Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-03-12
NATIONAL GRANGE.
Annual Aadress of Worthy Master
6scl,elder--Totai Assets Of the Or
ganization Now Amount to $1O2,S21.

qanization Now Amount to $1UZ,SZ1.
In his address to the national grange
at its opening session In Hartford.
Conn. on Nov. 13 National Master N.
j. Bachelder said that the membership
of the grange throughout the country
has made Il net increase of 5 per cent
for the past year. which is larger than
for over thirty years past. The tnan-
ciai condition Of the Order ls good.
The total assets of the national grange
year. ago were $94,6I1.0I and Oh Oct.
l. 1g07. $l02. .821.44, which is "a net gain
OF SS,249.5O. 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 will be
greater. The farm products In their
original form or in the form OF cattle,
sheep, hogs and horses have oyerhowed
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 demand for
several years FOR some form Of frater-
nal life Insurance within the organiza.
ton to cover the national field as local
companies cover certain states. Sound,
reliable, full legal reserve life insur
ance furnished by a society and con-
tro!led by its own members. operated
on the fraternal system, with the otti-
,ers directly responsible to the mem
bers. is the foundation to build upon.
What Is wanted Is the best at the
cheapest price-n0t 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
uCation OF weekly journal upon
terms acceptable To the masters Of the
state oranges. lie emphasized the fact
that lis publication Will not come ia
competition with agricultural papers.
Its editorial policy will be dictated
solely by 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 the comparatively
small consumption Of denatured alc0-
hol during the past six months had
been chiefly due to the fact that our
manufacturers We're 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
vehicles. boats and farm engines is
engaging the attention OF mahufactur-
ers, and 1t is believed that this alcohol
will be made available for. use as a
motor fuel. in the near future.
On feder3l aid for the Improvement
Of pitSblie' Highways the- speaher' said
that the grange :'ha'd-eNdkas sdrated 5 Y
campaign Of. edueatfen. .,ha virE for its
Object. the epactMent of legislation. by
congress pyoviding 'fog.a federal appro-
piin ton OF $50 O0o,0SO. to Sc divided
into .f+e aniiual. kpprerriatiohs OF ${0...
600 oAs'seath. :4h.:be expendet for 1.-THE
Impreyement Of public highways The
legislative committee has given close
attention 10 this work and believes that
the time has arrived when the move
ment should be prosecuted vigorously
with the view Of securing legislation at
the present session Of congress.
On trusts and the tariff 1t was re-
marked that the present tariff rates Oh
articles produced by trusts are much
higher than is necessary to cover the
difference In labor cost as between
home and foreign manufacturers and
that material reductions could be made
on the duty Of such articles and amply
provide Tor liberal wages compared
with the wages abroad. If these crlti-
cisn1s are well founded there would
seem to be good reasons for legislation
that will correct the evident defects on
the present tariff schedules without In
Juricusly affecting our agricultural or
manufacturing Industries. These facts
can best be secured through nom
partisan tariff commission whose duty
1t shall be to examine carefully into all
phases Of TIE subject. This commits
Sion should include representatives OF
the agricultural, labor, manufacturing,
transportation and commercial inter
ests.