The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-29
ANNUAL FIELD DAY OF
SHARKS GRANGE
State Master StetsOn Was Present
and Did Much to Make Meeting a
Grand Success.

The annual Field day of Starks
Grange, No -, held Friday at its
hall in Starks, proved TO be an I'M
usually profitable occasion to all
present The special guests were
State Master c. S. Stetson and State
Deputy Mrs. Kate Ellis OF Fairfield.
Owing TO the rush in farm work the
attendance was not as large as last
year. A picnic dinner was served at
the noon hour in the dining hall
The meeting was called to order at
o'clock and the order of exercises
was Music by the choir; reading
Mrs. Susie Jones. AT this time came the
Introduction of Mrs. Ellis as the
first speaker. In opening Mrs Ellis
made strong plea for cooperation
among the farmers and said in sub
stance that there were just as many
and more things to be done than had
already been accomplished. Make a
your price on what is raised, and get
it Stand on a level with the store
keepers, and other people. She then
read very instructive paper on
Home Economics. in which she
discussed the evils of the use of
benzoate of soda as a preservative in
food stuffs, and urged her hearers to
buy no article to be cooked unless it
was we'll protected by a wrapper. In
closing Mrs. Ellis made an appeal to
the patriotism of the Grange. saying
that Old Glory should float over every
Grange hall.
The next numbers on the program
were; Music by six children; recita-
ton, Miss Pearl Fletcher; song. Mrs.
Ina Creation. Next came the intro
duCtion of MIR. Stetson, who was
greeted with applause.
In opening, Mr. Stetson recalled the
fact that the first Field meeting he
attended as State deputy was in
Starks. He said in part: want to
speak first of the condition in Maine
contributing lnb hIduRe. We 0ePQ
greater individual responsibility. We
point with pride to what has been ac-
complished. Don't look backward
but ahead to what can be accomplish
ed with our 10000 members. No other
order or organization can as whole
compare with the Grange in the point
of educational and moral standpoint.
The facts are at the present time. the
great economic and moral questions
must be looked after by our rural
population What is the trouble. and
why are you selling your products for
less than one-fourth of what the con
sumner pays in Boston? We must
work together for the betterment of
financial conditions. One-half of the
money expended for roads is wasted
or nearly so In touching on politics
Mr. Stetson said: We have too long
stood with our heads bowed to the
soil. DO your own thinking. don't be
afraid of politics in the broadest
sense of the word. Eliminate all par
tsan politics. but stand for a clean
un-nullified form of government
Farmers demand the best kind of a
practical education. in order that they
may study the surrounding conditions
and be successful. In closing. Mr.
Stetson said he wanted TO talk on the
prohibition question, and said in part:
The resolutions for the retention of
the prohibitory amendment were
unanimously adopted and the Grange
is irrevocably allied with the church.
es, the Civic League and all other
temperance organizations. There has
been much discussion and argument
in the State papers as to who was re-
sponsible for this action Place it
upon the master who alone is re-
sponsible. We do not want nullified
prohibition. | believe it is the duty
of every man to get into the fight and
place the Grange on that side of the
question. Do you want your boys to
20 into the saloon, and your girls TO
associate with men subject to license
conditions? | lived for seven years
and a half i'm a licensed state. and
any form of license is worse than pro-
hibition" Mr.. Stetson was frequently
applauded throughout his speech.
MIR Stetson was followed by a duet
by Mrs. Creation and Mrs. Fletcher.
This was followed by a number of
short speeches by members of nearby
visiting Oranges after which the meet
ing was closed.