Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-16
CAPITAL GRANGE PICNIC.
Presence Of Unexpected Guests Enjoy
ed at Island Park.

| Grange take day off for a good time.
Yesterday they visited Island Park,
taking basket lunches, and made the
most of the beautiful August day. One
of the large cars left the street as a
| special at o'clock in the forenoon,
| we'll loaded with Grange members, the
party including q number of visitors
from nearby Oranges. Others went
out later until the number reached
! nearly hundred.
On arrival at the park a pleasant
surprise was met. State Master o.
| Gardner, Ohio State Master F. A.
Derthick and Hon. Milton Merrill of
| the Maine State Grange executive
committee were there to meet the Pa
| irons.
These three gentlemen have been
holding field meetings with various
county Grange organizations all over
Maine and G. \. Yeaton, master of
spOndence with Mr.. Gardner about
| holding a field day for Kennebec on the
18th. Through some unexplained de-
lay of letter which missed Mr.. Gard
ner in his travels, he supposed plans
were being made for the field day.
while Mr. Yeaton had had no reply to
his letter and consequently no al
rangemcnts were made for a county
meeting. This unfortunate misun-
derstanding, for which no one was to
blame, is deeply regretted by all par
ties concerned. as a large party Of Pa
irons from all over central Maine
would have been present had they
known such distinguished men were to
be in attendance
AS it was, those SO fortunate as to
be among the picnicers enjoyed rare
treat in listening to Mr.. Derthick. He
spoke briefly himself, owing to limited
time Mr.. Derthick is a man of COM
handing presence and proved very
quickly that he was well equipped
with the necessary knowledge to en-
able him to hold the prominent posi-
ton he does. In fact, it is said that
he is very likely to be governor of the
important state of Ohio. Certainly he
is as powerful a speaker as has been
heard here in long time, and his
grasp of public affairs is something re-
markable. He took up, one by one,
many of the great questions of public
interest, and though he could touch
upon each but briefly, yet every hearer
understood and when he had finished
he had given the thoughtful ones
enough to ponder over for a long time.
He dwelt for a moment upon the past
and present of the Grange and said
that among the results attained by the
order these four stood out above all
others and in fact, they were the four
most important things brought about,
by any means. in recent years.
l. Supervision of transportation.
.. Rural free delivery.
3. Pure food law.
4. Denatured alcohol (the law on
this goes into effect September u.
Speaking of the latter he said the
possibilities involved could not be
measured. 1t opened market for
Millions of bushels of grain, so that
every acre of land might become a
competitor of Standard Oil If the
Grange had done nothing but these
four things it has paid its cost q thou
hand times.
He prophesied that at the next ses-
sion Of Congress the Grange would ask
for three things: FederaliZcd road
building; revision of tariff; improved
mail service. Last year the farmers of
the country not only furnished food
and clothing for our own nations pop
ulatiop, but sent products abroad
worth 5OO,OOO,OOO, practically $780,
000,O00 more than the value of imports
These last figures represent the actual
-, fra,
from the farmers in one year. Why
shouldn't they go to Congress and ask
for some of this returned in the way of
improved conditions? Why should a
farmer pay 40 per cent. more for his
implements than if he could buy at
prices prevailing in other countries?
Why should the United States be be-
hind almost all other countries in it's
mail service? Even in Switzerland
the government carries an 11-pound
package anywhere in the country for
eight cents. Why shouldn't Uncle
Sam carry one anywhere for % cents?
One reason, said the speaker. is the
Wells Fargo Express. another the
United States Express, third the
American Express and the other three
are the three other companies which.
with those named, control the rapid
transportation of packages in the
United States.
Will the Grange get these things?
Yes. but not by the efforts of few
individuals; only by grand, concert
ed demand from all sides. Members
everywhere must join hands, pull to-
gether and keep pulling.
Mr.. Derthick further mentioned COL
lective ownership. postal savings
banks, ship subsidies. details Of the
tariff question. problems of transporta-
ton, and last but not least. public ac-
counting, as questions which are re-
ceiving and must receive public atten-
ton.
Needless to say, every word of the
speakers remarks was enjoyed by his
listeners. and the pleasure, added to
that Of the picnic. will not soon be
forgotten. The only regret is that the