Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-11
The Agricultural Board.

The Lex islature which has lately adjourned
and gone home was supposed, at its assem-
bling, to be particularly farmers legsla-
ture, having among its members not only a
majority of that class of citizens. but an UNI
usual number of our best educated and
most philosophical agricuturists. 1t was
soon observed that the prevailing motive in
the legislative body was one of economy and
reform. The whole organization of public
business was overhauled, to see where abuses
or extravaganza existed, with view to their
correction.
This was no doubt in accordance with and
in obedience to the popular will, which all
representative assemblies are bound to obey.
There was nothing in the spirit and purpose
thus displayed that was not commendable.
Much of the work done was good. But this
very spirit of economy among our Legislators
left them liable to be led away by few
ignorant demagogues, some of them claim
ing to represent new party in politics, who
were seeking popularity and political cap
ludl, LAT uOIt tlldil tnt Iubllt
These men, at least the most prominent
among them, were not farmers, but be-
longed to the Spectator class, of which farm.
ers have the most need to beware-men of
wealth not earned by honest industry, but
gained by craft men whose personal charac-
ter would not bear inspection, and whose
position as Legislators was obtained not by
DESERT but by the use of money, and by TAX
ing advantage of local and temporary
popular excitement.
Besides this it must be confessed that not
few of the farmers themselves, in the leg
islature were not by any means men to
whom any intelligent citizen would naturally
"point with pride" as representative of
our best agriculture-the men whose farms
were the best kept and managed, whose but
ter brought the best price, or whose wood,
when drawn to market, was the most hon
estly piled. In every community there is a
class of uneducated but cunning men, who
are naturally seekers for Office, and who are
often allowed, by the indifference of their
neighbors to "getting the BEST" to repre-
sent Tor misrepresenD their towns in the
legislature. These men, though they may
be farmers outwardly, are not farmers at
heart. They have no pride in their profess
sion. They despise their own calling, and
are the cause of its being despsed by others.
The object of their highest admiration is
the cunning county court lawyer, or the
neighborhood skinhint and usurer. Imita-
ton, the sincerest kind of hattery, proves
them to be men whose sympathies are with
those who live by spelling the farmers,
rather than with those who seek to promote
agriculture aud advance the standard of
education and character among the farmers
of the state.
1t is from this class of farmers in the
lowing by which thay ohio 20
throw the agricultural board, against all the
exertions of the true and intelligent farmers
in that body. 1t was a curious sight to see
those farmers who least needed such an edu-
cational means as the board laboring for its
perpetuation against those who needed its
aid the most Those who voted against it
among the farmers were, as farmers, far in
ferior to those who voted for it-men
who rarely, if ever, have attended its meet
ings, or informed themselves as to the char.
acter and value of its work. But they, with
those politicians, not farmers, who have
been saying that the farmers are getting
too smart lately" were able to overthrow
the board if not directly, yet by substitu
ton which is practically equivalent.
1t is true that in the appointment of Col
Mead as Superintendent OF Agriculture oul
excellent Governor has done the best that
could be done to protect us from the conse
quences of this piece Of legislative folly
No man can be found in the state who would
labor harder or more intelligently to do thu
work of the late board than Col John b
Mead. We do not say this merely becaus
he is our personal friend, but because GU
acquaintance with him, extending owe
many years, enables us to know and sa,
that no more able or more conscientious o
more industrious man, or one more hearth
devoted to the agricultural interests of tn
state, could be found within her borders
And we will add that the town of Randolp
may well be proud that the state so maj
urally turns to her for both our Superintent
ents of Education and of Agriculture. Goo
schools and high moral tone have given he
this prominence, and it is well that the e,
ample of her people in these respects shoul
thus be emphasized aud made conspicuou
Nevertheless, we can but enquire on whf
ground of economy or common sense tn
state has relinquished the services of eigf
good men, six of them selected from among OF
best farmers in different sections, one til
president and another the chemist, respec
lively, of our two colleges, aud ALL with Il
occasional aid of others from within an
without the state, costing together less tha
S25OO year-to replace them with OIL
man at a salary of Sli00 and official e
penses, with sll00 additional, 10 be used
his discretion. The wisdom of such leg
lation as this is very difficult TO be pr
ceived. There is no doubt that it was CT
red without due consideration, and the su
den reversal of its action by our conserN
tive Senate is matter of general surpri
We look to see the whole thing restored
its original basis when the Legislature aga
assemblies. Since writing the above,
have received communication from \
Jameson, which we subjoin.
Superintendent OF Agricultural Affair
Probably no state has had a more efiicie