The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-06-21
LOCAL MATTERS.

NESTING OF THE ssFARNERs' UNION OF BALTIMORE
CouNry The ssFarmers' Union of Baltimore
county, met. as announced, on the l4th inst,
Al Duncan's Hall, and organized about o'clock
D. m. the President S. NJ. Rankin, in the chair.
There was present fully double the number Of
persons that attended the first meeting, repre-
seuting the Sth 9th, 10th and 18th districts. In
addition the meeting was honored witlrth pres
ence and counsel of the senior editor OF the Amer
iezn Farner, Samuel Sands, Esq, whose name
has Tor near half century been so usefully and
honorabIy known 10 the agricultural public OF
the country as well as with the presence OF ID.
Lawrence, Esq, of Howard county, young,
able aud earnest champion OF the best interests OF
the farmer. whose reputation is by no means
-esrfned 10 The limits of his county or State.
The chief business before the meeting was to
receive the report of the committee on the consti-
luton aud address This committee reported
progress aud at their request both matters were
referred back for amendment and completion,
with power TO publish the address at their option,
and with instructions 10 report finally on the con-
stiiaiiOn at the next meeting.
Mr.. Lawrence, on being introduced TO the
meeting, after some preliminary remarks spoke
in substance as follows: In the oden times the
farmer could look upon himself as independent
his summer garments were made from fax his
winter ones from the backs of his own animals.
He WAS not troubled with the cumbersome ma
chinery Of modern agriculture be constructed
with his own hands the few and simple appli-
ances be needed. Then he was independent, but
now all that has been changed from early dawn
TO dusky night he handles implements made by
others and made under their restrictions. They
ant their price upon their productions and limit
the supply by arbitrarily limiting the number OF
those who shall acquire their skill. So we are a
prey 10 their action. If We were combined we
could counterfeit their combination without af-
fecting them or ourselves seriously. But the
tradesman says il would not do for you TO fix the
price Of your productions limit their supply,
for we cannot do without them. As things now
stand who is the more dependent, the farmer or
the tradesman2 Ii appears get along as
well without one as without the other.
To meet the difficulties we labor under We
must counter combine or remain prey TO OPP
preSsive exactions. There are three modes OF
combination: First, the visiting or social plan ;
second the organization known in the West as
the 'Patrons of Husbandry." In that section
the farmer has stretched forth his stalwart arm
and before its uplifted might political parties
have skunk in terror away. There, in driving
the political vampires from the field he is doing
pure aud noble work which we trust will be
continued until he has created system permea-
ted by spirit as honest and true as the faithful
soil in which he delves. Third the Lyceum,
with its advantages of lecture room and library
as a nucleus OF a more general character than the
local club He considered local clubs indispensa-
BILE but to be effective they must be numerous
and their united efforts directed against CON-
mon enemy The laws which operate against us
must be changed and new ones to secure and en-
large our protection must be framed. In Howard
county tue farmers suffered from the same iniqui-
" in weighing hay complained of here. Besides
this the farmer needs and should have protection
in raising sheer and he must have an improved
system of roads. These are matters of urgent
importance, and though We have had so-called
Representatives in the Legislature for generations,
there has been in the matter of roads little or nc
Improvement il seems to be 6obody's business
to give us good roads. BY combining the farmer
can have his own agents at Annapolis to act for
him After these more immediate grievances
shall have been removed, organization will stim-
ulate to other steps of reform and progress. Or
ganization with its one ponderous weight is the
principal point We should remember the lesson
the old Roman gave his sons in presenting them
single stick TO break and then bundle of them.
Singly, the farmer has been and is being broken
upon the wheel of traffic; united, be could
have at his control a formidable power with
which he could command respect for his rights
The farmer is arousing from bis indifference. =
Such activity as is now apparent throughout the
length and breadth of the land is unparalleled. -
The movement would be successful. He must
expect 10 encounter the dust and heat of summer
hail of winter, but in the end
co