The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-12
STRATFORD MAN
Is H0NORED BY
STATE CHANGERS
Frank e. Brakeman is Elect
ed Overseer at Annual
Meeting Today.

! is holding Its annual meeting here.
Davis received 81 votes: ]. Arthur
Sherwood Of Easton. %; Frank E.
Blakeman. of stratford, S6; scatter
| ing IA.
| Frank e. Brakeman, of Stratford,
| was elected state overseer; A. B.
fCook, of Mfddlebury, lecturer; F.. M.
Candee, Naugatuck, steward; Miner
Ives, Mepiden, assistant steward.
The Connecticut State Grange began
| It's 31st annual session in Foot Guard
hall, Hartford. yesterday. Only few
ported as not in a prosperous condi-
ton.
One feature summarized from the
different reports, showed that the or
der continued in a vigorous growth,
both In increased membership and
! natural prosperity.
A very large number of the subordi-
nate oranges now own their own hall,
| AT the conclusion Of the deputies re-
ports Rev. and Mrs. Frank S. Clark
of Easton were introduced, and ia
vored with vocal selections and led
the congregational singing during the
session. 49,
State Master J. A. Sherwood read
his annual address as follows, in part:
+ While the secretary's and treas
uers accounts may not show the bal
ance on what SOME would corAider
the right side of the ledger this year,
wish to give a few reasons for this,
and to-say that in my opinion the ex-
| ira money expended has been, in
every case. for the upbuiIding of the
/ order. First, the annual session being
| held in Waterbury as it was last year,
| increased the expenses somewhat; but
am firmly convinced that by carry
ing the state grange session to diff
ferent parts of our state. we are help
ing to build up the order in these sec
tons, which repays US many times
| over for the added expenditure.
another added expense was send
| Ing the deputies into new territory
for inspection this year. I would like
to see a plan adopted in Connecticut
similar to what some of our neigh,
boring states are carrying out, viz:
Let the state lecturer prepare two
or three lines-of definite work for all
the subordinate oranges, and then the
| state grange offer prizes, one in each
county, for the grange that will do the
most effective work; the deputies to
make two inspections each year-one
in the4spring and one in the fail. In
sist that degree work shall be put on
the night of inspection, and the dep
uty to keep a record of the proficienesk
of the grange in this work, also a
record of the literary work. and the
prizes to be awarded upon these re-
cords. In this manner, every grange
I'M the state would have q. definite line
of work to carry out, and believe
greater good could be accomplished
am very glad to report an aWak-
ened interest in the juvenile work of
our state under the splendid direc-
ton of Sister Williams, who was APP
pointed juvenile deputy to succeed
Brother Sibley. If any of you who
have not had an opportunity to visit
juvenile grange will do so, you will
ir4ca1 i1,Ixy y u
the work they do, but in listening to
the suggestive and e1evatiug words of
their ritual They are helpful in
building the character aad broaden
ing the intellect of our boys and girls
would recommend organizing more
of these oranges for the little folks
wherever the system of education in
the public schools is not SO strenuous
but that time is left for the mind to
be active in other directions
The grange has been, is, and should
be the champion of good roads. The
increasing number Of motor vehicles
upon our highways present a problem
demands of automobile traffic must be
met But the, demand for road i'm
provement should be met in a. business
like and intelligent manner. We call
your attention to the fact< that the
development of the resources of the
provement of the resources of the
roads over which the business of the
state is transacted. The tendency is
to exaggerate the Importance of high
cost automobile bouIevards, and to
minimize the necessity for better high
ways in the country towns The
roads of the state .houId be adequate
to the necessities of the people of the
state whose rights therein take pre-
cedence of the pleasure of Transient
| visitors of the comfort of passing tour
| list. The farmer pay taxes upon the
highest per cent. Of what he has of
any class in the state. The standard
of living he can maintain, the COM
fort with which. he can surround his
family, the education which he can
provide for his children, depends more
| largely upon the condition of the state
highways than do these things with
any other class OF our people. 1t is
| he who endures the greatest burden
| he whose interests are most vitality in
vo1ved, and he should not be asked to
contribute to highway fads or fashions.
The automobile tax and license should
| be sufficient to meet the expenses en-
tailed upon the state and towns by
reason of their use. Some system of
| taxation tolls should be devised
under which foreign cars should pay
for the damage they inflict upon our
! roads.
In taking a retrospective view of the
work of the year that is now matter
of history, we view with some degree
] of satisfaction the advancement and
/ increased influence Of the order during
| the past & month. We are thorough
| ly convinced that the necessity for, and
the desirabi1ity Of perpetuating the
order OF patrons.o of 1nusbandry has been
| clearly demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton of all who are interested in agri-
cultural pursuits who have come under
it's influence. During the three and
| one-half year of or administration sew
eraI thousand names have been added
/ to our roll of membership. Six new
oranges have been organized, and ten
| grange halls have been dedicated.
/ 3CDuring the past two years your mas
| ter has Travelled over 3. 500 miles. and