Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-12-21

selling is Il s.nil:ncn-iI l,rnt.Irlc III car
grange work. ii is 4 t.Tm aopled to 4
system of unit .d e:tirt for conlni6 rcial
and industrial nurpo "l. it is the 1850
citation of people for the management of
commercial interests and for the benefit
of those associated. The advantages OF
active cO-operd ion comes in the lower
prices paid for articles I:cd in the home
ana on the il:;u 3nd fo" the increased
price received by selling the products ot
the farm directly to the consumer. This
is an age of great things. The magni-
tude of the agricultural interests of this
State has become a household word.
Agriculture proves an unfailing resource
to its promoters. If the chasm between
blidsed the results derived therefrom
will greatly enhance the attractivenesS
of farm. life. Intelligent and profitable
cooperative work in the Grange is prac-
ticable. Even in Maine we find many
instances proving the truth of the state
ment In Great Britain cooperation has
succeeded best in having stores for dis
Field Meetings.
One of the most helpful agencies in
promoting respect for the Grange ha+
been the field meetings held in all the
counties of the state. numbering Is CON
ing. interest manifested and good
wrought, they far exceeded the hopes OF
the State officers. These conventions
should be Il means of spreading informal
tion as to the work and policy of the
Grange They have been the means. OF
bringing strong and able men and wo-
men into the Grange and have helped
and Vitalized weak oranges. 1t is due
every member of the order that these
meetings be thoroughly advertised in the
various Jurisdictions where they are to
he held.
Direct Primaries and Elections.
In my last annual address l pointed
out some of the evils that grow out OF
our present system of caucuses and con-
ventions and recommended the selection
of candidates for the office of United
this recommendation and again direct
your attention to the pcrniciouS intiu-
enccs which are the concomitants OF our
present system of making nominations
Popular government is the order of the
day We must not shirk the RESPONSE
hility that devolves upon us to see that
the peoples will is intellisently. manifest
ed i'll our political affairs and is effective
for good and purity ana conscientious
ness The Direct Primary offers Il sys-
TEN for nomination ~ candidates which
themselves. We are committed to this
plan of nominations as an organization
ana | urge the necessity of united efforts
to write such a law into our statutes.
The movement in this state is entirely
divorced from any partisan influence, it
is not employed for any personal inter.
est but is made in behalf of system OF
nominations which will give every cleo
tor an opportunity to participate i'll the
nomination of candidates for political
offices without the intervention of dele
gates and conventions.
The corrupt use OF money in our clec-
tions has become menace to popular
government and while no other system
will entirely eliminate such usage, the
cult and prevent the candidate who is
willing to illegally use money, from being
able to bargain for the votes of dele
gates. The handling of conventions has
the work in charge are in touch with in
1luenceS in various places which are not
lacking in Il knowledge Of what is neces-
sary to be done to procure, in the eau
cuSeS, the nomination OF machine dele
gates.
''rhe election of United States senators
by direct vote is of great Importance To
the farmers inasmuch as their program
OF legislation to advance their interests
will meet its strongest OPPOSITION in the
body farthest removed from popular m
fluence." We ask that our senators he
elected by direct vote of the people.
not to conserve the interests Of, nor t"
enact laws favoring any special inter
ests, but that we may have men III the
United States Senate who, on Il big con-
structive plan will safeguard all inter
eSts, agriculture not excepted. This is
one of the prime reasons Why your exc
cutivc Committee demanded that a far
mel he sent to the United states Senate,
and agricultural interests of Maine are
of sufficient Importance To warrant the
demand. Until we have such men and
elected by popular vote farmers cannot
hope to secure that measure of justice
which belongs to them. or to reap the
benefits to be derived from the enact
ment of laws for agricultural develop
ment which we have been asking for.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
Maine is third in the list of states with
water power possibilities. New York ana
California alone surpass our own State
in this respect. But Maine is just on tile
threshold of the development Of it's wa
ter power. and the important question
for us to consider is whether the develop
ment shall be in the interest of all the
people. or whether the God-siven bounty
ed and exploited by the 'hie business in
terests." This is the danger that now
conflonts us. for the water power grab
Is already two-thirds. accomplished.
money invcetigatin. our water powers.
Let our first demand on the incoming
Legislature be that the most complete
information be distributed broadcast
throughout the state. The magnitude Of
the prize at stake can be realized when
we note that conservative estimates
place the power easily available. without
storage at $4,000 horse power. and with
storage the possibilities ;tre from l.30ltHH
ta coo horse power. At 5000 per
horse power Il year. tn" returns to the
State would be from $inO.o0O to $2o,WnV1
a year. This rich prize is now being
sought. and tn secure II. every stratc-
gem, ana every secret resource of politics
;lre being employed hy eminent finan-
cirrs back of til" project.
Our purpose, and our determined "f-
fort must he to keep for Maine the water
powers of Maine, free from monopoly
tortrnl And where they hay" already
lc9iSlation we must recover them II
possible. or failing this. ~" must .plac"
proper restrictions on til" transmission
Of electrical power and exercise the tan
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