The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-16
GRANGERSNUMBER l8,494
State Grange In Annual Session at
Observation-Disclosures Of Worthy
Master C. f. Smith Contains Rec
concentrations.

Burlington, Dec. l4.-Ihe 3otn an
nual session of the Vermont State
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was
auspiciously opened at II o'clock to-
day in Armory Hall with an attend
ance of 300. There we're $50 accred-
tied delegates and many are expected
to arrive on the afternoon and even
ing trains.
A conference was held this morn
ing of State Master c. F. Smith and
other officials to discuss prelmin-
aries of the meeting and the eXer-
cises were formally opened at II
o'clock with nearly every officer in
his or her place. The session opened
in the fifth degree and following the
roll call the committee on credentials
was appointed and the executive
committee reported.
This afternoon the nrst annual
address of The worthy master was
read and considerable routine bus
mess was transacted.
Sessions will be continued tomor-
row and Thursday.
The third and fourth degrees will
be eXemplified at o'clock in the
evening by Springfield Grange. No.
ia followed by social hour
Secretary's Report.
The report of the secretary, A. A.
Priest, of Randolph, showed a total
membership in subordinate oranges
of 1S,494 and the number of oranges
in good standing to be 1893. Number
of oranges instituted during the year
is 26. Six Pomona oranges have been
instituted making a total of "a with
an aggregate membership of GAGS.
g.. Treasurer's Report.
Received from fees and dues of
subordinate oranges $5,293.15 from
Pomona oranges, $4O6.4O; from Ma
tional grange extension work, $426.-
73; sixth degree fees, SITS; from G..
c. Wright, $25; instituting Pomona
grange, $50; delinquent grange Qast
year,, 1924; amount received, $6,-
412.52
The address of the Worthy State
Master was listened to with the clos
eet interest. The more important
points discussed are as follows:
The order throughout the country
has made the largest growth the past
year in 50 years. In Vermont large
share of the oranges report an in
crease of membership. Ninety
garages have been organized in the
State within the past three years.
TIE time has come for a compre-
fensiye plan of cooperation on the
part OF the grange that will build up
the order and give the farmer more
of what rightfully belongs to him as
his share of the fruits of his labor
The grange store is rock that rent
many of the older oranges in the
State and caution should be used in
working out any plan of cooperative
buying and selling.
A committee should be appointed
! from the Pomona oranges to investi-
gate and ascertain If a saving can
not be made to the subordinate
oranges in their jurisdiction, by
buying some of the necessities, at
least, in car lots.
Mr.. Smith favored practical indus
trial training in the public schools
and believed that as Normal school
and High school graduates as a rule
teach in the rural communities, they
should themselves be taught the sci
ence of agriculture and Home econ
omics, domestic science, sanitation
and the laws of health. Pupils should
be learning in school the simple
principles of their work at home.
Mr.. Smith has some decided views
on the subject of taxation. In at,
tempting to solve this question We
should lay down some Fundamental
principles and keep as close to then
as possible" said he. First, Property
of equal value should bear equal bur,
dens; second, all property should bt
taxed once and only once; third
there should be no exemption of an,
species OF property, either real OIL
personal, except such as are exemp
oy the constitution; fourth, all prop
erty both tangible and intangible
should be uniformly appraised, eitheI
at its cost value or at the same pei
cent below cash value.
Equalize the care of paupers b,
making them State charge, instea,
of neighboring towns, spending larg
sums of money to prove location. lie
all burdens that are not of a purel,
local nature be shared equally by tn
whole State.
Reduce the expenses of Count,
Courts by compelling a larger shar
OF that work to be done by municipa
courts. do away with side judges, re
duce the judges to five Superior am
three Supreme, and save $4,000 I
$o0.OOO a year that is now "wrun
from the people to be served up a
plum sauce"
Mr.. Smith came out strongly an
earnestly for another referendum n