Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-28

The fourth annual session of thu
Farmers Union Of Maine held in thu
armory today was attended by abou
14o members of local unions. represent
Ing from 5000 to 1000 farmers Of tn,
Pine Tree State. The entire session wa.
marked by an evidence of confidence il
agement Of it, and this existing conf
dence and harmony was powerfully
union were all returned to Office BY
one unanimous vote for the seven meI
to succeed themselves. The men thu.
strongly endorsed are: Charles H
Gardner of Skowhegan, president
Dura Stanchfield Of Easton, vice pres.
tdent: w. S. Rogers of Cathance, treas.
urer: c. c. Clements Of Winterport
clerk; Hon. John A. Roberts Of Nor
way. director-at- large: Hon. John p
Buckley of Westbrook. director at.
arge; c. E. Embree OF waterville, man.
aser.
Parliamentary Tansle
A perplexing situation taxed the goo6
nature of the session when a parlia.
mentary snarl was precipitated upon
IL through a general desire to adopt
q new set OF bylaws which presented
some clauses contradictory to the plan
which the members wished to pursue in
the meeting Of today, but, despite the
long delay occasioned by discussion OF
tho situation, course Of action was
finally reached agreeably to all when
the new bylaws were accepted to take
effect June /. 1917. The initial difficulty
arose through the fact that Al direc-
tors had been elected according to the
original plan Of representation from
the several unions. before the consid-
Grafton Of the new bylaws which pro-
vide for nine directors only, and in
'endeavors to meet this dilemma sue
cessfuily other puzzles developed.
D An Appropriate Gavei
g Pres. Gardner learned that the Gre
dental committee had completed its
work al 1890 A. NJ. and thereupon he
BLUM tie plCSlolHS ldOlc d
resounding bang that sounded through
the armory much as If one of the boys
Of Co. H had returned from Camp
Keyes with a salute gun. Holding up
to the view of the members a pretty
maple gavel, he then remarked: This
gavel was made Of a piece Of BIRDS
eye maple taken from a wood box, and
thought such gavel would be ap-
propriate for the Farmers Union. I
present IT to the union to be handed
down from president to president"
Whereupon he was given vote of
thanks.
Union Gains Wide Fame
In the course Of the morning session E..
". Gilmore. a New York State feed man.
ufaeturer was called upon to speak briefly
upon the feed question. In opening his
remarks he declared that the Farmers I'm
ion Of Maine is rapidly becoming famous
throughout the country because Of it's sig
nal success in the work 1t has undertaken.
E. E. Austin of the Farmers Union Grain
Supply Co.. discussed Informally the topic
Of buying grain futures and at the close
Of his short talk was greeted with a run
ming IRE Of questions which kept him busy
for another Is minutes.
Presidents Annual Report
Just before the recess for lunch, Persi-
dent Gardner read his annual report 1t
follows:
As we are assembled for this. the 4th
annual meeting of the Farmers Union Of
Maine. it gives me great pleasure to note
the interest you manifest by your pres
ence at this meeting.
I think the majority Of you here as
semhled. also the members of our or
ganization not present, will agree with me
that we have passed through two Of tho
worst years for the farmers of Maine
that we have had in a long period. 1t is
true that the northern section of cur
State, especially Aroostook county. has
not had the hardships to bear that we
have had in Central Maine. The 1914 crop
Of potatoes was a large crop of poor
quality and the result was that the pro.
ducer received low price for same.
Again. the 1915 crop in Central Maine was
light and understood. thereby
again Gripping the farmer. In Aroostook
county. the yield was nearly an average
Of good size and quality. We also had in
Central Maine the worst known season
FOR the taking care of the crops and har-
vesting Of the hay. In Aroostook county,
they had nice season.
In speaking of these things, am not
doing so to boost Aroostook county, but
10 simply contrast the conditions in the
two sections of the State, thereby bring
ng home more forcibly the conditions
with which we had to contend.
Again, this season, the same conditions
prevail in Central Maine. but let's not be
as oft times the day that
seems the darkest proves to be tho
brightest.
This season, the high price Of fertili-
.er, owing to the fact that we have had
o depend on Germany for our potash, has
been great drawback. but I am firm
n the belief that the high price Of potash
will prove to be a valuable lesson to the
American farmer, thereby demonstrating
hat we have been purchasing more COM
nercial fertilizer than necessary.
At the present time. the transportation
,roblem Is perplexing one. no doubt due
% war conditions. While we have done
III in our power to give service, we are
rank in admitting that we have not been
lble to cope with the situation in way
hat would be satisfactory to the locals