The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-10-07
TWO CENTS FOR SWEET CORN.
The Grange will Demand 1t. The State
Grange Shows Big Increase.

The Grange will Demand 1t. The State
Grange Shows Big Increase.
One of the important questions to be
discussed by the members of the Maine
State grange at the annual session of the
organization, to be held in Bangor be-
ginning December 21st, will be the price
paid by canneries to farmers for sweet
corn. 1t is great question among the
tillers of the soil in this State and an or
ganization is to be perfected to take up
the matter with the cannery men.
According to C. S. Stetson of Auburn,
State master of the Maine grange, this
question will be one of the principal things
to be threshed out at the annual meeting
in December. Mr. Stetson, in talking
with Bangor Commercial reporter
said that at the present time the
farmers are paid cent and a half
per can for sweet corn, but under pres
ent conditions there is no profit at this
price for the farmer. When the grange
gets together in annual session Mr..
Stetson said that he thought that the
farmers would draw up some kind of an
ultlmatum to the cannery men, demand
L
do not accede to this demand, the farm
ers will stop planting sweet corn and de-
vote their land to the growing of pota-
toes and other vegetables or grain.
The sweet corn question is now being
considered by thelocal oranges and com
mittees are being formed to take up the
question at the annual session in Decem-
Der. There are to be other important
questions discussed at the annual meet
ing, but the sweet corn question will be
one of the most VITAL
Speaking of the condition of the Maine
grange at the present time, Mr.. Stetson
said that it is very gratifying in every
way. The membership is increasing at
great rate, while the attendance and in
terest OF the local oranges is large. This
year 1T is expected the increase in men,
bershlp will amount to nearly 1000, which
will bring the total membership to about
$4,000. Maine now stands second to New
York State in grange membership-the
latter State having total membership
Of 10000, but as regards proportion to
population Maine stands first.
Mr.. Stetson said that members of the
different oranges all over the State are
attending the meetings in larger numbers
than ever before and are showing more
interest. National questions, besides
those dealing with the conduct of the
farm, are being discussed in all their
phases.
During the past year," said Mr..
Stetson, ''the oranges have been turning
their attention to the cooperative grange
stores. These institutions are now high
ly developed. The Houlton store did
business this last year of $165, 600, while
the three stores in Houlton, Patten and
Easton will do about $500, 600 between
them. Cooperative grange stores all
over the State will probably do a business
this year of over million dollars
Speaking of the coming annual session
in Bangor in December, Mr.. Stetson
said that he expected there would be a
total attendance of between 1900 or
1000 members Of the grange. The COM
ing session will elect new board of off
GERS, and for this reason Mr.. Stetson says
he expects the attendance will be larger
than on an of-year
Mr.. Stetson will be IA candidate for
reelection to his present office if
members of the grange think he has full
filled the duties of his office satisfactorily
and they desire to have him continue in
the office.