Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-14
PATRONS OF huseANpRY.


 ticut State Grange was held this week at Hartford, with a large. attendance and a programme full of importance in a number of subjects. The annual address of Worthy State Master Leon. ard H. Healey of Woodstock presented many matters for thoughtful consider ation. He spoke in part as follows:
 AS we have labored in this the first year of our second quarter of a century, as a state grange, our labors have been abundantly blessed.
 Gained 1,66o Members in 1910.
 While in 1904 and 1905 we did not hold our own in 1906 the dial turned and since then we have forged ahead. gaining 5S0 in 1907, 360 in 1908, 1,060 in 1909, and 1860 in 1910. Now we have total of nearly 1b,000 members. May we not, Indeed, feel proud of our past years work? It is pleasing to be able to say that in nearly all of the granges there is a sense of respon- sfbility for the principles for which they stand, and a determination to i'm press upon the citizens of that com munity that being granger means something and is an aid to the build ing of nobler and better lives and tile making of happier homes.
 Our Pomonas are doing excellent work most of them realizing the point which we have labored so constantly to impress, that they should be mod els for the subordinate granges to fol- low have striven faithfully to that end. The results of their example is apparent in the improvement of many of our subordinate granges
 Summer Pienies and Field Meetings.
 "One of the most pleasing features are the summer picnics or field meet iugs, which have become an estab- lished factor for promoting the well fare of the order in Connecticut. They are looked forward to not only by our members, but by our friends as well. There is no better evidence of their popularity than the high quail ity of citizenship that annually attend these meetings. It is still my opin- ion that the field meeting held upon ductive of the best results both to the visitors and the visited"
 The worthy state master advocated a closer connection between the grange and the Connecticut Agrdcui- tural college. urging that the master of the grange should be, -officio, 9 trustee of the college, and continuing said:
 At the present time its most urgent need is room, appropriations, that may seem large will be asked for at this session of the legislature, and it is the duty of each one of you to impress up- on your representatives that only buildings and furnishings absolutely necessary for the usefulness of the college will be asked for.
 Economy in stats Government.
 'Tncrase of expenditures in our Btate government, and a lack of cor responding increased revenue was the cauoo of laying state tax by our last legislature. Some of us did not think it necessary, but only three ap- peared before the committee to oppose it, and those three from Windnam county.
 Tt seems to us that finance com mittee of one from each county, ap- pointed by the governor, together with the board of control, doing away with our legislative committee on ap- proprtafions, would go a long way toward lessenine our states expenses. The question of taxation and the ex- the most important question that can come before us as farmers at this ses- sion.
 Parcels Post.
 "In matters of national legislation the grange has accomplished much, a great deal of which has called for the earnest, strenuous effort of years. This is true of the parcels post. We believ that the protracted and per- sistent agitation for a parcels post IS approaching a climax.
 Tn many instances it would wipe out the enllTe regiment or m1QOlemel, who stand between the consumer and producer. For instance, it would en- able the farmer to send his eggs and butter direct to the city consumer, over the heads of jobber, commission merchants and grocers. It would mean a saving to the consuming pulp lie of s25,000,C00 0 year and gain to tlfe producer if another s25,000, ,00l Express rates would be regulated downward with a chopping knife.
 Opposes Repeal of Grout Bill.
 "Dairying in Connecticut is one ol our leading industries, and unless we keep our eyes open, the so-called 'Grout bill,' which places tax ot ten cents upon each pound of oleo- would mean loss of thousands oi dollars to our dairymen. Every effort should be made to retain this bill or g stronger one upon our statute book.
 ''The state master dwelt in the large expenditures for good roads and reckless speeding of automobiles anj the consequent injury to the high ways.
 Help Given by the Press.
 '1f the influence and help to us oi the press had to be paid for in funds out of our treasury we would soon ap- preciate it's worth. There is no single
 
 the press. and the only reason it does not do more is because we do not give 1t the opportunity. Our daily ant weekly papers are more than willins to disseminate, among the readin. public, the many good things which st many of our granges enjoy during tn, lecturers hour. Nothing could b, more conducive to a healthy growtl in our order than the publishing O. some of our most interesting pro grammes. Our personal thanks and th' thanks of our membership are due t the dafiies and weeklies which hay. accorded tho use of their columns t, us SO courteouSly.
 T would recommend that througl tho lecturers more emphasis be place, upon the different branches of ou grange work, the Patrons Mutul Fire Insurance company and the Pa irons Exchange. believing that man, of the members throughout the stat do not realize the value of these dc partments of our order.
 The lecturers of our g1angeS ma. also well take an interest in the de gree work as a means of education In contrasting the degree work of few years ago with that of today. w can see that we are working upon much higher plane and that wonder full progress has been made. It shoul, be the ambition of every officer t. render the beautiful lectures of tn degrees in a manner in keeping witt the lesson they teach"
 WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
 Sedgwick corps. No. 16, balloted ono,