The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-01

dramatic CLUB has been very success
full with its play this spring and will
soon have funds to build stage to
the grange hall.
Oranges all over the county are
taking up the question of the farmer
doing his part to meet the nations
cry for support in the present food
crisis. May we hope. that nature will
bountifully assist him.
The schedule of meetings arranged
By Pomona for the next two years is
as follows:
1917-April, Monroe; May, Pike;
June, Union; August, Jefferson; Sep
tember, Flat Run; October, Liberty;
November Morgan; December, Pleas
ant.
191S-January, Morris; February,
Green Valley; March. Oak Hill; April
IIilliar; May, Mlddlebury; June, Ber.
lin August, Amity; September, Fair
view; October, Butler; November,
Milford; December, Wayne.
I919-January, Clinton; February,
Pleasant View; March, Harrison.
The following letter has just been
received from the worthy state mas.
ter and we take it that by thus pub
fishing 1t, We can best serve the peo-
pie and the nation:
Barnesyille, o., April 21, 1917.
Dear Worthy Master:
For fifty years the grange has con.
sistently advocated every movement
tending toward better agriculture and
the production of abundant food sup
plies. Yet 1t has opposed an over
production sufficient TO reduce prices
TO level ruinous to the farmer.
Under normal conditions the farm
er's first duty is to conduct his farm
operations In such a manner that it
will return the maximum amount of
comfort to himself and family. But
in a crisis like the present one, the
tiller of the soil has a duty reaching
far beyond his own freside The
food shortage at home and hunger
abroad sends to us an appeal that
must be answered.
The executive committee of the
Ohio state grange, after carefully
studying the food situation and con.
sulting with some of the best inform
ed patrons in the state, concluded
that over-production of staple crops
this year is not only impossible, but
the food shortage is serious and de-
mands earnest consideration. The
committee issued the enclosed state
ment which you will please read with
this letter at your next grange meet
ing.
You have seen outlined in the pa
pers the plan of organization outlined
to meet the situation. Briefly, it con
sists of a township and county food
and crop director, district specialists,
and state advisory council of five.
The governor has appointed on this
council; Pres. Thompson, Dean Vivi
an and Clark Wheeler of o. S. o., c.
G.. Williams of the experiment station
and the master of the state grange.
The executive committee instructed
the state master to accept the posi-
tion and use his influence to secure
cooperation OF subordinate and Po.
mona oranges of the state
Your first duty as a grange and
Grangers is to get in touch with your
district specialists. Their services
are free--use them. 1t is interesting
to note in this connection that all
district specialists and salaried ad
visors are composed of men already
at the university, the experiment sta
tion, or department of agriculture.
Trusting the oranges Of Ohio will
do their duty so fully in the present
emergency that our order will merit
and receive more than. ever before
the commentator OF all good citi-
2ens, i.
Fraternally,
l.. j. TABER, State Master
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