Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-30

OXFORD POMONA ENJOYS A FIELD
MEETING AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.

OXFORD POMONA ENJOYS A FELL
MEETING AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
i Several hundred "Grangers" and mem
bers of their families gathered at the
fair grounds Tuesday for the annual
field meeting, conducted under the
auspices of Oxford Pomona Grange
with speakers for the occasion provided
BY the State Grange. The day was
warm but fair, and a good day for ar
outdoor gathering, and while the at
tendance was not quite so large asi.a a,
some similar previous meetings, the oc
casion was socially and otherwise enjoy.
able and profitable.
A pleasant feature of the day was the
presence and music of tho Hebron Mill
fary Band, in uniform, twenty-five
pieces, under the lead of Mr.. Hobbs OF
Turner. Lest some should fancy that
this isa country band, with all the i'm
projections that the term may imply, be
1t known that they played both military
and concert music, and played it well,
and their work received many deserved
compliments.
Teams began to gather at the fair
grounds by the middle of the forenoon.
ITwitchell's restaurant, where the band
and speakers were entertained at dinner,
was opened, and Pomona Master Gates
and others began making preparations
for coffee and other necessities, while
the assembling Patrons gathered in
groups and discussed The apple crop, in
sect enemies, gasoline engines, and the
hundreds of other things connected with
the business of farming.
i At IL o'clock the sound of the baud
called the people together near the new
stand at the pulling ring, and r. h.
Gates, master of Oxford Pomona, intro
duced as the first speaker of the day
Rev. J. Fl. Little, chaplain of the State
Grange. Mr.. Little spoke of the Grange
in it's influence upon the life of the peo-
Pile. He characterized the Grange as
the largest and most influential organ
ization of the country, and one which is
doing much as an agency for the develop
ment of its members, intellectually, So
cially, morally, and along business lines.
A basket picnic dinner was eaten at
| noon.
After dinner the people assembled on
the grand stand, and music by the band
opened the afternoon programme. B.
Walker McKeen, lecturer of the State
Grange, was introduced as the first
speaker.
Mr.. McKeeu had definite topic on
which he had been asked to voice the
sentiments of the grange, and as intro
ductory to this he spoke of the prin-
ciples of fraternity and equality which
are at the foundation of the organiza-
ton. The grange has always been an
advocate of education, and when the
state has taken in hand the education
of youth, there is no logical stopping
place until the education is completed.
There has been steady advance in
state support of the higher education.
Both state and the towns are fairly
liberal in the matter Of providing money
for education, and it is the purpose of
the state, as evinced in previous legisla-
ton, that there shall be equality in edu-
ca,ional opportunities, for every school
and every scholar.
With this as introduction, Mr.. McKeen
turned tn the special topic of his re-
marks, which was the law passed by the
last legislature, establishing common
school fund by an additional state tax of
one and one-half mills. This bill, said
Mr.. McKeen, was skillfully drawn, by
an able lawyer, and deceived many. Its
primary purpose is not to provide a
school fund, but to increase the taxation
on certain class of property. He OBJ
jected to the method of distribution.
Only one half mill of this tax is added to
the fund which is distributed by the
state on the basis of the number of
scholars, the other mill being distribut-
ed to the towns on the basis of valuation.
Various figures were given by Mr.. Nc
Keen, which can not be quoted accurate
| ly, but the substance of them is that
| there is collected by this tax, from the
unorganized places in the state, sum
somewhat over $4,000. This is dis
tributed to the organized towns and
plantations, and the method of distri-
ton, gives to the Weather places a
larger amount per scholar than in the
smaller places. For instance, Oxford
County, where portion of these wild
lands are situated, has its school funds
increased from this part of the tax l6
cents per scholar, while in the wealthy
county of Cumberland, where none of
the wild lands are situated, the amount
of increase per scholar is about three
times that in Oxford County. He ad
vocated that the distribution should be
entirely on the basis OF the number of
scholars, and this amendment to the
law is approved by the State Grange.
w. V. Canaan of Pine Tree Grange,
Lisbon, furnished an interlude at this
part OF the programme, telling num-
Der of entertaining stories, and cOnclud-
ing with a serious appeal for the cul-
tivation of contentment, saying that
most of those present were situated to
enjoy life better than the millionaire.
State Master G. s. Stetson closed the
programme, and did not speak at great
length. After a few general remarks he
stated that he had one special propO-
sition to place before the people, and
this was the enactment of a direct pri-
mary law. There are vicious results
from our present lax caucus methods in
Maine. A few men have selected the
candidates for office. He gave an in
stance of a caucus in his own town, pre-
sumably called according to the tech
nical requirements of the law, when the
only caucus call that could be found
after the caucus had been held was on q
stone drag which was tipped up against
a wall. Four men constituted the eau
Gus, elected themselves delegates, and
nullified the will of the people. He had
investigated the workings of direct
primary law in Oregon, Michigan, aud
other states, and found that seventy per
cent of the voters attend the direct pri-
mary caucus. 1t is a step in the right
direction. There have been sent out
from the State Grange petitions under
the constitutional initiative for direct
primary law, with accompanying bill,
and it is hoped the subordinate oranges
will take hold OF the matter, and secure
the 1900 signatures necessary to pre-
sent the bill to the legislature.
Mr.. Stetson also urged that the
oranges should consider proposed
changes in our road laws, such as having
the state take charge of all roads and
road moneys, the proposition to build
three trunk lines of costly road through
the state, etc. He believes in better
roads, but believes the better road should
not be a boulevard for the use of auto
mobilists, but a road which runs from
tho farmers door. However, be ad.
vocated the oranges studying these
questions, and deciding what they be-
lieved to be for the best interests Of all.
Paris Grange has chosen the follow
inv com mittees for its exhibit at the