The Republican journal., 1910-10-13
Farmer for Senate.
The Executive Committee of Maine State
Grange Asks that Farmer be Chosen
as U. S. Senator.

The Executive Committee of Maine State
Grange Asks that Farmer be Chosen
as U. S. Senator.
AUGUSTA, MAINE, October 9Th. The
executive committee of the Maine State
Grange, representing 10000 members, in
session here today, passed resolution
asking that farmer be chosen as U.
S. Senator. The members present were
c. S. Stetson, E. H. Libby, Edward
Evans, L. E. Tuttle, George Plummer
and George Alden. The resolution read !:
Whereas, the Importance of farmers
making special efforts to have United
States Senators elected who will be un-
questionably loyal to the farmers inter-
ests is called to the attention of the
Patrons of Husbandry in the national
grange official organ, begun under the
heading Farmers in the Senate, from
which we quote the following:
Already the farmers in some of our
Western States are having a good deal
to say about the successors Of some of
those Senators who will retire March 3,
1911. In some States the farmers are
even asking, why don't we send farmer
to the Senate? To be sure, farmers
graced the Senate and honored their
country in the early years of the repub-
lie, but during the past few decades law
yers and the so-called business interests
seem to have pre- empted Senatorial
h )nors
1T would be very good thing if
some of the legislatures next winter
should happen to elect to the U. S. Sen
ate men who were not lawyers or finan-
ciers, or so closely associated with GER
| tain trusts. We do think it high time
that the number and intelligence of our
farmers, not to mention their party in
terests, entitle them to front seat at
the political table. For a good many
years, however, farmers have been SHOW
ed into the back seats, or have been ap-
parently forced to accept what few
crumbs fell from the politicians table.
cit would be a good thing for local,
county and State administrations of pub
lie affairs, as we'll as for the national
government, if farmers would come to
the front more freely and take their
rightful place in civic affairs.
eff we farmers do not do this, it is
our own fault. And, whereas: In the
present Congress of the United States
the State of Maine is not represented by
single farmer, and whereas, the inter-
ests of agriculture in Maine are OF suf-
ticient Importance to allow the farmers
| at least one representative farmer in
Congress-.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the
order of Patrons of Husbandry, repre-
senting substantially $4,000, asks and
demands of the incoming legislature that
a farmer be chosen as U. S. Senator
AS Obadiah Gardner of Rockland is at
present the only farmer candidate for
the Senate, the presumption is that the
resolution is aimed at promoting his
campaign for the place, although nc
name is given in the resolution.
Discussing the action of the executive
committee of the Maine State Grange in
its Wednesday meeting at Augusta, Sec
Rotary E. H. Libby of Auburn said Thurs.
day;
time that the Grange take some action tt
will work Loyalty for the farmers inter
ests. AS we pointed out in our resolu
tons, yesterday in quoting from the
National Grange organ. all sorts of bust
ness interests and professions are repre-
sented in the law-making body, but the
farmers have to accept what the law
makers consider as good policy to give
them.
cat our meeting yesterday we adopt.
ed resolutions demanding the selection
by the next Maine legislature of farm.
err for United States Senator. We hao
no particular candidate in mind when WI
approved the resolutions, but we did have
in mind the interests of the farmers ane
their desire for a representative in Con
gress who will work for some of those
things which seem to have been effectu
ally sidetracked.
First among the things which W.
would have Senator or a Congressman
work for is the establishment of the par
cells post. We would have them ais
push the issue of denatured alcohol in
dustries. There are other things whicl
we expect candidate chosen from tn
ranks of a Patrons Of Husbandry woul
work for, and any man who expects tn
following of the members of the Grange
would do we'll to announce himself as i
favor of these things which the Grang
demands"
Mr.. Libby declared that neither tn
Grange as body, nor its officers in it
behalf, had exp essed demand tina
. any particular candidate now mentione
!, should be chosen by the coming legisla
ture. The officers had adopted the reso
buttons, and these would speak for them
selves.
Mr.. Libby did not say so, in so man
words, but the interviewer could readil
understand from this action of the Grang
and other recent incidents taken in cor
nection Herewith, that the Grange is