Alma record., 1914-02-12
CO. POMONA grange.
Net Saturday, Feb. Z, With Rlverddle
Grange at RiVerdale
AN EXCELLENT TINE ENJOYED
Meeting Adjourned Subject to Call Of Execu'
tive Committee

The grangers of 'Gratiot County held
their quarterly rally and fifth degree
session with Riverdale Grange (for-
merly Elm Hall Grange) in their new
quarters at Riverdale, on Saturday, Feb.
9TH. Owing to the blustery weather
and the bad state of the roads, very few
members were present, from the south
east part of the county. Sumner, Ar
cada Pleasant Valley and Monitor
oranges were we'll represented and a
few members were present from other
oranges in the county. The Fifth De-
gree session was held in the opera house
while dinner was being prepared IN the
Grange Hall across the street. The
morning session opened at IL 100, Worthy
Master Peter Klus presiding, and Bro.
Bert Muscott of Monitor Grange, act
ing as secretary pro TEN. Several mat
tiers were taken up and discussed but ac-
ton was laid over till the evening ses-
sion and the meeting adjourned for din
ner. The dinner was furnished by all
who attended and was prepared by the
Ladies of Riverdale Grange.
AT l 100 p. m. the Grange was called
to order in open session, Bro. klus
presiding.
After a few announcements in regard
to the evening session, the meeting was
turned over to Worthy Lecturer Pro.
TEN Miss Fanny Sharrar.
Program -
Address of Welcomes. B. Parks.
Bro. Parks referred to the influence
of the Grange and the legislation Sc
cured through its efforts, especially par
GELS post, rural free delivery and better
primary laws.
Response-Bro. Bert Muscott.
"The Grange is unsel6sh. 1t works for
the community as whole" Oranges
must use the same methods and give the
same attention to the work of their
grange, that they do to their private
business.
Music in charge of Bro Britten.
Recitation-Miss Sylvia Muscott.
Recitation-Norris Howell.
Torrens System of Land Transfer
w. ~ Baldwin.
"This system is less cumbersome and
less expensive than the present system.
1t also insures the purchaser against all
claims against the land, which may arise.
1t is opposed by the abstract Offices who
will be put out of business if it is adopt
ed"
Grange Fire Insurance-William Han
lev.
Bro Hanley who says he lives in
Midland Co., eats in Isabella and at
tends grange in Gratiot, is a director
in the new Grange Fire Insurance Co.
and well qualified to explain the subject.
He said that his company must not be
confused with other companies which
use the name of the grange, but are real
" private insurance companies. The
Grange Fire Insurance CO., (not Pa
irons Mutual) gives every member an
equal voice in the affairs of the com
pany. Losses are adjusted by board
composed of neighbors and i'll case of
an appeal from their decision, the mat
ter may be settled, by the Executive
Committee of the State Grange, Civ
ing the Grange control of the company
and making it a Grange company in fact
as well as name.
Rotations. B. Parks.
Report of the Michigan State Grange
-Ellery Pratt
Reminiscence of State Grange-Mr.
Klus, Mrs. Klus and Mrs. Coon.
Maintaining Rural Roads-Peter Brit
ten.
"If they'd put in the time in actual
road work that they do i'll windjamming
they'd have better roads"
Address by State Grange Speaker
Cora Coon, of Roscommon.
Sister Coon advised the Grange TO
send more farmers to the Legislature
and Congress- Because we sometimes
make mistake in the individual is no
reason why we should forsake the prin-
ciple." 1T makes me mad when | read
of some Bankers Association entering
into movement for the uplift OF the
farmer The farmer is not an object
of charity" Sister Coon believes the
solution of many of the farmers trou-
bles lies in cooperative marketing. AT
present. the railroads and the retailer
take sixty-hve per cent of his products,
returning thirty-fve per cent to the pro-
ducer Another reform under discus
sion is the extension of the Postal Saw
ings Bank system. Why not let out the
money in the postal banks directly to
the borrower who can furnish good Sc
curity instead of turning it over to the
banks at two to three per cent, for them
TO loan at ten or twelve per cent
One proposition which the speaker
advised the farmers to study well, is