Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-17

THE MACHINE BURNERs.-The follow
ing dispatch was sent from Cincinnati TO
the New York Daily Times, last week:
The movement against the use OF agrl-
cultural machinery is reaching such pro-
portions in Ohio and Indiana us to serious
y alarm the farmers. Scores of redpfng
machines hare already been destroyed, and
erery day brings reports of fresh depredd-
lions. On other machines notices have been
posted. threatening their destruction if the
owners do not lay them aside and employ
men 10 cut their grain. Many farmers
are yielding and diScdrding their ma
chimes. Those who have Travelled in the
rural districts of Indiana during the past
week say that a very large proportion of
the fields of wheat in the state are being
cut by hand. Farmers have posted notices
of warning on their lands, and are taking
means for the protection of their properly
ut night. If the destruction of machines
goes on, heroic measures will be adopted
soon in many localities. The supply of
labor is not equal TO the demand.
The following is from a correspondent
Mt Newark, o., writing to the Ohio State
Journal:
r. G. Fleming, wealthy farmer living
ne;r Hanover, in this county, short time
since contracted with Owens & Loafman.
of this place, dealer in agricultural inn
plements, for self-bindiug harvester
which he intended for bis own use, he
having about three hundred acres of
wheat to cut. Some time last week he
discovered on going to his barns in the
morning notice tackled on one of the
doors in substance as follows:
&" Mr.. Fleming:
"Dear Su-We understand you have
purchased self-binding harvester, which
Tif you bring on your farm and use your
self, or cause to be used, we will not only
burn it but your crop of wheat besides.
MANY LABoRERs."
Mr.. Fleming, on reading the warning,
became alarmed (not without reason; he
has suffered loss from fire twice already
the supposed work of incendiaries), and
wrote to the parties from whom be pur-
chased the machine stating his reasons
and asking them to release him from his
contract. Mr.. Owens, on receipt of his
letter. went to see Fleming and persuaded
him he was needlessly alarmed. He again
concluded to take the machine and set the
time for its delivery. A night or two after
this Il similar notice 10 the first was again
tackled on his barn door. This last so
thoroughly frightened Fleming that he
will not attempt to use the machine, hui
will endeavor to harvest his crop as here
tofore, Notwithstanding the inconvenience
and loss he may incur. 1t terrorism is to
be attempted in this country, as it seems it
is, it is about time law-abiding citizens
should begin to look after their interests
by putting their feet on the necks of these
men, the legitimate offspring of what is
msnamed Labor Reform. Mr.. Fleming.
by unthinking people, is blamed for cow
ardice in pursuing the course he intends
doing. He is right, however His life
and property are menaced by scoundrel>
in the dark. He acts with wisdom in
making the best of Il bad job in submitting
to lawlessness when there is no present
remedy.
We have before US a score of similar
items, clipped from our exchanges. A
farmer named Gerringer, in Fayette Co.,
bought a new self-binding reaper, used it
one day, and it was burned The following
night. The proprietor of a mill in the
northwestern part of the state received IL
letter recently warning him to reduce the
price of his flour OF have his mill burned
A farmer near Ashtabula gave tramp
his dinner; the tramp persisted in hanging
around the house and was peremplorily
ordered off. In retaliation he set fire to
the barn. The flames communicated to "a
neighboring barn and both were burned
to the ground. In the neighborhood of
Dresden, Muskingum Co., farmers are re-
ceiving anonymous letters, warning them
TO abandon the use of all machinery, under
penalty of the destruction of properly. |
We could fill a column with similar items, |
but these are sufficient to show that there |
is class of dcsperadoes loose who would
not scruple to commit any crime to ac-
their purpoSes.-O Farmer.