Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-02-06

HON. G. 7, FoWEii. will the organ
It.-va grow in strength, numbers and
GGoc'tce.
=, Tie close Of the civil war the agri-
ycl.&re of our country became most Sc
liagaiF depressed Most farmers were
,ni.i'y in debt their farms mortGa ged
Ia ;u extent lhat made life discourag-
ing; 'hry aGA to pay high rates Of in-
t-l-st "'IA transportation charges on
hei" products So high III cost as TO
tgl." little Profit after marketing.
IN, grange was organized to meet
,agEc .onditon5, ana through the prin-
r,pias aud methods OF cooperation 1t
undertook, ard with a large degree OF
.1ccesa, tc i-prcye the depressing con
J.,ioua in farming and to awaken in
farmers a H. cher appreciation OF their
work ald Of heir influence in the com
munjc IN which they lived as also
upol important questions of public
r!.c"
The grange needs to do more Of this
bina uI work. Wherever a grange ex.
ISIS 81 4 rev grange is organized Il
aoula take drst OF ali the problems
,Aat affect the highest welfare of that
conlIl' nifty, What are those most
tFoiailent? We should say the condi-
ts)a ot the public school is one first in
Importance. What is the school doing
Tor the farm life OF the neighborhoodi
Are tlie children being taught any
chiGE about The sot? Are they getting
any il trucy!ou in the plant life With
~
gaining any conception OF the posi-.
bilitiea that are before them IN intel
lger- cooperation md IN the cNltiya-
ton oi the important plans that are
grown about their farm homes and up
Oh which the prosperity ard success
Of farm life are entirely dependenti
ts the school IN the rural community
in winch a grange exists teaching the
children anything about the insect life
that is destroying the farm crops TO u
degrea that year after year seriously
reduces the income of the farm or any
thing Of the blights and diseases of
plants that still further reduce the In.
come ana add to ina bility TO meet
G9i2ts 70 nuke improvements and to
bring 10 the home the comforts tina,
add to the. pleasure Of living? Is there
gIy informs ton impaired to the chill
drcr OF the animal life Of the school
district, III the woods. In the water or
on the. farm? Is the scnoolhouse and
is surroundings pleasant and inviting
> the children or Is 1t barren and re,
poliant to The best impulses of their
n1tu.p? Are there few children In the
school and little public interest in the
education that is being given them,
and i SO is there any relation between
The total absence OF all OF this benefi.
cent and all inspiring teaching and the
diminishing numbers of children In
rara schools? And, further, is there
any relation between the absence Of
this kind of school instruction and the
desire of the young people to get away
from the farm and into cur villages
aud cities. to the final neglect OF many
farm home and Its sale at large
sacrifice 10 value?
Is there not here work of most
vita, Importance that the grange has
not done and one which 1t may yet do
with large possible results in the up
building Of farm values and of more
active interest in farm Nfe? What
may and Should the grange do for the
community In which ii exists in other
directions thai affect It's welfare? Do
the members look after the local gov
ernmentf Do they see that etficieut
and trustc' men are administering the
expenditures OF the town property?
Are the ii"Gwa!s, OF so much impor