MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE 371 



9. Opposed to tlie ship subsidy bill. 



10, Eegulatiug tlie manufacture and sale of imitation dairy pro- 

 ducts. 



11. Opposed to irrigation of arid western lands at public expense. 



The work of the grange in our own State has been carried on along 

 the Hues indicated in previous reports. The aim has been to institute 

 several well systematized departments by the use of which the subor- 

 dinate granges may grow into strong and permanent factors in their 

 various localities. It is now the object of the State organization to 

 perfect these departments and to assist the four hundred and sixty 

 local societies in adapting them to their individual needs. 



Toward this end the organizing department has encouraged its 

 deputies to plant strong new granges, to start them well in the uses 

 of the financial arm of the grange and to impress upon them the vital 

 importance of seeking educational benefits through the faithful im- 

 provement of the lecture or program hour at each meeting. Sixty- 

 two new local granges have been thus organized. 



The lecture, or educational work of the grange has been strengthened 

 bv enlarging the monthlv State Lecturer's Bulletin and bv an increased 

 number of circular and personal letters between the State Lecturer 

 and the lecturers of subordinate granges. The study of the text book 

 on civics has been continued and uniform programs adopted in the ma-^ 

 jority of grange^. The improvement of the country school has been 

 given a large share of attention particularly with reference to intro- 

 ducing nature study into the subjects already taught. 



The grange in Michigan has for several years given special attention 

 to urging upon our legislature certain measures of particular interest 

 to farmers. This year the legislature passed two very important laws 

 that represent the result of several years of persistent grange agita- 

 tion. One was the law prohibiting the coloring of oleomargarine to 

 resemble butter. The law had been urged by the grange for five years, 

 and is believed to be one that the courts will uphold and one of great 

 benefit to consumers as well as to producers of butter. The other 

 law is the one assessing railroad property on the same basis as other 

 property. Some seven years ago the grange began the agitation for tax 

 reform in this State and has made it one of the chief objects in legis- 

 lative affairs, and the grange looks upon the passage of this law as 

 a triumph for grange principles and methods. The passage of the law 

 granting a one-tenth mill tax to the Agricultural College was also as- 

 sisted by petitions from granges. 



The co-operative department of State Grange continues to thrive on 

 the appreciation and use of the subordinate granges, as the large items 

 of purchases made through the State contracts show. 



Under the head of fresh air work for the season of 1900 the State 

 Grange Woman's Work Committee reported IGS children and over- 

 worked city women given summer outings in the homes of our mem- 

 bers. The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the State 

 Grange: 



••Resolved. That we as delegates representing the various granges to 

 which we belong do hereby endorse the grange fresh air work, and 



