Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13

Resolved, That the 51st a,p ession
Of the National Grange. patrons of Hus.
bandry, hereby adopts, as it's first busi-
ness transacted, the following resoiu.
ton, and directs its immediate transmits.
sion, by wire, as the expression Of this
body:
Woodrow Wilson,
president of the United States,
washington. d. CT
THE National Grange, in annual ses.
sion at st. Louis, hereby expresses to
you the unqualified support Of the loyal
Patrons Of Husbandry, from Atlantic
to Pacific, In the great world task in which
this nation is now engaged; and in behaff
OF the organized farmers of America we
pledge to you the full limit of our en-.
ergies and our resources, In helping ia
win the world victory for democracy.
(Signed) OLIVER WILSON,
Master. National Grange"
The Presidents reply to the tcle.
gram follows:
Washington. D. c.. No. Is. 1917.
oliver Wilson, Master,
The National Grange,
st. Louis, Mo.
Dear Mr. Wilson: That is a most re.
assuring message which you have sent
10 me in the name of the National
orange and beg that you will accept,
Tor yourself and for your fellow mem.
pers. an expression Of my deep appre.
cation and warm thanks. am heart-
ened by your generous pledge.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
the report Of the entire order. in thin
state as given by Worthy Master Cady
at the convention follows:
The order in Vermont is prosperous.
although there is opportunity for i'm.
provement. We have organised two
oranges during the year and have two
or three more in sight. This growth
may seem small to the large grange
states. out when we consider that there
are 200 oranges in the State and 246
towns. we can see that the field is we'll
covered and that the great problem In
to hold what we have and at the same
| time maintain a healthy growth. The
same problem of how to keep the mem.
bership interested confronts us, as Il
does other grange States. We have
some weak oranges, due in most cases
to shifts in populations. Nearly every
grange in the State held regular meet.
ings twice a month, with good pro.
grams.
Since my last report we have had a
! session of the Vermont Legislature in
| which the grange was we'll represented,
| and much legislation which will be Of
benefit to the State was accomplished,
The Patrons Cooperative Fire Insur.
| ance company is making a healthy
| growth. 1t was organized a little over
! two years ago and has nearly 100000
1 OF risks. We have met with some
losses during the past year, but they
| nf -
whole have created confidence in the
company.
! When our country called upon the
farmers to produce food the Vermont
farmers responded with all of their
energy. A little later when the first
bond issue was made we were not
found lacking, many of the oranges
subscribing for bonds, and also many
OF the members. Our State Grange ex.
ecutive committee invested $4,000 of
State Grange funds in bonds. When
the draft came nearly every grange In
the State sent one or more Of its young
men. Others enlisted. so that we have
a large representation in the army and
navy. We find it true that the farmer
is not only ready to feed the nation.
the army. the allies, the allies armies
and the fishes of the sea, but also ia
| send his sons to fight his country's
battles.
AS member of the Vermont public
safety committee and of the district
board Of appeals for the State of Ver-
mont. 1t has been source of gratidca-
ton to witness the patriotism. self.
denial and earnestness of our patrons in
the time of our country's need. We be-
lieve that the Grange ought. by its words.
votes. money and men in every time and
place. be loyal to our country and to
democracy. knowing that when the war
Is over and the victory is won. as we are
sure 1t will be. we will renew our work
with renewed vigor in world that has
been made safe for democracy.