Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-08-01
kANY ENJOY PICNIC.
Fine Program and Pleasant Day Made
a Big Success OF the
ARCADIA FARMERS CLUB PICNIC
Able and Interesting Address by W. T. Hill
of Carson City

Basket lunches, a fine program with
an outside speaker, a grand day were
the features that made up very sue
! cessful and pleasant picnic Of the Ar
cada Farmers Club held at Wright
| Park last Thursday. Shortly before
noon the picnicers from the surround
ing communities commenced to arrive
at the park. In all there were about
two hundred and fifty people present.
They spread their lunches on the grass
and on temporary benches arranged
for the occasion.
After the dinner was finished, the
club members and visitors gathered
around the platform for the program
President c. +. Heinline called the
club to order. The program was
opened by singing of The Harvest
Song by the club. Rev J. w. Priest
pronounced the invocation, followed
by another song by the club. The
regular order of business was dis
pensed with, except for the calling of
the roll and the reading of the min
utes of the previous meeting. Little
William Knoetzer was next called
upon and he responded with the rec
itation, Going Back to Grandpa's."
The poem took so we'll that he re-
cited the second. Mesdames Glow,
Peck and Rockefellow next sang one
of the club songs. Very appropriate
readings by Mrs. c. Gossett and
Harry Walstow were the two next
numbers. Meet me on the other
| Shore was sung in a very pleasing
manner by Miss Evelyn Gossett The
program of recitations and songs was
concluded with two recitations, Sam
uel and |, by Mrs. Frank Glow and
"Drurie," by Rev. ]. w. Priest
In introducing W. T. Hill of Car
son City, President Heinline congrat-
ulated the club in being so fortunate
to secure so able speaker from away
whose interests were so closely. allied
with the work of the club. Mr.. Hill
began his address by speaking of the
individuality and independence Of the
farmers of this community and praised
| them in high terms for the success
full farming that was being done. He
said, however, that the problems of
this day and the future demanded CO.
operation, that the farmers must get
together and decide upon some line of
action. He warned them also against
signing away what he called their
'birth-rights" through the legislature
at Lansing. Mr.. Hill seemed very
pleased to see such large gathering
and said, at doesn't hurt any farmer
TO take a day off once a month and
have a good time with his neighbar"
"The Purposes of the Farmers Club"
was the theme of Mr. Hills address
He took up the modern problems and
conditions showing the progressive
ness Of the age, while he showed that
the future had in store more and
greater problems than those of the
present day. He next took crack
at the politicians, getting much laugh
ter and applause through his jokes
and witty word pictures Of the mod
ern politician He warned the farm
ers to beware of the office seeker and
the office holder and urged closer at
tention to local politics and the thor
ough posing of the voter upon the
character of the men who are running
for office
In conclusion, Mr.. Hill explained
the uniting of the farmers clubs
throughout the state for the purpose
of petitioning the legislature for fav-
orable and needed legislation Ac-
cording to the speaker a great many
conflicting ideas of proper legislation
from different sections of the state
are carried to Lansing through peti-
tions. This, he pointed out, was due
to lack of cooperation among the |
clubs. 1t is now sought to unite the
clubs upon this feature so that when
petitions go to the legislature, they |
will have back Of them the united |
strength of the agricultural districts
The next and last speaker was Rev.
J. w. Priest, who gave a short talk
upon cooperation between the people !
Of the rural districts and the people |
Of the cities The speaker showed |
that cooperation will be of remark |
able advantage to both and would be
a distinct step in advancement of the
interests of both.
To help entertain the guests at the
park and those present at the exer-
cises, the business men of the city
raised a purse and provided lemonade
to quench the thirst of the picnicers.
Many business men were present at
the park throughout the exercises and
thoroughly enjoyed them.