The Republican journal., 1907-05-02

! with It's large ana 1ntelllgenG mem
bership, the grange in the State OF
Maine has an immense power, socially,
commercially and politically.
And with this increased influence, in
creased responsibility and graver delib
Grafton should characterize every &C
ton which may affect matters of pub
lie nature. 1t is not becoming, and it
is not right, in consideration of its i'm
mense membership, for this order to
press matters of public nature with
tive discussion.
! We should try to reach considera-
ton of every such matter from the
standpoint of others equally interested
with ourselves, but perhaps from very
| different considerations, that justice
may be done to others as we might wish
| it for ourselves.
| With largely increased influence and
power, in the county and in the State,
we should, to a greater extent than
ever before, reach out from the narrow
confines in which our everyday business
has a tendency to hold us, and allow
our views to expand to greater breadth,
! and rise to a greater height than has
| been the case in the past.
We should each strive, not only to
act we'll our part in life in whatever
| station we may be called to fill, but we
should also strive to aid our fellow men
to improve upon the surroundings in
which they may be placed.
In this work for personal and general
education the grange has done, and is
still doing, an important part, and it is
this spirit, and with this confidence in
| your motives, that we welcome you
here today.
i We trust and believe that your delib-
| erations at this meeting will be of such
! a nature that while we shall have been
! interested and entertained thereby we
shall return to our homes encouraged
and strengthened to take up the battle
of life with renewed courage and deter
mination, and with greater apprecia-
! ton of our advantages, duties and re-
sponsibilities as a part of that favored
body of citizens, the free born Ameri-
can people, who need yield only to the
dictates of that which is just and right,
and whose only acknowledged master
need be the Supreme Ruler of the uni
verse to whom we most humbly bow.
Hoping that the remembrance of this
day may be one of the precious jewels
which shall be a source of pleasure to
us all while life shall last, in behalf of
| Harvest Home Grange l extend to you
a cordial welcome.
The response was by Giles G. Abbott
of Belfast, who spoke as follows:
Worthy Master, Sister and Brother Pa
| irons: In behalf of Waldo County Pomona
! Grange, we thank Harvest Home Grange
for the very cordial welcome and fraternal
greetings given US today, and we trust that
you may in measure be repaid for your
kindly efforts, by what we may at this meet
ing do or say that will inspire you to re-
newed faith and higher endeavor in grange
work.
Gus changes. The grange has outgrOwn its
| early timidity; it has passed the pioneer
period; it is no longer an experiment; its
!, work and mission is more clearly defined
Our State and national sessions are not
conducted along uncertain lines but are
and concentrated force. With the passing
of an ordeal of prejudice, criticism and dis
trust the grange emerged, standing today,
as the defender and truest interpreter of
the demands and rights of the common
people.
How important that we patrons of the
subordinate and Pomona Grange take best
methods to maintain the footing already
gained, and hold with discreet hand, and
guard with jealous eye, our present vantage
ground. Let us not in careless Indifference
squander the time set apart for these coun-
CHS. If we attach any Importance to the
utterances of the best informed minds in
this country; if we read Understandings !;
if we believe in our own experiences; we
shall see work before us as vital to the
preservation Of our rights as any work that
ever confronted a people.
The patrons have received at intervals
prophetic warnings against too familiar
ventures into the complex questions of
government. With paternal sOlicitude and
polished phrase they have been reminded
that the sphere for the farmer is the field,
and not the forum. The danger signal of
political ENHANCEMENT has been Haunted
! but all in VAIN. With that temerity born
perhaps of ignorance, the grange haZarded
| demand for some OF the long deferred
J privileges and rights of the agricultural
classes. The results were most gratifying
and successful, and we are enjoying many
privileges today that would have been in
definitely withheld but for the persistent
and weli-directed efforts of our leading
patrons.
The attempt to relegate the grange to "a
small and marrow place; to clrcumscIibe
its influence in public affairs; to hold it
down to the level of purely social needs; to
make of it a mere supplement for enter
tainment and holiday fun and paStime; to
do this is to slight and belittle the broad
principles upon which the order was found
Gu, anu q pCAtCloc anu llIulGcu COu-
ception of the grand possibilities and real
worth of the grange. But true patrons are
not to be caught with CHAIR or be ''betray-
ed by kiss" That time has come when
the average man refuses to accept the plaus-
ible but misleading arguments of the self
seeking Individual.
We ask for nothing unreasonable, no
special privileges, but do want an honest
deal with other classes. We want our
share of the improvements and we protest
against graft, monopoly and the corporate
lawlessness that exists at the present time.
We are asked, "What are you going to do
about it?" Well, we are going to denounce
it.
Pro f.schurman of Cornell discusses the
ethics of business; he warns capitalists
against .present methods" and wage
systems" advises immediate and radical re-
form, Men are in revolt against artificial
unfair inequality, not but that superior
ability should receive its just recompense,
but they object to the rewarding of dis
honesty, cunning and fraud.
Good citizenship is calling for a new order
of things. The lab0ring men, the producers,
protest against the support and protection
that corporate interests receive to the