Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-25
GRANGE HEARS.
ROAD BOND ARGUMENTS.
One Who Was There Tells In
Detail Of the Discussion
Vote Is Against Bonds

A large crowd from Salem and sur
rounding country motored to Macleay
to attend called meeting of Pomona
Grange to discuss the measures to be
voted on at the coming election. The
meeting was called to order by the
master of Pomona grange and the first
person to speak was John p Robertson
who touched lightly on all the subjects.
1t seems from his position that most
of the bills are unconstitutional and
will not stand the test Of the courts
and the tax payers are put to good
deal of cost which should not have
been done. At the noon hour a basket
dinner was served each one furnishing
his own dinner, Macleay grange furn-
ishing the coffee and cream.
In the afternoon the house was call
ed to order, Walter Tooze being the
first one to make speech in favor Of
the bonds for roads. He made a flowery
speech but as the farmers in Marion
county are pretty well educated along
these lines he did not make much of an
impression. Mr.. Benson was then al
lowed the floor. Mr.. Benson was born
in Norway and speaks very broken. He
spoke of the different roads that the
legislature had mapped out to pave, and
read a few items. Ike Patterson was
the next to come before the grange. He
said he was a farmer Well we know
Ike is farmer now but some of US
remember Ike when he was in business
in Salem. He thought that the man
who lived on the side road would get
more benefit than the man on the Pa
cific highway. He said the city would
not get any of the money. Why then
do the city people want to vote for
bonds7 He said he was born in Oregon
and clasped his hands and raised his
eyes to heaven and said for heavens
sake vote for bonds. He said the rail
roads were fighting these bonds. Well
we know what the country would be If
we did not have railroads, they are
more of benefit than good roads,
what would we do with our dried
prunes, and Loganberry juice if we
did not have the railroads to carry
them east to market for we have no
market here for them, the railroads are
more of benefit than the automobile
to this country.
Miss Patton favored the audience
with a piano solo. Mrs. Zella Fletcher
then read a paper against road bonding.
The Martin sisters dressed in costume
sang America" which was well re-
,eived. Mr.. Darby, master of Aums-
vile grange, was then allowed the
floor, He spoke of man who called
himself a granger and who was mem |
Der that spoke at the Pomona grange
n April, and then went to Portland
md published in the Oregonian that
there were 40 for road bonding with So
against. When the fact was that IL
was unanimous vote against, not one
hand being raised for the bonds. He |
said he wrote the Oregonian to cor
'ect the same but they only published
ialf of it. He said he had the pleasure |
few days ago of entertaining two gen
lemen from Illinois who mad travelled !
through California and they said that
Ialifornia was the most overtaxed state
hey knew Of and the people on the
arms were complaining of the high
axes Mr.. Darby said he owned an
uto or mud scOw and run it all win
er, and the roads were good enough
or him until they could get more grav-
/ on them, but if the license went any
igher on his mud scow he would not
un one even if the roads were paved.
dr. Darby said that the people who
poke for road bonding misrepresented
hings so he hoped it would be voted
own.
Addison Bennett, reporter or one OF
he staff of the Oregonian, begged for
few words which was granted by the
master but he got so personal the mas
err had to call him to order.
Miss Genevieve Patton gave a read
NC which was well received. Mr.. Stark
Weather who had just arrived from
PORTLAND was granted few words as
e had come all the way from Portland
o speaN for the bonds, but he made
cry poor impression for he is a grang-
+, and a granger should not advocate
onds unless it benefits the farmer and
hev do not see where this will bene-
it them. A vote was then taken, the
majority being opposed to bonding, on
Y the bond speakers and two others
oting for bonds.
| will say this for our grange meet
ngs. They are always peaceful only