The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-11-21
THE. NATIONAL GRANGE
Holds its 41st Annual Session in Hart
ford, Conn.

Holds its 41st Annual Session in Hart
! ford, Conn.
HARTFORD, CONN, Nov. 10. Men,
beers of the National Grange from all
sections of the country assembled here
today for the first business meeting of
the annual ten-day session. The Pat
rons of Husbandry will hold some of
their meetings in the Hall of Repre-
sentatives at the State Capitol, the
Grange being the first organization out
side of those strictly governmental in
character, to be accorded that honor.
This convention is :he 41st annual
gathering of the national body and it
was stated today that the attendance
was larger and included more promi-
nent Changers than any previous an.
nual convention. The cotton grower
of the South, the grain grower of the
central West, the cattle grower of the
grazing States, the dairyman and truck
farmer of the East and the fruit grow
er from the Pacific coast, each has his
important function to perform and will
take an active part in the deliberations.
The first business session was held
this morning in Foot Guard hall, this
meeting being for sixth degree men,
| bers. Following a roll call by States,
the meeting proceeded to fourth de-
gree business. This afternoon various
officers presented their annual reports
and former Gov. N. J. Batchelder of
New Hampshire, the master of the
National Grange, read his annual ad-
dress.
In his address the National Grange
| master said:
The membership of the Grange in
the country has made a net gain dur
ing the year over all losses of eight per
cent, larger net gain than has been
recorded in any year for over 80 years.
In October, 1906, the total assets of the
National Grange were $94,671. "a, and on
october l, 1907 they were S102, 921 A,
| making net gain during the year of
S., 2495O
| agriculture represents more capital
and gives direct employment to a
greater number of people than any
other single industry in the country.
The So, 900, 900 people classed under the
head of agricultural people produced
last year crops to the value of about
seven billion dollars, an amount so vast
as to be almost beyond comprehension.
The total volume of crops this year
may be slightly less than the crops of
1906, but their cash farm value will be
even greater.
"The farm labor problem is one of
the most serious problems that farmers
have to solve. A vast number of i'm
migrants are annually coming to this
country to obtain work. 1t is estimat
ed that 100000 come here annually
from Austria, 10000 from Hungary.
10000 from Germany, 100000 from
Italy, $4,000 from the Scandinavian
peninsula, 10000 from Ireland, making
with the arrivals from other European
countries over million annually.
Many of these immigrants come from
farms in their home countries, but
when they reach our shores the at
traction of city life and the wages paid
in other industries result in their locat
ing in cities.
The department of commerce and
labor has recently begun movement
for advertising abroad the demand for
agricultural laborers in this country
giving specific requests for the same,
which may be of advantage.
Regarding trusts the speaker said:
''The influences that have contribut-
ed to the existence of monopolies
known as trusts have caused wide
spread discussion and one of these
very frequently assigned as the foun-
dation of the trouble is the protective
tariff, in that schedules that were
adapted to the industrial development
OF the country when the present rates
of duty were established are unfair
and unreasonable under existing condi
tions.
''The people asking this claim in
clude as ardent advocates of the pro-
tective principle as can be found in the
country, as we'll as people opposed to
any form of protection by duties upon
imports. The tariff itself has been so
prominent as a political issue as to
make its discussion in a non-partisan
organization like the Grange an i'm
possibility, but the subject of it's re-
vision in a way to meet existing condi-
lions and especially as contributor to
the formation of trusts is Z non-p arti-
san question.
This position has been taken at va
rious sessions of the National Grange
and is becoming the prevailing senti-
ment among the thinking people of the
country irrespective of political affilia-
ton"