The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-07-15
GRANGE DEPT.
Edited by Fred w. Lewis, Secretary
Washington State Grange.
SALUTATORY.

Greeting: 1t is with great pleasure
that l undertake to take charge of
column for the Grange, feeling that
you should know something of what
we, as an organization, are doing in
the state, and what we are trying to
do for the upbuildfng of mankind,
and the betterment of the conditions
of the people in general, and the farm
er in particular.
We have just closed the best year
in the history of the Grange in Wash
ington, as we have made a gain of
over twenty-five hundred in point Of
membership, and about thirty-five in
number of Oranges. We have been
leading the nation in organization, and
we hope to keep it up this coming
year, and even better our record.
At our state meeting at Vancouver
the first of June we had good at
tendance, and much important work
was done. We passed many resolu-
lions calling for better laws, laws that
will assist the farmer to gain and
keep a fairer share of the profits OF
his labor. than he now can, as, with
out an organization to look out for
his rights, the farmer has to depend
on what the "other fellow wants to
give him, but when we gain large
enough membership we can say to
our legislators "do" and they will
obey.
At the present time candidate
may promise anything that he wills
and the people want, but there is no
way to compel him to do as he agreed,
but we ask for law that will make
those pledges enforceable by law, and
compel an officer to do as he agreed
or step down and let the other man
have try.
We advised the taking away of all
distractions from the front of the
saloons, as an endeavOr to make them
as public as possible, but we will do
all we can toward the adjustment OF
all such institutions from our state.
We ask that the public lands be
reserved as a heritage for our chill
dren, rather than to have them sold
to large corporations at far less than
their actual value and call especial
attention to the land known as the
Brewster Flats, which are on the mar
ket at a very low price per acre,
when they will be worth a much larg-
err sum by a comparatively small in
yestment in the form of an irrigating
canal
We ask that we, as residents of a
territory in county, be allowed to
elect who shall have charge of the
roads in our territory, but suggest
that he shall have passed an examin-
alton in the art of roadbuilding. This
will cut out all of the present graft
ing" that is sometimes practiced In
the appointment of supervisors and
foremen.
Another law that was asked for is
one allowing the state to reimburse,
to a certain extent, the dairyman and
farmer whose cattle and horses are
killed by the command of the state
veterinarian on account OF infectious
diseases.
We had a committee appointed to
prepare questions for the pledging OF
candidates to the legislature and Con-
gress, and their replies are to be
placed in the Grange halls and the
postoffices throughout the state for
the information of the voters, SO we
may know whom to vote for as friends
of the people
These are a few of the questions de-
bated during the session, and COM
plete record of the session may be had
by asking me for it, as the Journal is
published for that purpose.
AS time passes, we shall furnish
you with stories" that will impart to
you the reasons why we exist as an
organization, and why you should be-
come patron.
Whenever you become interested
please write to me. or to any OF the
Grange workers in the state, and you