Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-31

progressive farmers Of the nation ana
df hIaine favor it. He also believes
and does not hesitate to say that the
Legislative committee of the National
Grange and National Master Batchel-
Ter OF New Hampshire, represent
the Political machine that is attempt
ing 10 be built up at the expense of
the Grange whose general sentiment
is not expressed in either the Legis
latiye committee or the views of the
National Master, because there is no
true representation of the Grange in
The present misrepresentation system
of elections of National officers in the
National Grange. Maine, being next to
New Hampshire. the leading Grange,
and By combination in elections has
not the representative voice she
should have with New York. fPennsyi-
vania and Michigan. the big Four
but is. under the domination of small
er Grange states, who by combina-
ton manage Grange affairs national
~. while the great Grange states SUI
fer b. a pooling of the interests of the
small states.
Obadiah Gardner for Reciprocity.
Obadiah Gardner, master of the
Maine state Grange for over a dozen
years. Is out and out for reciprocity
with Canada, as of particular impor-
lance to Maine farmers. and Maine as
whole, on account of our geographi.
cal situation and because of Names
relative situation in the matter of
trade relations and commercial inter
ests witbsthe other states west. He
believes that the resolution as passed.
by the National Legislative commit
tee against reciprocity does not repre-
sent the progressive element of the
National Grange, nor does it impose
on Maine Grange members anything
as being their sentiment. Maine
Changers, in his opinion, will be equal
~ divided upon the reciprocity ques
ton, but probably the progressives
win favor it to man.
81 am an avowed exponent of reei
prociety with Canada" said Mr..
Gardner, yesterday, "for ! believe that
Names best interests eventually lie
in the better trade relations with our
neiehbor, Canada. Neither the legis
lative resolution nor the sentiment of
National Master Batcheller of New
Hampshire truly expresses the pro-
eressive Grange sentiment in regard
to reciprocity, in my opinion. There
is in tho opposition to reciprocity. as
expressed in the National legislative
meeting. nothing but machine politics
and it does not affect in the least the
sentiment of the Maine Oranges re-
earding reciprocity with Canada,
which the Prosressives of Maine, |
dare say, believe in thoroughly.
"Reciprocity with Canada would
benefit Maine perhaps more than any
other State, in view of the fact that
we arc By our geographical position
debarred from participating in the
commercial trade of the country,
which steps at Boston, in the East,
and Maine is left to get her market
for herself. The great section at our
doors opens to Maine the most invit-
ing field for development of trade and
we should not hesitate to take ad
vantage of it by urging Congress to
pass the reciprocity treaty. President
Taft is right when he says our trade
development should not be gagged by
custom houses. With our go millions
we should have no fear of freer trade
with our neighbor of nine millions.
"The theory evolved by the late
Governor Powers that Aroostook
would be destroyed commercially If
the protective tariff was taken off pc
tatoss is exploded. The Aroostool<
potato is drug on the market today,
not through free trade with Canada
but because other states, which had
abandoned raising that crop have
resumed potato growing under modern
conditions of agriculture and the mar
ket is elutted.
"protection has not saved the
Aroosscok rotate and the farmers up
Maine Gransas will differ, ! presume.
OF, reciprocity but that the opinion of
the legislative committee of MIR.
patch= iler represonts a theory in ac-
cord with ths Grange at large is err
soneous and the meeting of the
Oranges at Auburn, yesterday, when
none oppressed reciprocity and many
favored IT, shows how the wind is
blowing over the farms of Maine.
Maine as one of the leading farming
states of the Union should take the
lead in reciprocity with Canada, in
ny cpinios, and feel that when the
true sentiment is obtained by meet
ines all over the State Maine will be
found to be progressive and for reci-
procity."
Said State Master Stetson in dis
cussing the proposed reciprocity
treaty: ~ think that in spite of what
Monday, large majority of
the Oranges Of the State are against
the treaty. So far as am con-
cerned personally, | can't figure it any
way, except that it's passage would be
a blow to the agricultural interests of
Maine. | can give many reasons for
this belief. The population of Canada
is about 5000, 900, .while the provinces
have an area fully as large, il not
larger than the United States with its
10000, 900 population. can't learn
that we are shipping or shall ship for
quite number of years to come any
great amount of the farm products of
Maine directly to Canada.
"a have heard it said that we have
been shipping considerable quantity
Of potatoes into New Brunswick, but
after talking with number of resi-
dents on the border ! cannot find that
ono Of them knows of a bushel of
Maine potatoes that has been shipped
directly into New Brunswick. Repre-