Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-03

ny the clllZenS OF the CITY, ana tIldl
the welcome was manifest even be-
fore it was put into words. He was
speaking in place of w. J. Thompson.
who was unable to be present at this
time. He stated that the delegates in
cluded the producers and represented
the producing classes of Maine. and
referred to Mr.. Soule as being rep
resentative of the dealers and the con-
sumers of the State. He said that
meeting of these two great classes
must result in their working together
for the common good.
In closing he thanked Mr.. Soule for
mis- words of greeting. Music by Den
Mss orchestra followed his speech.
and all through the meeting selections
were rendered between the speaking,
and were crafty appreciate by the
delegates. Past State Master c. S,
Stetson then spoke, and told of the
meeting of the National Grange in
Oakland. Calf, which he attended
and told a number Of incidents con-
corning it. He said he was greatly
pleased and gratitied to observe the
class of people who represent the
Grange at this time, and added that
the future of the State Graneg was as
sured. He said that this convention
will be of the greatest help to all
those present. and that at the Ma
tional Convention in Oakland there
were so members, representing only
80 States, that he did not think that
they were at all justified in holding
the convention out there. but Califor-
MIA has not as many Grange members
as many other States.
He stated that the real underlying rea-
son for the holding of that big conven-
| ton in Oakland was the Panama Pacific
| Exposition, and that it was a needless
expenditure of money. He said that Pc
nobscot county has more Changers than
the state Of California. He said that the
people of California and of Aroostook
county are strong boosters for their OWL
parts of the country, even going to the
extent of telling things not exactly 50.
He also said that some years, when
it rains eight weeks in the month of
| but the conditions here are as good as
| anywhere in the country. and that right
I now we are better off than many western
states. ne tOlu VI lie TeSOIulIOIlS duOpt-
| ed by the National Grange at Oakland
! one being a resolution to observe the
birthday of the Grange so years ago next
| December. Another was a peace prepar-
edness resolution. The third was related
| to the adulteration of flour. The fourth
concerned the government ownership OF
| telephones and telegraph systems. which
| he did not approve of because he thinks
the present system good enough.
| He spoke of the various uses of dena-
tured alcohol, and said that there was a
big future for 1t in this State; then went
| on to discuss the farm credit problem
which he said was easy in Maine com
pared to the West, where in some states
| interest amounting to 100 per cent is al
! lowed to be charged.
| He then gave a talk on the proposed
i curtailing of the rural mail delivery sys.
tenn and said that the Oranges should
unite in writing to their congressman tc
| prevent it, He said that the suggestion
of any extension Of the r. F. p. routes
would be impractical in New England
and that if this measure is passed 1t VII
mean poor service to all farmers.
Lastly, he gave an enthusiastic talk or
the coming Of national prohibition and
equal suffrage, saying that in Chicago
where they have equal suffrage. 1000 sa'
looms were closed In two months.
The next and last speaker was Dear
Leon S. Merrill of the College of Ag-
riculture, who gave a very able ad'
| dress on practical uses of the Grange
He outlined the ideal Grange program
which must include not only suitable
| amusement, but instruction. 1t must
be seasonable and must find and reach
the real needs Of the community and
each individual in it.
He says that ideas are Of greater inn
portance than the men who are to ex-
press them, that the basis of all big
! things is the aiming at big ideas, and
| he says that the aim OF the college is
| to give a man a definite and clearcut
purpose in life, a definite end in view
He showed how a college may cooper
ate with the Grange, and told of the
extension work being done by some
of the State Oranges in the line OF
homo economics, schools that were es.
tablished by the college under Grange
auspices. He also spoke of the Agri.
| cultural Club at Orono. the largest OF
its kind in the Eastern states, and sale
| that good speakers were developed by
the discussion there.
Last year 1771 speakers from the col.
lege spoke to various Oranges in the
! State. and so Oranges have already
formed extension committees, which
will do constructive work in agricul.
ture among the members, assisted by
the college. He suggested that COM
mittees be formed in the various
Oranges to discover the vital needs OF
| their locality, said that up in Penob-
scot county it was dairy cows, and
suggested that when they knew wha,
was really needed it was easier to gel
at it. At the close of his address the
State lecturer personally thanked the
orchestra for their assistance, and aft.
err few selections had been played
the meeting was for the evening ad-
journed.
| The C$rou$ AiiIl AlI>...>J