The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-12

That they are correct IN their con-
struction of the law, we quote the
plain language Of the Act itself:
"The said Board shall cooperate
and aid in the formation of farmers
Institutes in all the counties of the
State and shall send the Commissioner
of Agriculture + s. + to assist in
holding these Institutes at least once
in every two years in every county in
this State in order to instruct the peo-
pie in improved methods in farming
and to ascertain the wants and neces-
sites of the various farming commu-
mites"
The farmers wanted to see Insti-
tutes established in every county in
the State. They wanted to see it done
within two years. They wanted the
Board to take the lead in this work.
They believed that the Commissioner
could very well spare the time to do
it. They could not see how he could
compensate the State, or the farmers
for his salary of $4,000, with the
work he was doing. Indeed, a large
majority of the most intelligent farm
ers of the State failed entirely to see
that he was doing any work at all of
real value to them. They thought
that the establishment of Institutes
throughout the State would give him
useful employment where his services
would be of value to the farmers, and
hence they procured the passage of
the law imposing this duty on the
Board.
We said that the reply Of Mr.. Rob,
inson sustained this view of the law.
and we quote from him:
" [ would hat every county in the
State could be induced to hold one or
more in their borders, and to this end
[ shall ask the cooperation of the
farmers of the several counties in
which Institutes have not been held.
1t is my purpose to organize every
county in the State, believing that it
is one of the best appointed means for
the elevation and enlightenment of the
farmers calling"
Wen, We are gratifed to learn ever
at this 1ate day, that Commissioner
Robinson feels such a deep interest in
Farmers Institutes, and that it is his
purpose to organize every county in
the State" But this is a promise, and
the farmers will be grateful for that
much, even if it is made nearly twelve
months after the law was passed and
nearly nine months after Mr.. Robin.
son came into office. Buff it be his
purpose" formed of course from
authority derived from the law "to
organize every county in the State, D
and if he "believes that it is one of
the best appointed means for the ele.
walton and enlightenment of.the farm
er''s calling" we repeat u first ques-
Why has this great work been
neglected ? Why has 1t not been
done before ? If it takes nine months
to make the promise "to organize
every county in the State" how long
will it take to do the avorh 2 Is it pos
sibleto do it within the time prescribed
by law, now that half that time is
gone? What has Commissioner Rob
inson been doing that he could not de-
vote any time to a work which he SAYS
lis of such great Importance to the
farmers, and which he is now so anx-
ious to inaugurate Can he tell us
The question was and is-not what
Commissioner Robinson is willing to
promise to do; but avhy has 1t not been
dones The. Farmers Convention
which proposed and secured the pas
sage of this law, is in session i'm
Greensboro this week, and it is a
fitting opportunity for the Commits.
sioner to explain this matter, and we
hope he will BE- present and do so.
NO MORE SETTLERS TICKETS.