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Show GRANGE 18 Sffl S. F. Lfrffi GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 13. The National Grange will form no alliance wit organized labor, in the opinion of National Na-tional Master Oliver Wilson, and, if his prediction is fulfilled, the grange in convention con-vention here will vote to decline an invitation in-vitation extended by Samuel Gompers for such a union. The matter will be presented probably early next week at one of the secret sessions ses-sions and will be referred to a committee which will recommend action by the convention. con-vention. "I cannot, for my part, see that such an alliance would be of any benefit to the grange," said Mr. Wilson today. "On the contrary, 'there seem to be many reasons rea-sons why we should shun any merger. However, that is a question which will have to be passed upon by the grange as a whole." Similar opinion was expressed by S. J. Lowell, member of the executive committee commit-tee from Fredonia, N. Y. "The purposes, the activities and the aspirations of the national grange seem to conflict at too many points with those of union labor," said Mr. Lowell. "I cannot can-not see how any alliance could be harmonious. har-monious. There are 3ome things on which we could afree, probably, but on many other questions we are miles apart." The grange began its second day of activities with the hearing of reports of state organizations and other routine matters. The first departure from lines hitherto followed by the National Grange was suggested sug-gested by John Morris, state master of Colorado. He advocated state ownership of banks and insurance. His plan, he said, followed somewhat that of the Nonpartisan Non-partisan league and lie promised before the gathering closed to offer resolutions embodying the features he suggested. Frank Hunt, state master of California, submitted a resolution Which declared that national funds under the Smith-Lever Smith-Lever vocational educational act were, in his state, being diverted from the agri-Cultural agri-Cultural communities. He said the money was being used in ways which benefited ' the city dweller rather than the farmer. He asked the grange to institute an Investigation In-vestigation of conditions in other states. The grange was asked by William Bouck of Washington state to go on record rec-ord as opposed to the return of the railroads rail-roads to the companies for at least two more years. |