Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-20
Afternoon Session.

chair When the afternoon session was |
called to order at 3 o'clock. Before |
getting down to business there was a |
little entertainment and Mrs. f. II. |
CARL was introduced and gave several |
readings in very pleasing fashion. The |
first business was a resolution intro
duced, by Brother w. J. Ryan commit |
ting the State Grange to the approval
OF the plan for State Industrial school
for the blind, and earnestly urging the
neat Legislature to appropriate money
for the same. Mr. Ryan spoke briefly
and was followed by b. f. Cousins a
member Of the Legislature, and Liberty
bennett of Portland in spirited
speeches in behalf of the resolution. So
successful were they in their appeal
that the usual course Of referring reso-
lutions to a committee was done away
with and the resolution was given i'm
mediate and unanimous passage. The
same kind treatment was accorded a
resolution pledging the support of the
Grange to the cause of equal political
rights for women which Prof Batenan
presented. This attitude of the Grange
is nothing new. however, as equal
rights for women and the right of
women to the ballot have always been
fundamental principles of the order.
A. T. Clifford of Winthrop then pre-
scented the report of the committee on
good of the order of which he is chair
man. When he had read the report the
session was declared open for few
minutes in order to allow the repre-
sentative of a Boston publishing house
an opportunity to explain special ar
rangement for selling books to men,
btrs of the order at reduced rates:
While the Grange was still in open
session Rev. II. E. Dunnack of Angus
ia was introduced and addressed the
meeting on the subject of the initiative
and referendum. This is q principle
which the Grange has warmly endorsed
and SO Mr.. Dunnack's audience was
wholly a sympathetic one. He spoke for
30 minutes and held the closest atten-
ton Of the crowd which filled the hall
He explained the provisions of bill
which will be introduced at the coming
session of the Legislature. This bill
will provide U) that no measure unless
1t affects the public health or safety,
shall go into effect for 80 days; %
that per cent of the voters may refer
pie: (3) that 8 per cent. may initiate any
act and force the Legislature to vote
for it; D that Is per cent. may de-
lnand special election. Mr.. Dunnack
explained the initiative and referendum
az an evolution of democracy and
something to safeguard and strengthen
representative government. He defend
ed the principle on historical philosoph-
zeal, Industrial and moral grounds and
the longer he spoke the more he
aroused his audience and the more fire.
quntly he was interrupted by applause.
1t was the strongest and most elo-
quent speech of the meetings and won
many compliments for the speaker.
The open meeting was proving so sue
cessful that it was continued little
longer and the audience enjoyed anoth-
er reading by Miss Andrews. who re-
Ieated her success of the morning ses-
sion.
At o'clock the recess was ended am!
work resumed again. The following res
olutions were presented and referred u
the committee on resolutions: BY Frank
Lowell of CObbosSeecOntee Grange, re-
Affirming the faith of the Grange in tho
principle of prohibition and demanding
the stringent and impartial enforce
ment of the law by the officers whose
sworn duty it is to do 50; by r. w
Mckeen Of Fryeburg. urging liberal ap-
preparations BY the Legislature for this
University of Maine: by G. S. Ste:sor
OF Greene. urging liberal aid by ths
State in fighting the brown-tail anC
gypsy moths; by Secretary Libby urg
ing law providing for direct nomili.
lions by all political parties: by A. \
stuart Of Houlton recommending al
increase Of Grange dues to provide /;
fund for help of needy Oranges il
building or rebuilding halls.
While waiting for the report OF the
committee on legislation there was an
other interval which was very accepta.
bly, filled in by an impromptu cntertain
ment program made up Of readings by
A. e.. Morse of South Paris and "Aun
Mandy Cobb of Poland and song b!
Mcssrs. Jackson and Work. All wcr,
most kindly received and encores wcr,
insisted on in each instance.
The report Of the committee on lcgis
lati0il. read by ex-Senat tor Merrill %
Somerset county. is published else
where in this issue. Its presentation
preeipitated a discussion on the vile
land tax problem. Mr.. bennett of Port
land commended that the constitution
should be amended in order to allow
special rate of taxation on the vii,
land. Mr.. Merrill defended the report o
the committee which contends that tn
wild land tax problem can be solve,
without tampering with the wise provi
sions of the constitution. The discus
sion was a lively one and Mr.. bennett
incorporate remarks--in which he dc
nounced most of Names judges. pub
lie officials and lawyers as liars an
knaves--were more amusing than con
Tincing and when the matter came t
vote he had nobody with him and tn
report of the committee was unaui
mously adopted. At $50 an adjourn
lnent was made to O'Clock.
Evening Session.
The evening session was devote
wholly to degree work. The Kennebe
POMONA Grange was scheduled to wor