Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1907-11-28

i.atiJn grow in strength numbers and
Influence.
1t The close Of the civil war the agri-
Culture of cur country became most Sc
iiously depressed Most farmers were
heavily III debt. their farms mortgaged
i., aa extent that made life discourag
Ing: they bal to pay high rates of In
tpre&t. With transportation charges Oh
thrir products so high in cost as to
leave little profit after marketing.
The grange was organized to meet
these conditions. and through the prin-
ciple5 ana methods of cooperation it
undertook. and with large degree of
success. to improve the depressing con
t.,ollS in farming and to awaken In
farmers higher appreciation of their
work and of lheir influence in the com
muuity in which they lived. as also
upon important questions of public
policy,
The grange needs TO do more of this
kind OF work. Wherever grange ex-
Its ur new grange is organized II
should take Grst of all the problems
that affect the highest welfare of that
community, What are those most
prominent? We should say the condi-
ton OF the public school is one first In
importance. What Is the school doing
81 The farm life of the nelghborhood!
Are the children being taught any
thing about the soil? Are they getting
amy obstruction IN the plant life with
wnich they have to deal? Are they
2ainiug any conception of the possl
biiitica that are before them in intel
iigeNt cooperation and in the cultiva
ton OF the important plants that are
grown about iheir farm homes and up
On which the prosperity and success
Of farm life are entirely dependent?
IS the school in the rural community
IN which h grange exists teaching the
children anything about the insect life
that is destroying the farm crops to Il
degree that year after year seriously
reduces the income of the farm or any
thing of The blights and diseases of
plants that still further reduce the In
come anG add to inability to meet
debts to make improvements and to
iriIg 10 the home the comforts that
q. ID to the pleasure of living: Is there
Any Information impaired to the chill.
tl!en on the animal life Of the school
district IN the woods, In the water or
Oh The farm? Is the schoolhouse and
It's surroundings pleasant and inviting
to the children or Is 1t barren and re
pelant to the best impulses of their
nature? Arc there few children In the
IL, tn ipt, In ~.
education that Is being given them,
and Il SO Is there any relation between
the total absence of all of this benef-
ceut and all inspiring teaching and the
diminishing numbers of children in
rura schools? And further, is there
any relation between the absence OF
this Kind of school instruction and the
desire Of the young people TO get away
feoln the farm and into our villages
and cities. 10 the final neglect of many
sarln homo and its sale .at a large
sacrifice in value:
Is there not l.l-e Il work OF most
vital Importance that the grange has
not cone ana one which it may yet dc
with large possible results in the up
builaing OF farm values and of more
active interest IN farm life? What
. may and should the grange do for the
community i'll which it exists in Other
directions that affect its welfare? DC
the members look after the local gov
elnment? DO they see that efficient
and truste men are administering the
expendit' .ea of the town property
Are the highways, of SO much impor
tance to ers, made as good as they
should be ior the money that is col
lected for that purpose? Why do sc
many farmers and highway commits
sioners allow year after year weeds t.
grow along the highway, to scatter
their seeds over the farms of the en-
tire neighborhood to contest with theil
grass and grain crops the occupancy o.
the soil that yields such discouraging
y small profits? Why is an importan
law In relation to the cutting of weed: