Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-21

very tired of his harangue. There
was no stopping him however. and
long continued applause and calls for
the question did not discourage the
flow of his eloquence. He denounced
the legislative committee and almost
everybody else. When he finally ceas-
ed. chairman Merrill stepped to the
front of the stage and said some very
vigorous things in defense of the SER
vices and intentions of that committee.
He told Of its origin and its work in re-
cent years ana declared that i'll health
would prevent him from carrying long
er the burden Of its labors. Worthy
Lecturer Thompson. also spoke briefly
in defense Of tie work of the leglSla-
tive committee and gave high praise
to Chairman Merrill for his faithful
services and absolute integrity. Co.
lumbus Hayford Of Presque Isle added
a strong word in defense of this COM
mittcc and against unjust discrimina-
ton against the wild lands. When the
ma tier finally came to a vote Mr..
bennett had hardly anybody with him
in the whole crowd which filled the
hall and the report Of the committee
on taxation was adopted just as the
report Of the legislative committee had
been adopted the day before.
The skies had no sooner cleared
after this storm than another storm
broke. This time it was in relation to
next years meeting Of the State
Grange. Brother Brown of Bradford
moved that the earlier action OF the
Grange in accepting Lewiston's invita-
ton to meet there in 1907 be rcscinded
and that the matter of next years
meeting be left as usual to the execu-
tive committee. In moment off came
Prof. Bateman's OvcrcCat and he was
at the front Of the stage laundering his
opposition to the motion. He pleaded
with the Grange not to put such an ILL
dignity upon Lewiston and Auburn as
to reconsider its acceptance of the in
vitation. He declared that the hotel
men of those cities would not take
advantage of the fact that the place of
the meeting had been decided before
rates had been arranged. He pledged
himself that the City hall OF Lewiston
should not cost the Grange q ccnt-he
would even pay it first himself. He
urged that the State Grange itself is
superior to the executive committee
which it creates and has right to
settle the matter without reference.
If this proposed action is taken" he
declared in closing, 1T will be such Il
blew to the pride of Lewiston that l
shall be compelled to withdraw abso-
lutely the invitation to meet there next
year or any time in the future.
W. $. Wells of Wells followed and
protested against the proposed with
drawal Of the acceptance on the
ground that it would be unjust to those
who We're present when the vote was
taken but who were now absent.
Worthy Lecturer Thompson explained
that I'll" executive committee did not
feel Gricvcd at having the matter
taken out OF its hands and that the
proposition to reconsider came from
sources outside the committee. He
felt however that the action of the
Grange was dangerous precedent.
+. p. Mayo Of Waterville was the next
speaker and he made a strong argu-
mcnt in favor of the motion. He de-
clarcd that it was unfair to other cities
for the Grange to allow itself to be
swept off its feet by the elOquence of
one man and accept his invitation to
Continued on Page Five)