The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-08-22
Waldo Pomona Field Dav
Large Attendance, three Excellent ad
ofesses' good music, and good time gen.
ara11v

| CeltennJa
fark' Montviile, and good Judges estimated
that there were one thousand people on the
grounds. The location is an ideal one for
gatnerlng OF this kind. and the hospitable
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Ring. and the
big barn, were thrown open and Mr.. and Mrs
Ring and the special Grange committee naoe
every one welcome. The beautiful grove on.
posl1e the house has been cleared of all under.
orush and IN the center is a speakers stand. a
band stand and seats for large audience. A
large field in the rear of the house was utilized
by the younger element for ball games and
other sports. Under the naples on the wei,
kept lawn were tables for the sneakers and
special guests, laden with tempting arrav of
delicious food and ornamented with bouuuets
Inc golc and white paper napkins used were
furnished by James H. Howes, Belfast.
The Lincolnville Cornet Band and Youno,s
male quartet furnished excellent music
throughout the day. The quartet was special
ly pleasing and was repeatedly encored. Chas.
M. Howes, Master of Waldo Pomona GRANGE
presided, and with him on the platform were
State Deputy Edward Evans of Waldo and
Rev. E. H. Dinslow of Montville. The first
speaker was State Master C. S. stetson of
Greene. whose subject was the Parcels Post
Problem, and who spoke earnestly, ,fiuently and
to the point. Of the thirteen measures pro-
posed he favored he Lewis bill, and declared
that the rapid development of the country
and present business conditions demand
better and cheaper transportation facilities
than are furnished by the express The fiat
rate postal service would, he said, penalize
the farmer. the local merchant and the con-
sumer. Two hundred miles is the average
distance packages are carried and II pounds
the maximum amount that could be carried by
any proposed postal law. except by postal ex-
press. The express companys rate would be
SO cents; the proposed fiat rate se cents, and
the postal express rate 21 cents for the H.
pound package the 200 miles. The postal ex-
press will unite with the R. +. D. routes ,elim-
mating time and expense between the
express terminal and the home. This bill
meets the approval of the rural merchant and
will reduce the mail order business of the
large department stores, which in many Sec
tions of the country are doing an immense
trade with the farmers to the detriment of the
home merchant. The telephone and postal ex-
press would change existing conditions for the
better and come nearer to giving the square
deal to all people and all communities than un-
der the present system
At the close of Mr.. Stetson's remarks re-
cess Of an hour and half was declared and for
few moments there seemed to be unusual
confusion as families collected and friends
were invited to lunch. The baskets and boxes
contained over abundance of food and it
was animated scene as the dinner groups
were formed in the grove and under near
by trees.
Prof. C E. Merrill, Dean of the Agricultural
Department at the University of Maine, was
the first speaker at the afternoon session. tax
ing for his subject the Economic Relation of
Good Roads to Agriculture" Good roads build
up and poor roads impoverish any farming
district. no matter what the soil conditions
are, he declared A good road to market
saves tme the wear and tear of teams,
the saving of perishable produce, and other
minor expenses. Good roads increase the
value of property, influential in max
ing better homes, better schools and bet
ter health. Road building is scientific
work and the man who knows how should be
employed and the man who fails to do the
work properly should be discharged, no matter
how long he has been engaged. Judgment
should be used in locating roads, particularly
the State roads. The speaker cited interesting
q of how rklt b]lilt EJJ
good roads. road engineer is necessary
as a school superintendent and the distribution
and practical use of money in this department
needs as we'll trained men. A poor piece of
road is the most expensive thing any COM
munity can maintain, and neglected State
roads will also become burden. The ad-
dress was practical common sense plea for the
best interests of ALL not only for the rural
resident but for the man in the city, and we
shall have good highways only when such
ideas as those advanced by Dean Merrill are
put in force.
B. Walker McKeen of Fry eburg, State Lee
turer, spoke briefly on the Recall" most i'm
portant question now before the public, and
that is to be taken up at the next meeting of
lIc SNdIc vi dHSS. 4aS AcSoll gives TO the
people the power to remove an official at an
election held upon the petition of specified
percentage of the qualified voters. 1t gives
the people the power to discharge an incom-
petent, dishonest or unfaithfu servant, as a
corporation, fir n or individual has a right
to do 1t makes the public official accountable
to the people every day in the year, instead of
one day. Taken with the initiative and refer
endum, the recall gives the people absolute
control. The principle was used before the
constitution was formed, when PENNSYLVANIA
recalled her delegates for refusing to sign the
Declaration of Independence. The recall ex-
lists in Oregon, Idaho, Iowa, California, South
Dakota, Washington and Texas. 1t exists in
Maine by a special act granting the citv of
Gardiner a commission form of government.
Los Angeles used the recall in 1903 in remov
ing one cf her councilmen for the illegal plac
ing of the city printing and for the protection
of the saloons. No official has any propertv
right in his Office, but is the servant of the
people who have elected him. Mr.. McKeen
thinks that the recall should extend to the
Judges and all in authority, especially those
farthest removed from the people. A writer
from the University of Oregon says: "The final