The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-07-04
By Presence Of Pennsylvania
And Ohio Masters
AUDIENCE IS ADDRESSED
BY These Two Dienitarles Who Make
Splendid mpression-Unseason.
able Time for Holding Rally
Alone Interfered With
Its Success

of attendance, was the picnic of Po-
mona grange, held at Riverside park
Thursday afternoon, not a huge sue
cess. There were splendid speeches,
sociable people, the weather was fine
and those who we're present express
ed great appreciation of the day.
When the committee in charge,
Hon. John Cunningham, Austin Car
penter and Herbert Leedy, originally
set the date and prepared the pro-
gram, they did not anticipate the bad
weather of several weeks back, wealth
er which SO retarded farm work that
hundreds who would have attended
Thursdays affair were absolutely
forced to remain at home and take
advantage of the brand Of weather
which has been offered the past week
or so.
A striking feature of the day was
the presence at the gathering OF two
masters of state oranges, Hon. John
S. McSparnan Of Pennsylvania and l..
J. Taber of Ohio, men who have been
intimately associated in the same
line of endeavor for over twenty
years and who have had frequent cor
respondence, but who never met each
other until last year.
The presence of these two Grange
dignitaries added much to the zest OF
the occasion, while the audience hung
on every word uttered by them in
heir instructive and interesting
speeches.
Hon. John M. Cunningham, a past
master of Pomona Grange, presided
during the day and, following boun-
tiful basket dinner at the noon hour,
opened up the program with a few
remarks, expressing his appreciation
of the act of the members of the
chamber of commerce in attending
the picnic.
The program was opened with a
solo by William Rush of Morris town
ship who, despite his So years, more
than delighted the audience.
Mrs. G. w. Wintermute Of Mt. Lib
erty followed with a recitation and
Chairman Cunningham then present
ed Hon. John s. McSparnan.
Mr.. McSparnan's talk dealt with
the powerful position occupied by the
farmer of today in respect to the leg
islation of the country. He pleaded
strongly for a non-partisan viewpoint
in the settling of real legislative prob
lens.
The speaker stated that the aver
age farmer elects the man to the of
fee and then expects all the work tC
be done by this individual. "Worl
out your own salvation" Mr.. McSpar
nan cried, that's the only way it car
be DONE" He exhorted his auditors
to manifest keener interest in the
great issues of the country and thos'
of their own localities. Members o
the audience were very lattering il
their comments on the address.
Another song by Mr., Rush followet
the speech, while Mrs. Dale Halse.
of Brandon gave thoroughly apprec
lated recitation. l.. j. Taber, wei
known to the majority of those pres
ent from his activity in the Ohi
grange, was then presented.
At the outset, Mr.. Taber declare
that his message of the day was en-
bodied in the sentence, "Live not fo
thyself alone" Historically, he refel
red to times past when farmers gre
and raised all they ate and manufa'
tured their clothes. Then no outsid
dependence was necessary. In dire(
contrast, he pointed out the factor
which have caused the farmer to rel
on his neighborhood and the commul
ity in which he lives, stating thes
were the automobile and the develo
ment of good roads.
The country church is a seriol
problem, the speaker stated and wei
on to explain that it's decay mu
cease IL rural life is to De preserve
He referred to the allurements whiC
Sunday automobile ride holds fort
but asked that more serious consi
Grafton be given religious duties
that day.
He complimented the chamber
commerce on their turnout at Il
picnic and urged the farmers to b
come more intimately acquainted wi
the merchants, as well as the recipi
cal, explaining that true develc
ment of community of interes
could be thus attained. He frequel
ly referred to his original text.
A slight note of warning was sour
ed by Master Taber when he stat