Connecticut western news., 1907-09-05
THE GRANGE
 Conducted by
 J. W. DARROW. Chatham. n. Y. Press Correspondent Neso Hosk Suns GT,O10e ..
PRIZE SPEAKING CONTESTS.
A Suggestion Which Has Many Possi-
 biIities In It.

Especial Correspondenoe.l
 The grange Is training school for public speakers. Many a man can trace his initial effort along that line to the opportunity for debate, recita- ton or extempore speaking offered in and by the grange. 1t may not have developed many orators, but it has given self boise and confidence to many who have found themselves quite at ease in public address.
 This being so, should nod the grange endeavor to bring out Its latent ability and develop the talent for public speak ing which 1t may not know 1t pos sesses, and where such talent is al ready evident should 1t not be en- couraged in every legitimate way2 To this end a suggestion.
 At the next meeting of the state grange in every state let the executive committee or a special committee be empowered to formulate plan where by there shall be a prize speaking con test at the following session of the state body in which the contestants shall be chosen from Pomona granges where on previous date a like prize speaking contest had been held, Its contestants being chosen frDm sub- ordinate granges in which also such contests had been before held, or, to reverse the order, each subordinate grange that cares to enter the contest should first have competition among it's own members to determine which one should represent the grange at the Pomona public speaking contest
 At some Pomona session, regular or special, there should be a speaking contest for representation at the state grange. It Is unlikely that every sub ordinate grange would have contest ant. At any rate, not more than ten competitors should be allowed at the Pomona contest, nor at the state grange should more than ten speakers be permitted to contest for honors. There might be more than ten Pomona granges to have representatives at the others could be represented the follow ing year. The state grange should offer either cash prize or a medal or both for the best three speakers. The Pc mona grange should pay the expenses of its contestant to the state grange which will be sufficient honor for any winner in the Pomona contest
 The prizes should be awarded for originality of thought as we'll as elocu. tionary art, and therefore only original essays or eorations should be consid- cred, not memorized selections. Sub jects might be confined to any of the great public reform questions of the day, not necessarily pertaining to the grange, however. A further step might be taken in having national grange speaking contest the winning competi- tors in each state grange contest being representatives. Here would be an honor, indeed, for the fortunate prize winners, and an elaborate medal should adorn the breast of the first honor man or woman.
 This is a crude plan briefly outlined, but the idea is what we are after, and this article may lead to a development of it. The highest good would accrue to the several contestants in the train ing they would receive in the perpara ton and presentation of their literary productions. J.~W. D.