Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-12
Master Thompson's Address

|
farm credits as means OF aiding
agriculture, OF class legisla ton of all
kinds, of so called reforms with
their tendency to bring about old
world conditions in America and the
dlrect primary as destroying party
organization which the essential of @
representative form of government
were the outstanding features of the
annual address of State Master w. j.
Thompson to the Maine State Grange
on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussing the condition of the
FARMER the State Master said that no
class legislation had been the motto
OF the grange from the first and that
many of the troubles were sectional:
that is the difficulty with agriculture
in California and Oregon was not the
same as that in the east. while nei-
ther was like that in the middle west.
He felt that the farmer should stand
on his own feet as did any other bust
ness; that to have faith was an es-
sential.
Despite the fact that all agreed
that there were too many laws and
100 many commissions, too many
State and government employees, too
heavy taxes, there never was a time
when 1t was easier to create new
boards to regulate business and to
appropriate money.
The State Master made it clear
that he was not seeking a re-elec-
ton for he opened his report with
these words: In making this, my
eighth and final report, as master
of the Maine State Grange, it is graf
flying to know that we have had a
very harmonious and successful
year."
State Master Thompson then went
on to say that grange officers were
becoming more proficient in ritual
istic work, more accustomed to par
liamentary practice and better in
formed on grange law. He pointed
out that the grange was a minia ture
republic tracing out the principles Of
self government as few other organ
izations did. He felt that the mem
berS ought to be proud that in this
year marking the end Of half CEN
fury of work that there were AGO
oranges, all with good halls, 80 po-
mona oranges, establishing it as a
permanent institution second to none
in doing good.
He said that on an average one po-
mona and 40 subordinate oranges
held meeting every day in the
year. During the past year three
new grange halls had been erected
and dedicated. Four special sixth
degree meetings held to enable those
unable to attend the State Grange
last year to take the degree The
anniversary of the forming of the
first grange in Maine. Eastern Star
of Hampden, was observed and sew
eral new subordinate oranges insti-
tuted.
What Oranges Do
: Commenting on the difficulty in
measuring the work of the grange
; the State Master quoted what one
report to a Pomona grange has been
4 this year, as follows: Il have not
much to report. We have held our
, regular meetings. have added a few
: members, have had a fair as usual,
have shingled our hall and have as
sisted in painting the church." To
this the State Master made the COM
ment: Not much to report"
The State Master expressed the
belief that while much good deputy
work had been done the past year,
it was d work which should be
turned over to the Pomona granges:
that they should be responsible for
the condition of the subordinate
oranges in their jurisdiction.
His report of the recent annual
j., session of the National grange
showed that resolutions adopted IA
vored: A federal marketing board,
3 a repeal of the federal telephone
. tax and amending the copyright law
so as to permit societies giving en-
, tertainment for profits to use copy
! right music. A mutual automobile
insurance company to do liability
> insurance had been organized by the
executive committee of the national
grange.
, While several states had estab-
| lished State grange papers, State
9 Master Thompson said that this had
, never been necessary in Maine as
the press had been very liberal to
the grange and that some of the
, papers furnished regular reporters
! to report grange news. He urged
, the grange to do all possible to as
!, sist these papers in securing infor-
! nation.
:. Needs to Agriculture !.
That Agriculture, the industry
r in which this order was founded is
now and has been for several years.
, under cloud, is shown by the fact
, that every rural section of this coun-
/ try is losing in population. and prac-
tically every city or large village, is
gaining, and many very rapidly.
, This condition is not desirable.
Everybody in theory would like to
/ see the farmer prosperous but few
OF tneSe We'll WlSherS would care to
, go to the farm.
> The causes are numerous and not
( difficult to understand But people
/ do not so readily agree as to what
, SHOULD be done to bring back agri-
cultural prosperity so as to make it
) as attractive as other business. Just
now cooperative marketing has the
center OF the stage as a popular
remedy for farm prices.
Dangerous Remedy
In my mind the one dangerous
remedy is Government aid and con-
troll in attempting to manage the
' business, by price fixing or farm
credit. Let it stand on it's own feet
! like other business. and nature will
, take care of it. if given chance. We
| need laws only to give us a fair
, chance with other industries to help
, ourselves.
mo Glass Legislation" has been
the motto OF our order.
Much of this trouble is sectional
and local. The cotton growers may
have trouble as they do. This does
not affect other agricultural inter-
ests.
The egg producers of California
and the apple growers of Oregon are
, asking for lower freight rates to the
Atlantic coast so as to market their
goods in New York and Boston, but