Evening journal., 1907-12-24

10 solve them
HON. c. 7. POWELL. viii the organ
ization grow in strength, numbers and
influence
AT the close OF the civil war the agri-
culture Of our country became most Sc
riously depressed. Most farmers were
heavily in debt. their farms mortgaged
TO an extent that made life dlscourag
Ing hey had to pay high rates Of in
teresI. With transportation charges on
their products SO high IN cost as TO
leave little profit after marketing.
The grange was organized 90 meet
these conditions. and through the prin-
ciples and methods Of cooperation Il
undertook, and With large degree Of
success, TO improve the depressing con
ditlons in farming and TO awaken In
farmers a higher appreciation Of their
work and Of their influence in the com
munity in which they lived, as also
upon important questions Of public
policy.
The grange needs to do more OF this
kind OF work. Wherever a grange ex-
lists or a new grange is organized II
should take first Of all the problems
that affect the highest welfare OF that
community. What are those most
prominent? We should say the condi-
tion OF the public school Is one first in
Importance. what is the school doing
for the farm life OF the neighborhoodi
Are the children being taught any
thing about the soil? Are they getting
any instruction In the plant life with
which they have to deal7 Are they
gaining any conception Of the posi-
bilitles that are before them in intel
llgent cooperation and In the cultiva
ton Of the important plants that are
grown about their farm homes and up
on which the prosperity and success
OF farm life are entirely dependent
Is the school in the rural community
in which a grange exists teaching the
children anything about the insect lif'
that is destroying the farm crops TO {
degree that year after year seriously
reduces the income OF the farm or any
thing Of the blights and diseases oi
lINnNo llluN NAAlA IMAAnEL NtuNNN ANE III
come and add to inability to NEE
debts. 20 make improvements and T.
bring to the home the comforts tha
add to the pleasure Of. living? Is therl
any information impaired to the chill
dren on the animal life OF the schoo
district in the woods, IN the water o.
on the farm? Is the schoolhouse anG
its surroundings pleasant and inviting
10 the children or is 1t barren and re
pellant to the best impulses Of thei
nature? Are there few children in tbs
school and little public interest in thl
education that Is being given them
and II so Is there any relation betweel
the total absence Of all Of this benefi
cent and all inspiring teaching and thu
diminishing numbers Of children +.
rural schools? And. further. is Their
any relation between the absence O
this kind Of school instruction and tn
desire Of the young people to get ava.
from the farm and into our Villages
and cities, to the final neglect Of man!
a farm home and its sale at a larg'
sacrifice in value2
Is there not here a work Of mos
vital importance that the grange hal
not done and one which It may yet d'
with large possible results IN the up
building Of farm values and Of NOR
active interest IN farm nfc2 Wha
may and should the grange do for th'
community in which II exists in othe
directions that affect It's welfare? ID
the members look after the local gov
ernment? DO they see that efficlen
and trusted men are administering thl
expenditures OF the town property
Are the highways, of so much impor
tance TO farmers, made as good as thel
should be for the money that is col
lected for that purpose? Why do 81
many farmers and highway commits
sioners allow year after year weeds Z
grow along the highway, to seattle
their seeds over the farms Of the en-
tire neighborhood TO contest with thei
grass and grain crops the occupancy o
the soil that yields such discouraging
ly small profits? why IS an importan
law IN relation to the cutting Of weed
along the highway and Of vital impor
tance TO farmers ignored and violated
SO universally? Does the grange as
sumo any responsibility or make ii
demands and influence felt IN so i'm
portant a matter as this?
The grange is not political organ
ization, but the object is to promot
and build up agriculture, and. as tn
population Of our townships Is largely
made up Of farmers. they should b.
the responsible power and influence Il
the administration Of the affairs Of thl
town rather than a mere handful o
irresponsible hangers on. OF n few mel
about rural villages who under the dl
rection Of a political boss often equal
~ irresponsible so through the form o
holding caucuses and putting men II
nomination for important public Of
fees whose personal rather than th
public interests are too often the issu
at stake The grange should be