News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-12-14

have taken up the question OF the pend.
ing constitutional amendment author.
izing the United States government tc
levy tax on incomes.
We urge this action upon the subordi
nate Oranges, as we believe it a very inn
portant matter. No tax can be more
Just than an income tax. By it no one
IS required to pay more than their share
towards their protection in the enjoy.
ment of life, liberty, and property.
TEMPERANCE
The question of how best to control
the liquor traffic is still unsettled, and
probably will be so long as Congress
licenses distilleries, and allows the grain
God has given us for our sustenence, to
be used in making subjects for our aims
houses, our asylums and our prisons.
The liquor traffic is probably responsible
for more than seventy-fve per cent OF
the above named classes. What a tax
we are paying in human souls, as we'll as
dollars and cents, for the revenue derived
from this branch of American Indus
try!" Gov. Hoch of Kansas. in his
Thanksgiving message, said: Zone
| third OF our counties are without prison
ers in their jails, or paupers in their
almshouses. One half of our counties
sent no convicts to our prisons this year.
Oue-half of our prison inmates never
lived in Kansas long enough to acquire
residence here. Churches and schools
flourish, the spiritual outlook is hopeful,
and the saloon is practically banished."
The last sentence of this quotation ex-
plains the rest.
All through our Grange work temper
ance is taught, and we should strive to
extend its teachings as fast and as firm
as possible. The Grange has earnestly
asked for another referendum, believing
present one. Local option is a misno-
mer One town in a county can nullify
its effects. The unit is too small.
Our Legislature should either give us
county option, or another referendum.
We believe the majority of the people of
our State favor this. The Grange should
reiterate its wishes for scientific temper
ance instruction in our public schools.
Nothing is of more Importance than that
our children be taught the laws of health
including those which relate to the use
of alcoholic drinks and narcotics.
HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION
There is no question of more impor-
lance to our State, than the conserva-
ton of our soil fertility, and the using of
that fertility to the best advantage.
The rapidly increasing population of
our country will ever make increased
demands upon the soil We should teach
our boys, not only how to make two
blades of grass grow where one grew
before, but how to grow four blades in
the place of the one, on a large number
of our farms, also how to select animals
to make one blade give the net profit Of
the two or four blades.
Agriculture to-day, in its higher and
broader sense, is profession 1t should
not be looked upon as a means of gain
ing livelihood by the shiftess and in
different, or fad for the men of wealth
and leisure. The rudiments of agricul-
ture or nature studies could be taught in
our common schools, but scientific ag-
riculture' is quite another thing and can |
not be taught in them
Our Agricultural college is doing ex-
cellent work, all it was designed to do, |
but there has been link missing be- |
tween that and the district school. or a |
work that the college could not do.
For years we have been advocating an I
agricultural school in every county in |
the state, with a demonstration farm (
connected, where orr boys could be !,
taught the science of agriculture, and |
then put into practice the lessons learned, |
trying them out with real crops, and |
-eal animals. In connection with this
school, would have a department |
where the girls could be taught the art
Of housekeeping and home making. We
Ire very happy in the report that the
present legislature has. in its wisdom,
passed bill providing for one such
chool to be located, probably, at Ran
lolph.
We predict for this school great sue.
ess, and that the time will come when
very county in the State will want such
| school.
We would commend the legislature for
Increasing the appropriation for the
work of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ure, and for Forestry. These measures
ire along the line of Grange principles.
One of the objects of our Order is to
reate public sentiment along right lines.
)ne of the crying needs at the present
ime is to create public sentiment that
will prevent the ruthless destruction of
he small tree by the lumbermen.