Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-12-15
BIG MASS MEETING
WAS ATTENDED BY,
A RECORD CROWD
ADDRESSES WERE GIVEN BY j.
c. KETCHAM AND j. j. COX.
EVERYONE DANCED

Not in many years was the get
together spirit so manifest as in the
big combined meeting of the grange
members, farmers and members of the
board of commerce at Millard hall
last Friday evening. The hdif began
to fill shortly after seven o'clock and
before 80 every chair in the room
was filled. Other chairs were pro-
cured and soon filled, but even then
many people were required to stand
for while. The farmers and town
wdellers and their wives mingled free
ly with each other and discussed the
things that are really vital to every
one, the bettering of the community.
There was a genuine good fellowship
evident in all parts of the room and
every attender enjoyed the evening.
Possibly the larger number present
were farmers and their wives.
Orchestra music was furnished
throughout the evening and excellent
addresses were given by John C.. Ket-
cham, master of the state grange, and
j. J. Cox, assistant professor in civil
engineering at the University Of
Michigan. The latter's address on
"Michigan's Dollars and Michigan's
Roads," will be found in the Good
Roads department of the Banner 1t
was too long to give complete in one
week but will be continued. Every
one should read it. 1t is full of meat.
Mr.. Ketcham always sane, brilliant
and oratorical, did not diviate from
his usual form in the Friday nights
address. His discussion was on "The
improvement of the economical condi-
tion Of our community life. Improve
the economical condition of the
farmers" said Mr.. Ketcham, "and you
have gone long way toward solving
the difficulty that confronts the great
body Of agriculturists of today, name
ly, how to make their land pay them
dividend after collecting legiti-
mate salary for their labors on the
land. We talk about the farmers be-
ing Independent as regards living and
manner of spending their time. We
talk about the great wealth the farm
ers are collecting from tilling the soil
and every one envies the farmer his
wealth and easy living. Even the
farmers are spreading that idea
broadcast over the land. 1t is build
ing a barrier up before them that
they will soon battle hard to tear
down.
81 want to give you the satisfies
as compiled by the government on
the average farmers income. Gov
ernment figures for the last several
years have shown that after the aver
age farmer has paid all running eX-
penses of his farm, including a salary
to himself. wife and children of about
$3.50 to $400 a year, he realizes from
three and one-half to four and one
half per cent interest on his actual in
vestment. Just think of it! The farm
err independent! How many of you
business men would like to realize
31a per cent on your investment? If
this is the average what must the net
gain of many farmers be, considering
that some of them make big gains?
"Now,. why is it that the amount
Of farmers prosperity is measured
by a Ford automobile? / can tell you,
it is simply because he wants some of
the comforts of life and this parti-
cular machine comes the nearest, eco
nomically, of giving him what he
wants. But / want to say that many
other cars are for the farmer. He
has just as good right to one of the
medium priced cars, and he will have
one, too. He is learning to look after
his own interest. His economical con-
dition is being improved through the
medium of the grange, the farmers
clubs and organizations throughout
the country.
"But dollars are not all in life, al
6 Continued on Page 12)