Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-03

tural Review Company" but will for the
present continue to be recognized as in
some sense the organ of the association.
In view Of all the circumstances, this is
not matter of very great interest to farm
ers generally. The American Agricultural
Association contains some able men, and
few representative farmers; but it is con-
trolled mainly by class of fancy agricul-
turists, rich men, whose wives and daugh-
ters would consider themselves grievously
affronted if they heard themselves spoken
of as farmers wives and daughters. The
president of the association, N. L. Sprague
of Brandon, Vermont, prominent banker
and capitalist, is fair specimen Of the
leading membership Of this association. He
owns farms, by foreclosure or otherwise,
and takes considerable interest in agricul-
tural subjects. He is quite liberal in gifts
of money to agricultural societies. He has
given strong support to the Brandon Farm
ers' Club, and has done something to help
the Vermont Dairyman's Association. 10
this liberality he owes his presidency OF the
association, coming forward at critical
time, and supplying the means to keep it
on its feet. The present issue of the Jour
nal is embellished with his portrait as a
frontispiece, and contains a eulogistic biog-
raphy in which, among other things, it is
stated thst Colonel Sprague has often been
proposed for governor of his state, but al
ways declined the use of his nsme," which
will be news TO most of our readers. Now
we have no criticism to make of Mr. Sprague
personally. He is an able and in some ways
useful citizen, but he is in no sense rep
resentative Vermont farmer. He may be a
successful one when, as a recreation, he un-
dertakes the culture of the soil A man
who, in control of national bank with a
capital of $4,000, makes that sum earn
SSS0,0O0 net profits in eighteen years (as
he is stated in this biography to have done)
ought to make farming pay. But a mil
lionaire like Mr.. Sprague is not, we repeat,
representative Vermont farmer. And
most of the leading men in the association
are either capitalists like Mr.. Sprague, or
merchants, like Moulton and Thurber, who
deal in agricultural products and farmers
supplies, and may be supposed to seek this
method Of advertising their business.
1t would be in vain to expect, in jour.
nal published under the auspices of such a
body of men, any real advocacy or represen-
tation of the interests of the common farm
ers of the country. Able articles on agri
cultural topics will appear in it, but when
it discusses great questions of public interest
we may expect to see it, and always shall
see it, under pretense of representing the
farmers, appear as the advocate of corpora
tions and other great money interests. 1t
is plain that the editor expects to make his
publication succeed in this way. 1t is in
fact fraudulent way, for the impression
sought to be given is the very reverse Of
true, viz that the farmers of America
represented by their national organization
are opposed to any legislation looking to the
regulation and control of great corporations
deriving vast powers from the people, and
liable, without legislative supervision, to us'
their riches and power to aggrandize them
selves at the expense aud to the ultimate
ruin of the great body of the people. Thes'
corporations are, in fact, the chief patronl
of the Journal, buying up large editions o
it for distribution, with the view of makini
IL sppoar that tho farmers object to. an.
legislative action for the control of these in
corporated servants who aim to become ou
masters.