The Republican journal., 1910-10-20
THE GRANGE IN POLITICS.

A Statement From State Master Stetson.
In communication to the Lewiston
Sun, c. S. Stetson. Master of the Maine
State Grange, defends the action of the
Executive Committee in adopting resolu-
tons demanding the election of farmer
to the U. S. Senate, and says the Grange
of Maine proposes to be a potent factor
in shaping public affairs for agricultural
betternent in the Nation. The commu-
nication:
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN: Recently
| have noticed items in the newspapers
crtcising the State Grange Executive
Committee Tor adopting resolutions de-
handing the election of farmer to the
U. S. Senate. These articles, which
were doubtless written by member of
the Grange who has for years persistent
ly tried to throw obstacles in the way of
progressive constructive grange work,
place the grange, as was no doubt the
intention, in false position.
The action of the Executive Committee
was undoubtedly justified by the laws of
the organization and by our declaration
of purposes. After all these years of
grange work along public lines such as
denatured alcohol, Interstate commerce,
the Oleo law, rural free delivery of mails,
parcels post, election of U. S. Senators
by direct vote, direct primary ETC., we
are publicly told that in the administra-
ton of public affairs, and especially in
the selection of representatives of our
own class for public office is none of
the business of the grange. A remarka-
BILE condition of things truly!
Let the calamity howlers who are try
ing to hitch this organization with so
short rope take notice that they can
not befog the strong progressive MEM
bership in Maine with their sophistry.
Let them understand that, following tie
lead of other great progressive grange
States, the grange in Maine proposes to
be a potent factor in shaping public af-
fairs for agricultural betterment in the
nation. There is no surer way to do this
than by having men from our own class
and occupation to represent US in office.
Without such men in public office we
may adopt resolutions asking for recog-
milton, but it will be difficult to arrive.
With such men agriculture in the nation
can claim its own and the grange will
grow and gain prestige in spite of the
men who are, and always have been, try
ing to trig the wheels of grange progress.
There are 5000 denatured alcohol dis
tillers in Germany and practically none
in the U: S. Why? Simply because the
Standard Oil Co. has been able to say no!
For score of years we have been asking
for parcel post law, and the great ex-
press companies have fooled every at
tempt in this direction. AS Brother Nor
timer Whitehead so we'll says, 'Isn't it
about time the farmer learns to mind his
own business?" The action OF the Ex-
ecutive Committee was taken after Civ
ing the subject careful thought and con-
sideration and with the expectation that
it would be criticised and condemned by
just such men as are responsible for the
articles named. We have an abiding
faith in the broad progressive spirit
dominating our membership and feel
assured that they are ready to advance
our interests in the manner indicated
in this resolution.
C. S. STETsoN,
Master, State Grange.