The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-12-26
MAINE STATE GRANGE.

is Flourishing.
LEWISTON, Dec. II. The saith an
mail meeting of the Maine State Grange
was formally opened today by State
Master Obadiah Gardner of ROckland,
who for five terms of two years each
has been at the head of the order in
this State. The forenoon was devoted
TO the opening of the convention,
while the annual address OF the State
master and reports of officers and COM
mjttees occupied the attention OF the
Crangers at the afternoon session. Mas
ter Gardeners report was, in part, as
follows:
The past year has been one of steady
growth and progress in Maine through
increased membership, increasing in
anrnce, and higher standard of work,
nutll we have in Maine today an or
ganization we are proud of, and a
Tpcogulzed influence for good by all our
people.
oar growth this year is ~ new subor-
iinate oranges and one reOrganlzed; so
hat today we have 26 Pomona and 41S
coordinate oranges. Our present men,
barShip is between $4,000 and $4,000.
The figures will be given exactly by
your worthy secretary. We have dedi-
1J4d 10 new grange halls within the
VAR. as follows: Industry Grange,
N.9.es: Ashland; Machias; West Bald
NH. Charleston; Good Will, South
Warren; Highland, East Warren;
Aliens, Union League, kingman; o.
GARDNER, Winterport; making SO grange
Ia , that have dedicated to the use
add purpose of the order.
PARCELS POST.
Tie movement to secure this much
needed service has received powerful
support by the endorsement of Hon.
Geurge Van Meyer, postmaster general
Of tue United States; his plan and that
ofiae grange differing only in degree, so
that the grange has endorsed his plan.
H. IS using all his great influence TO
arouse public interest in its support.
HI proposes, with the help of the
grnge, to secure the enactment of the
ger-ssary legislation this session OF
congress if possible. With this power
mi assistance ali the grange needs to
do is to aggressively assist with Its
rremendous influence, when success
viii be assured and the people every
where will receive the benefit to which
they are so clearly entitled through
tts service.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
one of the recommendations which
The postmaster general will make to
congress, one which the grange has
slg0cated for years, will be the estab-
ssAment of postal savings banks, en-
atug the people remote from savings
banks to deposit even the smallest
AMOUNT at their post office, receiving
ttegefore the guarantee of the govern
m-ut for its safety, as there will be no
fear of the deposits being scaled down,
Jig lat the bank officers will speculate
with the money, but that as long as the
AMERICAN flag flies the money will be
safe, and as long as the government is
brr5owing capital to build canals and
yi other great enterprises, it can as
u4sistently borrow of all the people as
d. select few, besides furnishing safe
sa convenient places for people in the
~ rlt it will be absolutely safe.
The GRANGE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
While the grange is not, and cannot
E. partisan political organization, as
III it enters upon such a course it
entered upon the beginning of its
-. as it can and will result in disaster
destruction, yet it must of necessi-
~ ave to do with questions of public
policy, and while it does not make laws
& muet have to do with their enact
m-lt aud enforcement. While it may
OF no special Importance whether a
.-rtain policy shall prevail or not, it is
"! he very highest Importance, moral
D, socially, and financially, that when
such a policy is enacted into law, it
Sud.l be observed to the very letter.
My other course is to teach disre-
gard of all law; a part of the pathway
u anarchy.
TAXATION.
Taxation is creature of growth, and
lEp all growth it has given out in the
of least resistance. The man with
millions has stood like a rock against
His growth in his direction, while ag-
couture has offered a fertile if not in
wing field where taxation has found
il, highest development. The farmer,
i. 5uffering most, is not alone. linus
tiges are everywhere, yet the demand
TO- more revenue is memorable. The
situation has become acute and relief
is demanded by the bona fjde tax payer
0u one hand while the assessor must
make both ends meet one the other.
Common honesty would require that
under the provision of our State con-
Stitution, Section s, Article 10. All
axes upon real and personal estate as
assessed by authority of this State shall
he apporti0ned and assessed equally,
{, cOrding to the just value thereof" the
t4tlre property of the State would find
It's way to the assessors books, but ex-
prrience proves that it does not. As
long as there is large amount of prop
eTty in our State that pays no tax ex-
c7pt that levied by the State and coun-
Ties, justice and equity require that
this property should contribute more
argely than at present to the mainte-
Lance of all general expenses, such as
tie education of the boys and girls of
tie State, construction and mainte.
nance of the public highways, the care
of the poor and insane and all untortu-
lates that have to depend upon the
inefficient benefits of our government.
And yet the proposition is made that
dli taxes be removed from the so
called wild lands of the State, and
taxes be assessed only upon the logs
and timber, and the argument is made
that because of the tax imposed the
forests of Maine are being stripped.
Io the everlasting injury of the State,
He last proposition.
STATE CAPITOL.
one matter that is proper for refer
hnc t,rI