The Republican journal., 1915-12-30

At the morning session Dec 22d Hon. w j.
Thompson of South China was elected master
of the Maine State Grange the third ballot,
to succeed Hon. C. S. Stetson of Greene. The
vote for each was not made public Other Off
cerswere elected ss follows: J. E. Abbott, North
Berwick. overseer; C. o. Purington, Bowdoin-
ham, lecturer; D. E. Foster, Augusta. steward;
A. l.. Roberts of West Kennehunk assistant
steward; A. E. Morse of South Paris, chaplain;
E. j. Addition of Greene, treasurer; E. H. Lib
by of Auburn, secretary; Mrs. W. ]. Thomp-
son of South China, Flora; Mrs. c. o. Puring~
ton of Bowdonham, Ceres Mrs. j. E, Abbott
of North Berwick, Pomona; S. X. Cushman OF
Steuben, gatekeeper; Mrs. A. L. Roberts of
West Kennebunk, lady assistant steward; L. E.
Tuttle of Caribou and E. Nj. Frye of Harrng-
ton, executive committee. Practically the
entire forenoon was devoted to the balloting
for these officials, and the baloting was re-
sumed at the afternoon session.
During the forenoon session invitations were
received from Bangor andAugusta for the 1916
meeting, but it will probably be held in Bangor,
as it has been customary for several years to
]
and Lewiston.
| Two rather striking features characterized
the morning session; the first the passage of a
resolution declaring against the doctrine of
preparedness; the second the passage of q
resolution in favor of woman suffrage with
but single dissenting vote. 1t was at first
believed that the suffrage resolution had had
a unanimous passage and Worthy Master Stet
son declared; but woman, in the rear of
the hall Immediately arose and asked that
this should not be recorded unanimous, in
asmuch as she had voted against. but because
she sat under the balcony in the shadow the
fact had not been noted.
State Lecturer, C. o. Purington of Bowdoin-
ham, presented the resolution opposing pre-
paredness. This resolution asserted that
grave danger to the national welfare would
be occasioned by any increase in the standing
army; and also expressed in no uncertain
terms the opposition of the Grange to the in
cucation of system of military training in
the High schools and colleges. There were
very few votes of dissent from this resolution i.
The report of the State secretary, E. H.
| Libby of Auburn, showed that five new
Oranges had been organized during the year,
and that the State Grange had total member
ship of 57,548.
State treasurer, E. E. Addition, reported,
also, showing for the year total receipts of
$17,595.28, and total expenditure of $ll 512 10.
The legislative committee reported on the
effort that was being made to secure the pas
sage of law providing for the distribution
OF the school fund according to aggregate at
| tendance. The committee worked for an
equal suffrage bill and failed 1t did secure
the passage requiring cities to give the same
accounting of school funds required of the
towns.
A bill favored by the committee providing
for the sale of electric power to private line
owners was passed.
| A bill for the investigation of the Maine
, Central was sponsored by the committee, but
failed.
1t seems pretty safe to assume that the
State Grange will wage a strenuous war
against unjust railroad rates, and also that it
will ask for a full and complete investigation
of the Maine Central Railroad Co. to be made
by the next Legislature, since recommended
tions advocating both these procedures were
presented Tuesday evening in the report of R.
L. Cummings of South Paris. chairman of the
Grange service committee, and seemed to find
favor with the body. The subject of railroads
and freight rates was the primary considera-
tion at the evening session, and all through
Mr.. Cummings report a note of warning
against railroad monopoly was sounded. In
plished during the year, Mr.. Cummings spoke
of the fact that it had opposed general in
crease Of 10 per cent in class rates before the
Interstate Commerce commission, and won