National Grangers

NATIONAL GRANGERS

Opened Session Wednesday At State Capital

Master Hon. Aaron Jones Delivers Annual Address

Reports Wonderful Degree of Prosperity Past Year

Lansing. Mich., Nov. 13.-- The great leading feature of the opening session Wednesday of the National Grange as the annual address of the master, Hon, Aaron Jones of Indiana. He said in part:

"The order has enjoyed a wonderful degree of prosperity during the past year This is true from whatever view you take of it. More new granges organized, more granges reorganized, more members initiated in existing granges, and literary work done, meetings held oftener and better attended, and greater interest taken and more inquiry by those side our gates. The financial condition , solvent and satisfactory, more grange halls have been built and tastefully furnished, and equipped for the uses and purposes of the order. In securing legislation, state and national, the order has been measurably successful. The work of the order more generally commended by all the people of our country.

"I therefore, congratulate the order on the efficient work of the membership throughout the country, with its gratifying and splendid results.

"A constantly increasing demand for information of the objects, purposes and benefits of the order of Patrons of Husbandry indicate that the National Grange should provide literature fully explaining the organization, that all farmers may be fully advised of its benefits and advantages, and how they can secure membership, either in existing granges or new organizations.

"I recommend that the extension and lecture fund be continued and that the National Grange Quarterly Bulletin, the official organ of the order, be also continued, and the issue increased and a copy sent to each officer of subordinate pomona, state and national granges; and that the subscription price to all others be fixed at cost.

"To increase the interest and benefits of the order, I fraternally suggest that all subordinate granges should meet once each week and that all members who possibly can be prompt in their attendance, and assist in all the work of the grange, and should strive to give as well as receive, information that will Increase the profits of agriculture, lessen the labors on the farm or in the home, or add to its attractiveness.

"The farmers of the United States furnish food and clothing to its 80,000 000 inhabitants, and annually send abroad from $600,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 agricultural products. The wealth produced each year by the farmers of the United States is greater than any nation of the world, and the amount of our productions is annually increasing to a degree not realized by our people.

"The brief recital of the annual productions of the farms of the United States ought to impress us with the vast responsibility resting on our order, as it is the only national organization representing this most important industry. It is a part, and an important part, of the work of our order, to make this industry more important and profitable.

"The work of the national lecturer has been of great value to the order. Wherever he has spoken a higher appreciation of the order obtains. The literature prepared and the Quarterly Bulletin edited by him, have furnished food for thought to all classes of American citizens, and has been of such character as to inspire our order and impress all others that the Order of Patrons of Husbandry is doing a grand work in bettering agricultural conditions and improving the citizenship of our country.

"The department of agriculture in the several states and at Washington, and all the agricultural colleges, without exception. are all in full sympathy with and are aiding the order to better agricultural conditions."

John Trimble of Washington, where the home office of the National Grange is located, has been national secretary for twenty years and is versed in all that appertains to the history and aspirations of the order. Dr. Trimble is a gray-bearded, soldierly-looking gentleman with something of the southern air about him. Speaking of the growth of the grange, he said:

"Michigan leg all the states in the number of new lodges organized in recent years. The outlook, the nation over, was never brighter. We have two measures in which as a national body we are interested, and which will, doubtless, be thoroughly discussed-- the ship subsidy and the irrigation of western lands."

E. B. Norris of Sodus, N. Y., chairman of the national executive committee, stated that the rural mail system would come up for discussion. The grange was the prime mover in the matter. One of the most notable figures ín the convention is Mrs. Sarah G. Baird of Minnesota, who claims the distinction of being the only woman ever elected to the office of master of a state grange. She is here now representing her state in that capacity.

Senator Burrows presided at tho evening meeting and made a short address of congratulation. Former State Senator Helme of Adrian, who is an active grange worker, was among those present.

Governor Bliss delivered the address of welcome and Worthy Master Jones responded with an eloquent review of the part taken in the creation of the grange of today by Michigan.

George B. Horton, worthy master of the state grange, followed in an address.