Milford chronicle., 1923-12-14
49TH ANNUAL SESSION
OF THE STATE GRANGE
Held In Milford This Week And AT.
tended By Delegates From 22
Subordinate Oranges.
CONGRESSMAN JIG. KETCHAM
Michigan Representative In Con-
gresS Gave Delaware Farmers
Some Sound Advice.

The Forty-Ninth Annual Session of
the Delaware State Grange met in Mil
ford on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday of this week, with delegates
from twenty-five subordinate oranges
in attendance. The day sessions were
not open to the public, only routine
work of interest to the grangers be-
ing transacted.
On Tuesday evening Congressman
John G. Ketcham, of Michigan, was
the principal speaker at an open meet
ing. Mr.. Ketcham brought sound in
formation and advice to the agricul-
turists of Delaware and it is unfor-
tunate that all farmers in the State
were unable to hear him. In his ad
dress Mr.. Ketcham emphasized the
fact, that Congress is unquestiOnably
in accord with the agricultural inter-
ests of the country and any well-de-
fined movement looking to the better
ment of the farming interests. He said
that when bill well prepared and
showing conclusively that the farm
ers would be benefited by its passage
is presented to Congress, it is given
very prompt action and becomes law.
He said that in his opinion much of
the troubles facing the farmers must
be remedied by the farmers them
selves, and that the passage of laws
would not be the cure-al for these
ills. He was very emphatic in his
statements that cooperate buying
would react against the farming in
terests in the end. He illustrated this
by saying that the enemies that they
would make in so doing would more
than Offset the good to be derived. He
said, however, that cooperative sell
ing should, and must be used more eX-
tensively by the farmers, if they are to
derive the full remuneration due them
from their business. More diversified
crop growing was another remedy
suggested by the gentleman from
Michigan. He illustrated this by cit
ing instances where a few years ago
the cotton growing states were con-
fronted by ruin as result of the ac-
tivities of the Boil WeeVel." Now, he |
said, these districts are growing about |
one-quarter of the cotton formerly |
grown; but the agriculturists have
become diversified farmers and are |
prosperous. He said that on a whole |
the farming interests were much bet |
ter off this year than last, or the year |
previous to that. The large wheat belt |
in the middle west he cited as one of |
the dark spots in the agricultural sit
uatiOn. This, he said, was being rem
edied very largely by the farmers
themselves who are not cropping so
mucn acreage this fall. The address
was instructive, entertaining and ben
eficial to all farmers no matter where
they reside.
The report of Robert P. Robinson,
Master of the State Grange, was read
to the grangers assembled at the NOR
ming session on Tuesday. In it he
lauds the interest taken in the state
public schools by public spirited cit
izens, praises those who have 2ontri-
buted largely of their wealth for road
building, urges the respect for the
laws, and declares for a "dry Ameri-
ca" The report of the master fol-
lows:
Assembled as we are in the beauti-
full town of Milford, in the 49th An
nual Session Of the Delaware State
Grange, we meet to consider the prob
lens WHICH cOuIIOuL IuS SLOChuOAuS4S
of the greatest business on earth, that
of agriculture. Let us hesitate for a
while we give thanks to the
Great Father above, for all the bless
ings we have received and enjoyed
during the past year. Although we
may have had sorrows and misfor-
tunes during the year, they are as
nothing when compared with the con-
litions surrounding our brothers.
AS we sit here and try to work out
he difficulties which we have encoun-
tered, let us do so with the utmost
confidence in each other, that we are
trying to do the most good for the
number of our citizens, whe-
.her they be residents of the country
II of the city. ,,
Meeting of the National Grange /
The National Grange, convened this
year in Pittsburgh, Penna., November (
Continued on page y