The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-26

IN the history of the Maine grange,
last week has been memorable for a
record breaking attendance at the an
nual session which was held in City
Hall, Portland On Monday evening
there was a great public reception, at
which the mayor, president of the
board Of trade, and other city digni-
taries extended a warm welcome and
hearty erecting to the members. To
this a response was given by State
Master {. s. Stetson in his usual happy
and eloquent manner.
The regular session Of the grange
commenced Tuesday morning and the
attendance was very large. The fore
noon was devoted mostly to routine
business and hearing reports of the Of
fcers. In the afternoon the State mas
ter delivered his annual address which
no doubt our readers have seen in
previous issues. One of the most note
worthy events Of the session, was an
address by Mrs. jerks of Concord, N.
H.. on the subject of WOman's Suf-
frago. At latter session, woman s suf-
frago was endorsed by a unanimous
vote of the goo voting delegates pres
ent, and this was carried amidst the
sound of cheers and the sight of white
handkarchiefs waving above the heads
Of the audience.
Senator Obadiah Gardner also de
liyercd an address in which he took up
many personal matters and also spoke
at length on the parcels post and other
public reforms of the day Mr.. Gard
ner received q hearty welcome H..
the grangers.
TUESDAY evening a still larger audi
ence vas present, as delegates were
there from nearly every town in State.
State Master Stetson read a letter from
National Master Oliver Wilson Of Him
OILS, extending warm greetings to the
body. 1t was a busy day, as reports
Of al sorts and descriptions were con
stantly coming in.
The principal work on Wednesday
was the comforting the fifth and sixth
degrees. In the evening, the sixth
degree was conferred upon class of
500 candidates which was one of the
largest in the history of the order.
During he afternoon there had been a
hearing with committee from the leg
islature made up of Hon Carl f. Mil
liken and Charles w. Mellen of the
senate with f. w Murphy, J. s. p II.
Wilson and Alton c. Wheeler of the
House Their object was to learn the
position of the grange IN regard to the
distribution of the school funds. They
certainly found out. for every member
of the grange who spoke on the subject
took the ground that the present sys-
TEN was unjust and should be abolish
ed The Thursdays session was per
haps the most important OF the week.
There were some incidents happen
ed through the day. that caused more
or less dissention among the members.
An unseemly wrangle between Senator
Obadiah Gardner and e. NJ. Frye Of
Bangor aroused much bitter feeling.
This did not happen during a private
session. but took place at the noon
hour and outside of the main hall.
J. t,l in cocrfnn M rp
port OF the same would appear in this
place as it happened in the corridors
Of the hall it was a public matter and
nas been reported in all the papers. 1t
seems That MIR Gardner had accused
a Brewer man OF incorporating his
position ON public affairs, and also
questioning him as to what had be-
come 81 certain money that had been
contributed by the grangers of Maine
to advance the interest of the parcel
los; nill Mr.. Gardner passed severe
trictdres on his questiOner and this
Was resented by friends of that gentle
man. Mr.. Frye picked up the glove
thrown down by Senator Gardner, with
the result that a bitter controversy in
which the words liar" and SNEAK
were frequently used To say the least,
it was a regrettable affair and caused
much bitterness of feeling among
many of the members 1t must be re-
membered, however, that this con-
troyersy took place outside of the
grange hall room and therefore was
virtually a public affair. In fact, II
was known all over the city of Port
land In a few moments and was the
subject of general discussion.
While the business of the session
has been very pressing the stress was
relieved now and then by Rotations
and music. Perhaps the most notable
feature of outside entertainments was
the playing of the great organ in City
Hall by the municipal organist. Prof.
William MacFarlane 1t is we'll known
/ that this organ is one of the finest in
the world and certainly Mr.. MacFar-
lane Is one of the greatest artists of