Yellowstone monitor., 1912-11-21
Everybody Wants Good Roads


roads building will be the next big
thing asked of congress by the Nation
al Grange, said National Master
Oliver Wilson Of Peoria, H., on the
opening of the forty-sixth annual
grange convention in Spokane.
'I believe the public highway is
a public concern, = added Mr.. Wilson.
There is just as much reason for inn
proving the highways as there is for
improving the waterways. We are
going after this object in all earnest
ness and the grange will not drop the
fight until the government aids in
road building.
More than 5000 grangers from 33
states are here for the convention,
Kentuckey being the only state having
membership that was not represented
by delegates on the opening day.
The visitors were entertained at a
brilliant reception in the Spokane
Chamber of Commerce on the opening
night, addresses Of welcome being de-
livered by Governor Marion E. Hay
Of Washington, Mayor William j.
Hindley of Spokane, President r. In
singer of the Chamber of Commerce
and F. NJ March, chairman of the 10
cal arrangements committee.
New York is the only city at present
actively bidding for the 1913 conven-
tion. Sentiment among the members
is divided on the question of next
years convention, part favoring
New York and others some middle
western city.
In his annual address, National
Master Wilson reported organization
Of 472 new oranges between October
/, 1911, and October |, 1912, on the
latter date the total assets being
$99, 800. 35.
Mr.. Wilson advocated action by the
grange looking to marketing
system for farm products, designed to
reduce cost to the consumer by elm
mating the middleman. In support of
the plan he aaid:
I'm my opinion system of practical
cooperation can be inaugurated, where
by the patron of one section can dispose
IF products to the patron or grange
in another section, whereby eliminat-
ing all intermediate profits. There are
many outside the order, professional
or otherwise, who are advocating GER
tain systems of cooperation, some Of
which no doubt are meritorious and
well worth conidera tion Of this body
Il am not advocating that the Ma
tioRal Grange carry out these coopera'
tive business enterprises, but | Dc
believe that the combined busines:
intelligence Of this body should be able
to formulate a plan equitable to al
concerned, and send it forth as the
true cooperative principle to be car.
ried out by our individual member.
ship"
Mr.. Wilson said the campaign oi
the grange was largely responsible
for enactment of the parcels post law
While the bill passed Is not all tht
grange hoped for, he said it would geI
loyal support from grangers, adding
''But we should, instead of relinquish
ing our efforts, redouble our energy
to secure general parcels post system
that will be equitable and which
will best serve all our people. :
One Of the important figures at tn,
convention is Mrs. G. w. Baird Q
Minneapolis, the only woman stat
master, who has held the office il
Minnesota for Is years. Mrs. Bair
announces that this is her last term
as she Is planning TO leave Minnesot
in the near future.
c. B. Kegley, of Palouse, Washing
ton State Grange Master, is overseein
affairs of the convention. mir. Kegle
Is chairman Of the Farmers Nation
al Committee on Postal Reform, whic
meets during the grange convention
4