Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-06-10

ana exceptional organization, Its or
ganic laws bring within It's doors a varied
membership. Here may be found the old.
the young and the middle aged, of bot h
sexes, mingling together without restraint
ana with equal opportunities and equal
responsibilities.
IL Is non-partisan and nom religious,
but Its teachings embody all that relates
to good government, good morals and the
true principles OF Christianity. In fact,
thelieading object Of the order az set forth
In the declaration OF purposes, is to
TABOR for the good OF our order, our
country and mankind. This is to be
done by developing "a higher manhood
and womanhood among ourselves" by en-
HANGING "the comforts and attractions
OF our homes and by strengthening our
attachments to our pursuits".
We propose "acting together for our
mutual protection and enhancement, a.
occasion may require. In our business
relations we desire to "bring producers
and consumers, farmers and manufac-
turers into the most direct and friendly
relations possible. All our acts and all
our efforts, so far as business is concerned,
are not only for the benefit Of the pro-
Queer and consumer, but also for all other
interests that tend to bring these two
parties into speedy and economic con-
tact" One OF the everything notices OF
our order is, that individual happiness de-
ponds upon general prosperity"
The grange in Maine is not an enemy to
capital, but it does oppose monopolies.
1t Is also opposed to excessive salaries,
high rates OF interest and exorbitant pro-
fits in trade. The grange is especially an
educational organization. 1t believes in
an education that fits for the active duties
OF life, that deals with the real things Of
the present, an education that fits for
work, that trains the mind, the eye and
derstanding OF the duties OF the hour and
the highest moral conceptions, an edu-
cation for all and not for the few, with as
nearly rs possible equal opportunities and
equal privileges, that shall fit every child
for its life work along any line OF endeavor
ssN AsSu IN obAy AimAkoa ihS b
ability to acquire.
In conclusion it may be said that tive
desire a proper equality, equity and fair
ness; protection for the weak, restraint
upon the strong; in short, justly distrib-
uted burdens and justly distributed
power, and to inculcate proper appreci-
alton of the abilities and sphere OF
woman"
In striving to work out these principles
it is well to keep close to some definite
plans and purposes. The time for dwell
ing entirely upon generalities has passed.
1t may be interesting but 1t is not nour-
ishing.
The first point to be considered seems to
me that the order shall be put upon a
basis that will lead to an increase in men,
bership equal to the increase in the OPP
portunities and the difficulties to be met.
The fact remains that a very large ma
jority OF the farmers OF Maine are still un-
organized, that quite proportion OF the
best farmers in the State are still outside
the order. 1t is also true that for the
year OF 1912 there was an actual loss in
membership among the oranges existing
at the beginning OF the year, and the
growth from the organization OF new
oranges was less than three-tenths of one
per cent. The growth for the few previ-
Gus years has not been far above that
for 1912.
II the principles of the order as outlined
above are worth anything, IL there is to
be continued forward and upward move
ment, there should, Of course, be such zeal
and enterprise shown by officers and
members as shall overcome the present
stagnation in grange sentiment, and put
the order once more on the road to an IN
crease in membership and consequent in
crease in influence.
After this is done, then attention may
be turned effectively toward accomplish
ing results along lines, a few OF which
would like to name in this article.
As long as the Maine farmer is content
to receive but IS cents OF the consumers
dollar and to pay higher rate of interest
than any other class, he should not won
der that agriculture wanes, that oranges
dwindle in mem bership and interest, and
that the lure of the city charms his boys
and his girls.
Counting commissions and renewal
charges, the interest rate paid by the
farmers of this country averages Sh per
cent, and no one questions the security
offered by the farmer. The trouble is
with the lack of machinery at his COM
mand. In spite OF the large agricultural
resources of the country, the price OF food
products is increasing faster here than
in any country in the world, and at the
same time the profits of the farm are not
increasing; in fact, in some instances they
are actually diminishing and agriculture,
as it relates to progress in other industries
and in proportion to the increase in our
population, is rapidly waning.
There are now many schemes being ad-
vanced to bring about change through
more advantageous system of farm credits,
but the grange must see to it that nothing