Connecticut western news., 1907-06-06
THE GRANGE
 Conducted by J. W. DARR0w. Chatham. N. Y- Press Correspondent Neso Fork State
 Grunge
HOW THE FARMERS WON.
Past Master Aaron Jones' Great Per
 sonal Victory In Washington.


 sonal Victory In Washington.
 It may not be known to all readers, of this paper that last January In Washington there was held a great commercial convention which was os- tensibly called for the advancement of foreign commerce in the United States. It was really plan for the advance ment of the ship subsidy scheme which some of the most influential men, even those close to the president, were try ing to put through congress. It was an assemblage of 400 voting delegates rep resenting the shipping, mercantile, manufacturing and allied interests from all sections of the country. It happened that the national grange leg islative and executive committees were in session at that time in Washington. They discovered that the farmers had no representation in the convention and asked that one of their number be appointed to position on the commit tee on resolutions. Their request was granted, and Hon. Aaron Jones, past master of the national grange, was appointed on that committee. The ablest lawyers and experts were pres ent to assist in insuring the success of the scheme, and men who were worth their millions were there. Secretary of State Root made a powerful speech, and the convention was to close in a grand climax at ten dollar n plate banquet, which the president himself was to address. We give the rest of the story in the words of one present as printed fin the Pennsylvania Grange News:
 But the schemers had reckoned without 1 the grange delegates. Hardly had the tu-. multuous cheers which greeted the con clusion of Secretary Roots speech died away when the quiet, persistent work Of the farmers representatives began to show, and opposition to committing tho convention to the indorsement of ship subsidy legislation gathered strength. This opposition rapidly increased as it became known throughout the convention that the resolutions committed. could not agree and that Jones. the grange representative in the committed, was leading vigorous op- position and gathering to him steadily Increasing support The friends of ship subsidy began to grow anxious to get the | convention to net before the opposition could grow serious
 Finally. in the middle of the afternoon session, the resolutions committee. unablo ! to agree, reported both a majority and a minority report. the ship subsidy majority hoping to be able to carry their report through the convention. An attempt was made to rule out the minority report on a techncality. but this simply resulted in ! showing the entire convention that tho ship subsidy advocates would. if they could, ride roughshod over all opposition. As the debate waxed hot 1t showed plain ly that the resolution in favor of ship subsidy would be defeated and defeat was only averted by having both reports re- ferred back to the committee for further consideration.
 Once again the fight was on in the reso- iutions committee. and from until Il 80 D. Inf. the battle ragged. The doors of the committee room were locked, and no one but the forty odd members of the commit tee was allowed in the room. How Jones handled our end was shown. however, by the fact that he was the acknowledged leader of the fight which resulted in the utter rout of the ship subsidy forces. The resolution finally adopted by the commit- tee was a noncommittal one to the effect that the convention favors such legfsla- ton as would most effectually build up our merchant marine, the understanding being plainly that this did not mean ship subsidies. The grange and its friends had won great victory.
 | On the floor the next morning. the last | or the convention, the Dattle TABcu akAiH more ficrcely thnn ever Bitterly smart Ing under defeat, the advocates of ship subsidies denounced the resolutions sub mitted by the resolutions committee and | fought ha-d to get the original ship sub sides resolution adopted instead. The five minute rule of debate was rigidly en- forced and the speeches for and against were hot and even bitter. Excitement was intense. From all parts of the hall as many as twenty would clamor for rec AwaA so the fight went on. So far the grange representatives had been silent, content to let the opposition that had been stirred up show that it was not only the farmers who were opposing. Then suddenly above the din the clarion voice of Aaron Jones compelled the instant recognition of the chair and a dead hush settled on the great assemblage while 1t anxiously watched what was felt to be the farmers ultimatum.
 And 1t camel Wasting no time in pre- ! liminaries, in a few forceful words that struck the assembled delegates like an electric shock, in the name of the Ameri- can farmer and in the name of tho great Order he was there to represent, Jones registered his protest against the indorse- ment of ship subsidy Legislation by that convention. It was the beginning of tho end Ship subsidy indorsement was plain ly doomed. The leader of the ship sub sidy forces. made a desperate effort to ward off defeat in an impressive speech. but whatever of effect 1t might have had was completely nullifed by the brief speech of State Master Derthick. who followed.
 This ended the debate. And on a stand Ing vote tho ship subsidy advocates who had planned the convention with such great hopes could muster only forty-one votes in 0 meeting of over 400 delegates Derthick's speech magnificent. md. | though less than five minutes long, it was spoken of by many prominent people present as one of tho great speeches cf the convention.
 The Question Box.
 Why do some granges refuse admission to village people, while others receive them7
 If village people have no interest an- tagonistic to the grange and desire