The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-08-27
EAST CENTER GRANGE
Won The Banner For Attendance At
The County Picnic.

East Center Grange with seventy.
four of its members present Saturday
carried of the prize banner awarded
! by Ramona Grange to the local
Grange having the largest percentage
fof its membership at the annual pic
mic. Lincoln Grange with its fifty-twO
enrolled was the closest competitor
for the banner. This Is the third fine
in succession that East Center Grange
has won the banner ON best attend
ance and on this record claimed per.
manent ownership of the prize but
were informed that no such rule OBJ.
tanned and the banner must be com.
peted for each year. This was some.
thing of a disappointment to the
members of the winning grange. ..,.
Attendance at the picnic at Penn
College Campus Saturday was not as
great as had been expected by the
management, in fact it was disap
pointing but after ten days of chau.
tauQua program, generously patron
lied from country districts and so
much work in crying need on the
form, that many were unable to
be out for the occasion,
Walter Lyle was chairman of the
afternoon session which was called
to order about one thirty o'clock. De,
vine blessing was invoked by. Rev
j. NJ. McClelland of the. Central Nj. T..
church who by the way, Is mem
Der of Buckeye Grange. . b, g.. II ~.
/. N, Taylor has pleasant surprise
for the picnic crowd. He had been up
in Jasper county to the dedication Of
new grange hall and there found
State Master Judson whom he per.
suaded to come to Oskaloosa for the
annual grange picnic. Mr.. Judson
made brief address to the assembly
upon current issues, .complimented
the Mahaska Grange upon the splen.
did showing they have made and told
OF the growth Of the grange in the
state during the year, an increase of
over five thousand members, o.,
The address of the forenoon
delivered by George W.. F. Gaunt of
Mullica Hill, New Jersey, a national
lecturer Of the grange, a farmer and
a, senator in his state assembly and a
hard work for the grange promotion.
Mr.. Gaunt made good talk, instruc-
tive, interesting, impressive. He told
something of the history of the grange
and its accomplishment. The grange
brought about the rual delivery, the
parcels post and the postal, savings
banks and 1t is after other benefits
for the people. Organization, better,
closer organization of the country is
desirable and necessary to obtain the
things desired. 70. q, 49,.
Good roads was one of the things
necessary TO the betterment of the
condition of the farming community
and this subject the; speaker dRelt
upon at length. He wouId-ahaYe gov.
eminent aid in road building and
and the same should be
secured. through the grange. Govern,
ment aid was given to other interests
from transcontinental railways. to, the
improvement of rivers and harbors,
or the building of the Panama Canal.
Why not the government aid perma.
nent roads. With better and stronger
organization in the grange this could
be secured. He would have o perma.
nent national highways" commits.
sion.
Mr.. Gaunt complimented Mahaska
upon its splendid organization
and would have other counties like,
wise. ...
Following the address of the nation
al lecturer, Mr.. Lyle called for a
Of Grange masters upon
matters Of importance to the grange
people, This was held in a corner OF
the auditorium and was not open to
The attendance in general.