate future. The REPORTER
wishes tn congratulate the five thousand
Patrons in this county on the notable
address of their State Master, on the
strength and character of their order,
and on its broad and patriotic purposes,
aud to wish them every success in their
effort to dignity and elevate their call
ing. which of all the labors of man.
should be the most dignified and most
reputable.