Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-06-11

r w. PEALE and w. IL. ROGERS.
Speaking of the importance of agrl-
culture. the national master said that
the whole total volume of the crops
Muy be slightly less than the crops Of
1906, but their cash farm value will be
greater The farm products in their
original form or in the form OF cattle,
sheep, hogs and horses have overhowed
tie great granarieS, clogged transpor-
tatiou facilities and brought gold from
foreign countries. These facts warrant
the statement that agriculture is not
ouly the great industry of the country,
bur he most important In the nations
Industrial prosperity. Agriculture pros
ncrs 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
cnincnty 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
Ia say: There has been Il demand for
several years for some form of frater-
ual life insurance within the organiZa-
tion to cover the national field as local
companies cover certain states. Sound,
reliable full legal reserve life insur-
lnce furnished 10y society and con-
trOiicl by It's own members, operated
On the fratcrnal SYSTEM with the Off
GERS directly responsible to the mem
bers, is the foundation TO build upon.
What is wanted is the best at the
cheapest priCe-uot cheap life inSur-
auce 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
Hcatiyn of weekly journal upon
terms acceptable TO the masters of the
state oranges. He emphasized the fact
that its publication will not come il
competition with agricultural papers.
It's editorial policy will be dictated
solely by a desire to promote the or
ganization 1t is to be the official or
gan OF the grange.
OF the denatured alcohol law, which
took effect Jan. /, 1907, the national
master said that t1le 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 10 fur
nish the alcohol using apparatus, such
as stoves, lamps etc. None being on
sale In this country, there was no de-
mund tor the alcohol. The question Of
utilizing alcohol as Il fuel for motor
vehicles, boats and farm engines is
engaging the attention of manufactur-
e,s. aud it is believed that this alcohol
viii he made available for use as a
motor fuel IN the near future.
ON federal MD for the improvement
of public highways the speaker said
that the grange had inaugurated a
campaign of education having for it's
object the enactment of legislation by
congress providing for a federal appro-
priation Of S50000.000, TO be divided
into five annual appropriation of $1o,-
0Cu,0U0 each, to be expended for the
Improvement of public highways. The
Legislative committee has given close
attention to this work and believes that
the time bas arrived when the move
meut should be prosecuted vigorously
with the view of securing legislation at
the present session of congress-
On trusts and the tariff it was re.
marked that the present tariff rates on
articles produced by trusts are much
hirhcr than is necessary to cover the
difference in labor cost as between
home and foreign manufacturers anG
that material reductions could be made
on The duty OF such articles and amply
provide for liberal wages compared
with the wages abroad. If these criti-
cisms are well founded there would
seem to be good reasons for legislation
that VIII correct the evident defects on
the present tariff schedules without IN
juriuusly affecting our agricultural or
manufacturing industries These facts
can best be secured through a non
partisan tariff commission whose duty
ii shall be to examine carefully into all
phases OF the subject. This commits
sion should include representatives OF
the agricultural labor, manufacturing,
ests
On the parcels post question the na-
tional master remarked that the postal
reform had received new impetus
within the past few months, owing to
the fact that it had a Powerful advo-
cate in the new postmaster general
MIR. Meyer who had indorsed what to
all intents aid purposes Is the grange
plan and who is using his influence to
nreuse public interest in its support.
He advised an active campaign in con-
gress on this subject.
The address also favored postal saw
ings banks, currency reform and pure
food legislation.
pennsylvania oranges went to the
national grange In special cars start