Alma Record

THE STATE.

THE STATE GRANGE.
Synopsis of Proceedings of the Annual Meeting.

Lansing, Dec. 16.—The annual meeting of the State Grange held in Lansing last week was well attended. At the first session, after the work of organization, the chaplain, Mrs. Perry Mayo, made her annual report, as did also Flora, Mrs. Amanda Gunnison. The latter, as chairman of the committee appointed at last year's session to correspond with subordinate granges in the matter of a national flower, reported that by a very large majority of the subordinate granges were in favor of the red clover.

At the afternoon session the regular order of business was suspended and Gov. Luce talked entertainingly and exhaustively of his recent California trip as a delegate to the meeting of the National Grange.

The report of Gate Keeper Carlisle showed that this officer had been active during the year, instrumental in organizing several new granges and in reviving several dormant ones. His work was confined principally to the northern part of the state.

Worthy Master Thomas Mars read his annual address. He reported the order throughout the state to be in a flourishing condition. Notwithstanding the extreme drought which prevailed throughout the summer, the farmers had a surplus of produce which he sorely regretted could not be disposed of directly to the consumer rather than through the agency of disastrous trusts and combinations. The worthy master gave a report of his attendance upon the sessions of the National Grange, at which every state in the union save three was represented, and closed with words of warm commendation of the state organ, the Grange Visitor, as well as its present and past editors.

A somewhat lengthy discussion was indulged in relative to the much mooted mortgage tax law, and a majority of the speakers were strongly in favor of the law in force in California and several other states under which, in case of mortgaged property, two tax receipts are given, one of which covers the tax on the sum represented by the mortgage and which the mortgagor turns over to the mortgagee in part settlement of principal and interest.

The seventeenth annual report of Secretary J. T. Cobb shows that the total receipts of his office for the fiscal year were $6,278.57; total disbursements, $3,558.12, an excess of orders over receipts of $319.45. Assuming that receipts as compared with the preceding year are an indication of the condition of the order, there is no occasion for discouragement. The deficit is due to a falling off in receipts from subordinate granges. Only two new granges have been organized during the year while several have become dormant. Eight have been reorganized and two have surrendered their charters. No draft has been made during the year on the drive well defense fund, which now amounts to $1,696.42 and is safely invested.

A general discussion was held relative to the Patrons of Industry. The conclusion was reached that while the grange wishes the patrons all success, they did not propose to affiliate or combine with others in any manner as an organization.

The treasurer's report shows that the total receipts from all sources for the year were $12,572.40, and the balance in the treasury at this date $870.31.

The report of the executive committee was very gratifying. They found the books of the secretary and treasurer in good shape and reported the order to be in a flourishing condition in all departments of work. They were not at all pleased with their treatment by the judiciary committee of the legislature, before whom they appeared last winter, as instructed by the grange, in opposition to the repeal of the so called mortgage tax law. They felt that they were snubbed and rudely treated by a majority of the members of the committees and were unsuccessful in their mission—the bill being passed. However, the governor vetoed the bill, thus preventing the repeal of the law. Their report warmly commended the executive for his action in the case. The receipts of the year exceeded the expenses and the membership of the order has increased 20% during the year, there now being 11,102 members in good standing in the state. They also found the affairs of the Grange Visitor in a satisfactory condition.

An animated discussion was held over a resolution recommending that in the construction and repairing of highways the system of money tax be employed instead of individual labor now in vogue. While the resolution met with considerable favor it was voted down.

The election of three members of the executive committee to succeed J. G. Ramsdell, E. S. Hart and A. S. Partridge resulted in the choice of J. G. Ramsdell of Traverse City, J. Q. A. Burrington of Tuscola and E. N. Bates of Moline. No other officers will be elected this year, the present officers holding over until next year under the constitution.

The committee on legislative action reported unfavorably a resolution to the effect that secretaries of county boards of school examiners should be elected by the people at general elections. The committee were of the opinion that the existing law was an admirable one if carried out in the proper spirit and if partisanship was eliminated from all action thereunder.

Resolutions favoring the establishment of plants for the manufacture of binder twine by prison labor and fostering the idea of manual training or industrial education, after some discussion, was referred to the proper standing committees. President Clute of the Michigan agricultural college spoke at length in support of the last named resolution.

Upon invitation ex-Senator Perry Mayo of Calhoun county explained at length the provisions and workings of the inter-state commerce law, of which he is an ardent advocate.

Before adjournment the grange endorsed Chicago as the place for holding the world's fair.

A new feature of grange work was added last year by the National grange. It comes under the head of "Woman's work," and Mesdames Mayo, Sykes and Gunnison have charge of the new branch in this state. Each state has a state committee and each county and subordinate grange a sub committee. Much interest has been manifested in the work since its inception and great good accomplished. The decoration, adornment and furnishing of grange halls is one feature of the work but the most important feature and the one which furnishes the most lasting and satisfactory results is the lending of a helping hand to struggling sisters who are battling at odds for existence. Flowers and fruit are carried to the sick in private homes and hospitals and much suffering and distress relieved. The feasibility of this new departure having been demonstrated, it will henceforth be pushed with renewed vigor and great good accomplished.