Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-23

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here. They were COMPOUNDED IN the minds
of many and also the idea that the oranges
were political NOV ement, which he regard
ed as false. The farmers movement was
not the grange movement.
Col. Ii. ii. Merritt said the farmer, since
the days of Adam. had been out in the cold,
and he thought it time now, for him to
associate for protection and self-deience
The farmers embraced three-quarters OF the
population of this country, and thought
they ought to be let alone, to make trial
of organization. Then if they fail they
would be sorry they had ever engaged In IT.
j. 5. Cilley sympathized heartily with
the farmers and had always done so, but
he did not sympathize with the oranges lie
thought the ground of the argument taken
by Mr. Harrison was perfectly correct ne
did not know how farmers could be dement,
ted by transacting business through the
oranges. socially, politically, or otherwise
He believed in the doctrine that every man
had particular work given him and the
work must go on as it has heretofore. lie
was little amused to know that the Lieu
| tenant Governor and some other lawyers
and politicians were leaders in the grange
movement and curious to know how lawyers
were to be benefited by the farmers oranges.
Railroads were the friends of the farmer
and a real benefit to Vermont. Let the
manufactures decline and the railroads
stop and where would the farmer be, ana
how much more would you ask for your
| farms than now. lie thought the farmer
the most comfortably situated OF any class
of men.
Mr.. ). W. Harrison was next called ont.
| He had been n farmer all his life. lie
| thought there was no cause here To
complain of just dues and equal rights.
| Every farmer has small kingdom by
himself bounded only by his neighbour
fence. Every man Independent. lie exports
and imports-one great trouble being that
he imported more than he exports.
Many found fault and thought that other
nrofesslons and trades brought the farmers
into their present position hut he con
sidered the farmer was alone to blame.
As for this assoeiating together, he would
beg of the farmers TO consider the question
and its nnder-current before giving it. lie
thought that politicians and demagogues
were irving to lead the honest and unsus-
Meeting farmer. into something that they
were not aware of. W hen they We're endeayor-
ing to put down the nOnOpOlleS, shouiu
they seek to form one If these aSsocIa-
tion we're formed to make money the farmer
should be cautious. The smaller men are
sure to be swallowed up by the big ones
lie did not believe in secret combinations 10
bring about good result.
Mr.. f.. II. Griswold thought it folly to
ATTEMPT to put down combination by or
ranizing another of the same character
Should the farmer attempt to deal directly
with the importer he would soon do away
with the inhabitants of our village The
farmer cannot live By himself any more
than other people The farmers stores
were a fraud lie referred to the Larrabee
Point wool depot and the lealouSies arising
between the farmers who carried their wool
there. and the final collapse of the whole
arrangement by the agent, who had been
selected from among the farmers, ahScond-
ing with sixty thousand dollars lie thought
there would be no incentive t. q farmer to
raise GOOD potatoes. if all farmers combined
and sent their potatoes TO market. the good
and bad together. These midd.emen,
instead Of growing rich out OF the farmers,
are growing poor. every one. They give the
farmer more money tor has produce than
Boston could afford or even the farmer
could get from any other source. There
was nothing in this movement but what Is
political. Ninety-nine ont of a hundred are
politicians who Join il. They were seeking
To tear down the Republican party. which
had always been the standard-bearer ol
progress lie instancei the formation of
the Wool Growers Association, when the
manufacturers formed a counter one, and
by their superior power ot organiz1tIon ami
use of money. beat the farmers At last Ia
regard to railroads the people could not ask
the managers TO run them for nothing
The farmers had mo- right % complain Of
their treatment. They could not control
every branch of trade