Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-13

farmer sra IN OetteI 0aIAebiA6 An
ci,ities. While these remedies make
! excellent political campaign mate
rial. there is grave doubt whether
they can be made to give the relief
needed.
lust now cooperative marketing
il interesting the farmers the couI-
try over. Maine is well in the lead
in this work. with our N. E. N. p. A.
Farmers Union. Maine Farmers Elk
change, Grange Stores. Sheep and
Wool Growers Association, ARGOS
took Potato Growers,. Sweet Corn
Growers, all doing good work.
several states have successfully
formed Poultry Selling Associations.
after all. the real success in any
; business is the individual success,
and must inally be worked out by
individual work economy ana thrift
in the old-fashioned way"
Mr.. Thompson urged that the
oranges take more advantage Of the
college extension work. Their
agents should be used by our lee
turers and such programs should be
opened to the public"
He hoped that every grange would
contribute five cents per capita to
the Educational and Loan Fund used
to aid young members Of the order
in higher education.
The Press
State Master Thompson empha-
sized the importance Of the newspa-
pers in shaping pubic opinion. ut
is the necessary and proper channel
should be voiced" he said.
1.-THE press of our State has III
ways given the grange ample oppor-
tunity to present grange news to
our members and to the public. and
/ cannot urge too strongly that ev-
cry grange have a publicity agent
| to furnish such news, including pic
lures and programs of general in
| tcrest."
He noted that healthy gains are
being made IN membership. Last
year the $4,000 mark was passed.
| Several new halls have been dedi-
| Gated.
Many oranges are being interest
ed in definite community work such
| as electric lighting. water supply,
! roads, schools and general improve
merits.
State Master Thompson referred
.tenderly to those who hive passed
on, the Hast year, mentioning by
name Sister Libby. who for so many
years acted as assistant secretary:
Bro. B. Walker McKeen, past Ice
tursr of the State grange; and Err
nest T. McGlaufln. a member Of the
Executive committee
In conclusion, he said: 1.-THE
gransne is built upon the idea of
democratic, local self government 1t
should( be self-centered, depending
upon Ats own resources. 1t should
grow II ON within. Other organiza-
tons ma Y be formed, but the grange
We hopes may continue to grow. The
past has its lesson. the present its
duty, tha future it's hope"
Sta te Overseas Report
The rep<,rt of the other officers Of
the granga followed the State Mas
ters address.
c. @. Purinton OF Rowdoinham,
overseer of he State grange, speak
ing on educ alton, said that the
grange is the champion of better
schools and Retter educational OPP
portunities for the farm boy and
girl. Given Cd ual advantages, he
believed that ! he boys and girls in
the country cam keep pace with the
rest Of the wlrld and maintain in
the rural communities, the necessary
standards.
The condition Of the rural school
affects the welfare of more people
than any other. This year about
So per cent of the pupils in the ele-
mentary schools of the State were
enrolled in the rural schools.
Increasing the usefulness of the
country schools ns question that
should appeal strongly to every
citizen of Maine. 1t is useless to
criticise existing conditions, without
suggesting any remedy. The country
boy may have inadequate schooling,
but the demands of his every day
life cultivate in him a self-reliance
and adaptability, which help him
succeed in spite Of educational hand
leaps.
He mentioned as one OF the most
important problems connected with
rural schools, the living nnu social
conditions available for the teacher.
The solution OF this PROM EN- would
remove much Of the difficulty in
getting the best teachers to work
in country schools.
The speaker said the gtange most
heartily commends the WORK of the
last legislature in its enactment of
law whereby the country towns
in this State are enjoying a more
equitable share of the State school
funds than ever before. The change
in this law was effected after many
years of effort on the part Of the
grange.
There are in the State 2o2 high
schools. II Of which are giving agri-
cultural courses Last year $50 boys
took this course; the earnings Of
these boys in their agricultural pro-
jects have a greBter return for each
dollar expended in instruction than
was reported In any other state in
the Union.
At the session Of the Maine state
grange held in 1917, the state lee
turer suggested the creation of an
Educational Aid Fund, as a means
of rendering lasting service to the
young people, who are members Of
the grange. Five hundred dollars