II 



them. Additional regulations were adopted by the National" 

 Grange looking toward making them more efficient. Wheth- 

 er this will have the desired effect time and experience alone 

 will determine. Provision should be made to replace the 

 dispensations issued to these Granges with charters under 

 proper regulations. The Secretary placed in my hands a list 

 containing quite a large number ot Subordinate Granges 

 which have neither reported or paid dues to the State Grange 

 for more than a year. A part of these I have already sus- 

 pended, and have given them notice that unless all arrearage* 

 are promptly paid their charters will be revoked. The re- 

 mainder will be suspended as soon as notice ean be sent them. 

 These Granges, in the aggregate, contain many good and 

 true Patrons who are powerless to do anything. They being 

 numerically in the minority aie unable to keep up the organ- 

 ization. I would recommend that a plain, simple rule be 

 adopted by which these members can affiliate with live, 

 working Granges, thereby saving them to the Order. I have 

 earnestly recommended, as did my worthy predecessor, that 

 the weak Granges consolidate together, thus forming good 

 and efficient organizations. I am sorry to say that this rec- 

 ommendation has not been generally tollowed, as but com- 

 paratively few consolidations have taken place during the 

 year. If the County Granges would take more interest in 

 looking after the weak and delinquent Granges within their 

 jurisdiction, much could be accomplished, and in a short 

 time no delinquents would be found upon our records. Your 

 attention is called to the necessity of a careful and thorough 

 revision of our By-Laws. In several important parts they 

 are in direct conflict with the Constitution of the National 

 Grange. This has been a proline source of annoyance, as 

 well as of confusion and trouble, in the Subordinate Granges. 

 Quite a considerable sum of money has been annually ex- 

 pended in printing and distributing our By-Laws. Economy 

 demands that this expenditure be stopped by the adoption of 

 a code of By-Laws that will need no material revision ojt 

 alteration for years. A special committee on revision of By- 

 Laws should be appointed. I was greatly in hopes that a 

 plan of lite insurance would have been instigated and pre- 



