The Republican journal., 1907-11-28
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
Bachelor Reelected National Mast

az tuC NON. 1Jlu SeSSlOU vi Lue N a.
tional Grange in Hartford, Conn.,, State
Master Gardner of Maine introduced
resolution to the effect that Congress
should change the act to regulate com
merce, approved Feb. 4, 1897, by en-
larging the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and naming
certain persons to whom free passes
shall be given.
He also introduced a resolution that
the National Grange approve of the
effort now being made to secure the
amendment of the 1906 act to regulate
commerce permitting railroads to grant
special rates to the blind and their
guides. Both were referred for COM
mittee consideration.
A resolution was also presented re-
garding land transfers fayoring
| change upon lines similar in scope to
the IorrenS system.
| State Master Derthick introduced a
resolution from the committee on taxa
ton in favor of more equitable sys-
! tenn of taxation than the existing one.
This was referred to the committee on
resolutions.
The opening session Nov. Goth was
devoted to the election of officers and
unusual interest was manifested in the
| oClCCIIOllo IN dUloIldl dSG6I IN dlluIl y
Bachelor of Concord, n. H., was re-
elected on the first ballot; State Master
| T. G. Atheson of West Virginia was
chosen overseer; George W. F. Gaunt
of New Jersey, reelected lecturer and
j. A. Newcomb of Gordon, Colo, stew
ard. A new occupant of the office of
assistant steward is State Master C. d.
Richardson of North Brookfield, Mass.
Connecticut was honored by the selec-
ton of State Master Orson S. Wood of
Ellington as chaplain. Mrs. Eva S. Nc
Dowell of Rome. n. j., was reelected
treasurer, appreciation of her services
being manifested by a unanimous vote
Charles M. Freeman of Tippecanoe
City, Ohio, was reelected Secretary
and State Master A. c. Powers of Be-
lott, Wis, gate keeper. For the three
graces in the standardization of Ceres
in the National degree, Mrs Elizabeth
H. Patterson of Maryland, Mrs Ida J.
Judson of Balfour, Iowa, and Mrs
Sarah G. Baird of Minnesota were
chosen. For lady assistant steward,
Mrs. jeanne NJ Walker of Delaware
was elected and State Master NJ f.
Godfrey of Olean, n. Y, was elected a
member of the executive committee.
Spirited discussions OH taxation, tar
| Ill ltNlolOll dlIu ObHel Y GlOllS VI I'D
tional Importance, lent unusual ANNA
tiou to the sessions. Thursday after
noon Radical action in accord with
the sentiment of the times" it was
stated. was taken on nearly all of these
matters. Resolutions were passed de-
handing the election of United States
senators by the people directly, there
being an unanimity of sell timent among
the delegates on this question. keso-
lutions were also adopted in favor of
tariff revision. In the course of the
debate on this resolution, frequent al
lusiops were made to the low rates at
which it is possible to purchase Ameri-
can-made products in foreign markets,
in contrast with home prices. Resolu-
tons OH the initiative aid referendum
were referred back for further delibera-
ton. Resolutions were passed against
the purchase of land by aliens, who
have not first declared their intention
of becoming citizens. This action, it
is understood, is aimed at wealthy
foreigners, who come here and pur-
chase large tracts of land for sporting
purposes only. The most interesting
question of the day was on the taxation
resolution. The final action taken was
in favor of equalization of taxes all
along the line, the resolution stating
that while the farmer is obliged to
! answer 81 questions before the asses
| sorS will leave him, the banker has only
to answer one. 1t was pointed out dur
ing the debate that the property of the
farmer is always exposed, while it is
impossible to see the STUFFED wallets
and bonds in the strong box of the rich
man."
The National Grange ended its 41st
annual session Nov. 22nd after sitting
ten days and the delegates Immediately
started for their homes.
Resolutions were adopted in favor of
the bill before Congress appropriating
ten cents per capita to cities for
mechanic arts in High schools, and ten
cents per capita in rural districts for
agricultural schools.
| A resolution on child labor advocates
the harmonizing of the child labor and
| truancy laws so that the education of
the child and not its labor be made
paramount.
Resolutions were adopted in favor of
the teaching of domestic science and
manual training in the rural schools as
were also those favoring the issuing of
passes to blind persons and their attend
ants by the railroads.
In regard to railroads, the report
submitted demanded of the govern
ment some sort of oversight powerful
enough to compel obedience and broad
enough to avoid injustice Sufficient
power is advocated for the interstate
commerce commission to defend the
people from unjust railroad charges
that the small shipper may have
more just discrimination in his favor
and especially that the farmer may not
be Disseminated against.
Resolutions relating to forests were
also adopted. They advocate their
reservation for all time and favor their
care and management by the Depart
ment of Agriculture and place the
grange on record as favoring all legiti-
mate measures for the re-growing of
forests in this country.
State Overseer o. S. Wood of Con-
necticut presented the following reso-
lutions, which were adopted:
Whereas, The National Grange
stands for the equality of the men and
women in the home and grange, and
whereas the National Grange at it's
annual convention has declared from
time to time in favor of the equality of
| citizens,
Therefore, resolved. that the politi-
cal rights of women be discussed in