The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1913-01-16
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
J. W. BARROW. Chatham. n. T.
Editor of the New York State Grange
Rerietr
GRANGE REPRESENTATION.
The Present Plan For Delegates to the
National Grange Criticised.

The present representation OF every
state in the national grange consists
only of the state grange master and his
wife. who are elected by the state
grange This method gives stat.
with less than a thousand members
just as much voting power in the ma
tioual grange as the states with 5o,O00
to 100000 members. AS we have salo
many times before. remarks the ONO
Farmer, this is manifestly unfair and
un-American. In practice it has in re-
cent years given rise to grave situa-
ton in the national grange because the
masters Of the more inert grange states
have combined against the masters OF
active grange states in petty personal
obstruction Of policies for broadening
and strengthening the influence OF the
Order in general. The situation became
SO acute that q movement to increase
the representation proportionately took
active form few years ago. but as yet
no change has been made, the manner
! of selecting the additional representa-
ton being the bone Of contention. A
proposition favored by one faction and
of doubtful merit because OF the chance
for abuse would secure the additional
representation through proxy votes to
be cast by the state master. The Mich.
igan state grange plan, reported unfa
vorably and voted down at the last ma
tional grange meeting, proposed that
| the state master represent the first
| 10000 members and that an additional
delegate be sent for each succeeding
10000 1t is hoped that the 1912 SEES
sion Of the national grange at Spokane
| Wash, will result in the recommends
ton Of fair and proportional repre-
sentation plan. II may be that 10000
is too small q limit; 10000 would be
more economical and would give pro
portionate influence to the active and
strong grange states. Several OF the
most progressive grange states have al
ready urged this reform. and it should
not be delayed. Another important
change in grange law and practice pro
posed Mt the last national grange ses-
sion should be adopted this year. A
committee was selected TO report on
the ACCESSIBILITY Of providing for direct
vote Of the general membership on ma
tional grange action. We believe that
this is advisable. 1t certainly IS in line
with grange belief In direct legislation
and it is just as much needed in grange
law and policy making as in state gov
eminent. 1t would give greater indu'
ence to grange policies because II
would eliminate hasty action.
Shorter Sessions Demanded.
National Master Wilson has an.
nounced that he is in favor Of shorten.
ing the sessions OF the national grange
and asks the cooperation OF officers te
that end. He is endeavoring TO carry
out the spirit Of the resolution adopted
at the last session to the effect that all
business should be transacted within
ore week. If all officers reports can be
made ready for the first roll call the
end sought will be materially fastened
A Good Choice.
! National Lecturer N. P. Hull of Mich
igan has been chosen secretary OF the
National Dairy union to succeed the
late George NJ. Whitaker. Mr.. Hull
will bring many efficient qualities OF
leadership and ability to his new Office.
He is decidedly the man for the job.
Dates For State Grange Meetings.
Dates for the annual meetings Of the
! various state oranges and the places of
meeting have been fixed as follows.
Pennsylvania. at Clearfield. Dec. 10 tc
IS: Massachusetts. at Springfield. Dec
10 to u: Maine. at Portland, Dec. II to
10; New Hampshire, at Nashua. Dec
II to 10; Rhode Island. at Providence
Dec. IL to 10: New York. at Buffalo.
Feb. 4 to Z: Delaware, at Newark. Dec
10 to II: Illinois. at Belvidere. Dec. 1C
to -: Connecticut. at New London,
Jan. IA TO 1G: Vermont. at Rutland,
Dec. 10 to II; Ohio. at Salem. Dec. 10
TO u: West Virginia. at Charleston
Jan. % to %; New Jersey, at Atlantic
City, Dec. 3 to 5: Iowa, at Oskaloosa
Dec. 10 to Is; Michigan. at Sault Ste
Marie. Dec. 10 to 10; Minnesota, at
Minneapolis. Dec. II to 20.
The County Deputies.
New York has ffty-three county
deputies, and the grange law makes it
| the duty Of the deputy to visit each
Of the oranges in his district at least
! once during the year. Weak and
struggling oranges should receive his
especial attention. W. n. Vary, the
state master, well says that the work
Of the deputy is not fully realized and
appreciated always by members Of the
order and often by the deputy himself.
Pennsylvania Patrons.
The next meeting Of the Pennsyl-
vania state grange promises to be one
of the most important in its history.
There are almost 800 oranges in good
standing now in the state, and as each
grange is entitled to send two dele
gates to the state meeting that body
will have nearly If not the full vot-
ing membership Of 1000 At this ses-
sion the biennial election will take
place. Clarified from Dec. 10 to Is
will he the center of grange activities
Several oranges in Ohio and else
where have constructed permanent wa
tering troughs along the public roads