Evening journal., 1907-12-28
NATIONAL GRANGE.

Annual Address Of Worthy Master
Baehslder-Total Assets Of the Or
ganizatiou Now Amount to s1o2,921.
In his address to the national grange
at its opening session in Hartford
Conn, on Nov. 13 National Master n.
J. Bachelor said that the membership
Of the grange throughout the country
has made a net increase Of 8 per cent
for the past year, which is larger than
for over thirty years past. The fnan-
cial. condition Of the Order is good.
The total assets Of the national grange
year ago we're $94,671.94 and on Oct.
i, 1907, S102, ,921.44, which is a net gain
Of $S,240.50 Although the work Of
organization has been more than usu-
ally successful, the Order should be
still further built up in the states Of
the central west.
Speaking of the importance Of agri-
culture, the national master said that
the whole total volume Of the crops
may be slightly less than the crops Of
1906. but their cash farm value viii be
greater. The farm products in their
original form or in the form Of cattle,
skeep, hogs and horses have overhowed
the great granaries, clogged transpor-
tation facilities and brought gold from
foreign countries. These facts warrant
the statement that agriculture is not
only the great industry Of the country,
but the most important in the nations
industrial prosperity. Agriculture pros.
pers not because other industries pros
per, but other industries prosper be-
cause agriculture prospers. The pro-
motion of agriculture embodies the
highest type Of craftsmanship. 1t is
eminently proper to inquire the effect
Of all proposed public policies upon
agriculture when under consideration
In any legislative body.
On the subject Of grange mutual life
insurance the worthy master had this
to say: "There has been a demand for
several years for some form of frater-
nal life insurance within the organiza-
tion to cover the national field as local
companies cover certain states. Sound,
reliable, full legal reserve life insur-
ance furnished by society and con-
trolled by It's own members. operated
on the fraternal system, with the on
GERS directly responsible 90 the mem
bers, is the foundation 20 build upon.
What is wanted is the best at the
cheapest price-not cheap life insur-
ance, but good life insurance cheap"
Concerning the publication Of the ma
tional grange paper the speaker re-
marked that the executive committee
had made arrangements for the pub
lication Of a weekly journal upon
terms acceptable to the masters Of the
state oranges. He emphasized the fact
that its publication win not come in
competition with agricultural papers,
Its editorial policy viii be dictated
solely by a desire to promote the or
ganization. It is to be the official or
gan Of the grange.
OF the denatured alcohol law, which
took effect Jan. 1, 1907, the national
master said that The comparatively
small consumption of denatured alco-
hol during the past six months had
been chiefly due to the fact that our
manufacturers were not ready to fur.
nish the alcohol using apparatus, such
as stoves, lamps, etc. None being on
sale In this country, there was no de-
mand for the alcohol. The question Of
utilizing alcohol as a fuel for motor
vehicles, boats and farm engines is
engaging the attention OF manufactur-
ers, and it is believed that this alcohol
viii be made available for use as a
motor fuel in the near future.
On federal aid for the improvement
Of public highways the speaker said
that the grange had inaugurated a
campaign Of education having for its
object the enactment OF legislation By
con less nro,-.d . fcr a fedsral on-Lo-