The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-17
THE NATIONAL GRANGE
Comments on important Fea-
lures Of the Annual Meeting.
Proportional Representation Again De-
feated-Outline of Resolutions Adopt
eG-Finances of the Grange-EIection
of Officers to Serve For Two Years.
Especial CORRESPONDENCE

Especial Correspondence
The forty-third annual session of the
national grange. held at DeS MoineS
la. last month. measured up well in
point of accomplishments with brevl-
Gus meetings OF the kind. The reSolu.
tons that were adopted were for the
most part conceived in the highest i'll
tereSts of the Order, and those which
relate to our great national policies,
such as the tariff. taxation. trauSpur-
tation and our larger agricultural in
terests, will find general approval 10y
the state and subordinate oranges.
There was a more general discus
sion of the resolutions when presented
than usual Fewer. it seemed to Us,
We're referred to committees. More
called for immediate discussion ana
action. The discussion Oh taxation. IN
volying the two prominent issues,
"claSsihcatiou" and uniform rate, oc-
cuped nearly all of an afternoon seS-
sion and came up on a resolution Seut
up from the Kentucky state grange
and not following the report OF the
committee on taxation, as might have
been anticipated While it is no douh'
wise to refer many subjects presented
in resolutions to committees appointed
for their consideration, who may give
considerable time and thought to Tor
mulating the grange position in regard
to them. we all know Wat ia state
grange as well as national these com
inittee reports come in ut the close
OF the session. and in the usual rush
to get through and get away adequate
discussion is rarely given a commit
tees report We believe in discussing
many subjects that are presented for
the consideration OF delegates AT our
state ana national grange meetings
when they are presented in the form
of resolutions. even though they are
afterward referred to-committees.
The matter of proportional rcpresen-
tation that was expected TO divide the
state masters more equally than it did
proved to be decidedly one sided when
the vote was taken. The Michigan
plan Of giving two additional votes for
each 10000 Of membership above the
FIRST 10000 was again preSenied also
another, known as the federal plan.
the essence Of which is that each state
shall be entitled to representation by
one voting member for every 10000
members in the state and every voting
member shall he entitled to an alter
nate in case of his own absence, that
what is known as the representative
vote shall be used on All ordinary &C.
casions. the state vote only when de
mauded. and when il is demanded
both representative and state vote
must be cast before measure can be
declared carried. This combined vote
is to be used at the election of officers
and on changes in the constitution.
Should a state be represented by only
one person that state shall be entitled
TO one other representative to be elect
ed by the state grange or appointed by
the state grange executive committee.
Neither plan was adopted. We may
add it is doubtful if either ever will
be. There were many resolutions of
large public interest adopted, and the
reports of the committees were e&-
ceedingly able and Instructive. Postal
savings banks and the parcels post
system were demanded, ship subsidies
strongly opposed: in road improvement
the market roads should receive first
attention; on the question of taxation
the uniform rate system found APP
prevail. no property to be exempt;
committee on cooperation, national in
scope, was appointed: protection for
monopolies or for those who sell in
foreign markets for less than is de
mauded in our own was opposed; in
dorsement of eX-president Roosevelts
conservation policy was voted; liberal
appropriations by congress for the SUP
port of agricultural extension depart
ments in agricultural colleges were
asked; $1,000 year for two years was
voted for the partial support of the
national grange organ. This outlines
briefly only part Of the measures
approved by the national grange
The finances of the national grange
are in good shape. The total assets
We're $115,S2l.29 on Oct. /, and since
that date this amount has been in
creased about $1,000 by dues from
state grange hat did not report pre-
vious to Oct. L. The national master
reports that no funds of the national
grange have been lost through invest
ment or otherwise and that the treas
urers books had been audited every
year by the executive committee and
the list of securities found intact.
These funds are invested in loans upon
real estate to the amount of $50, 1920,
amply secured: also S45.66S.1l is i'll
vested in municipal and railroad bonds
of unuuestioned value. $9.92U.54 is de
posted in savings banks and the bal
ance in smaller amounts in safe com
panies In view of the fact that the
management of the financial invest
ments of the national grange had been
questioned and criticised. an inveStigat
ing committee was appointed which,
after careful examination of the
condition and security of the funds Of
the Order. reported that it found
all investments to have been wisely
made and commended the acumen of
the men who. secured the investments.
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