The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-03-22
Our Next Legislature.

candidates IOr Inc next legislature, Out IL Is
not too soon to begin to consider what man.
ner of Men we can secure that will serve us
best. The Generel complaint has been that
farmers are neglected and crowded out, and
lawyers and others sent to make laws who
have nothing in common with farmers,
hence the burthens of taxation are laid upon
the shoulders of the patient farming ass and
kept there. There is no denying that this
complaint is in great measure true. But
why is it true? There must be cause, and
a very formidable cause, for this condition
of affairs, that should be not very difficult
to discover if diligent inquiry is made.
Why do not farmers make more conspic
uous figure as leaders in politics? The an
swer is plain. They neglect to fit them
selves for such positions. They isolate
themselves and grow up wholly destitute of
training as members of associate bodies.
The best of them are nearly all wall-fowers
10 deliberative body. Hence, for the
business of Legislators they prove mere
ciphers; unable to stand up and express
their thoughts unable to even think con-
nectedly and rapidly, to "catch on'' to sub
jects before the meeting and grasp in their
minds the vital point. The reason why
farmers are net Representatives and chosen
as law makers NAV be summed up in one
word, undtness! There are few exceptions
to this rule but SO very few that they are
seldom noticed among the bulky mass of
their fellows. The farmers haye it in their
power to change all this if they will, and
in place of acting In mere subordinate ca
paciiy, become leaders in all public assem-
bles where their interests are concerned.
The Alliance and the Patrons of Husban-
dry are two farmers organizations which
have attained national Importance and are
very strong and influential in some portions
Of the country, that are proving valuable
training, schools for fitting farmers for act
ing as leaders in public assemblies. The
young farmers of this part of the country
should organize them here, and commence
fitting themselves for public business. They
should not wait for the older members 10
lead. The older ones will never start. Some
of them would assist if the younger men
take the advance.
The sad defect which we have been dis
cussing was never more lamentably appar.
ent than in the last legislature of Maryland.
Great excitement had been created prior to
the selection of delegates to compose that
august body, and the unjust taxation piled
on the shoulders of the farmer was the en-.
crossing theme for months. The previous
legislature had appointed commission to
investigate the tax laws and make report
to the legislature of 'SS. That commission
did its work well. 1t gathered an exhaust
i've fund of information on the subject and
presented two most instructive reports and a
bill framed on the information which they
had cleaned. The Maryland Farmers Con.
vention had also been giving the tax ques-
ton undivided attention and had mapped
out plan of taxation which was to be SUBJ
mitted to the legislature when it should as
semble the following January. A Cecil
county man referring TO this in the american
Farmer of February 18th, 1889, page 81,
says:
"At our meeting in 'SS, ('S7) we'll
matured law for the equalization of taxes
the preparation ofwhich had been entrusted
to committee at previous session-was
present il to the legislature and urge its
adoption, and what was the sequel? The
committee never met. Only few OF the
members took the trouble to go to Annap-
oils. The others, whether from want of
sympathy or "inability to be present." re-
NAMED at home or somewhere else, and, as
might have been expected, our system of
taxation remains the same
The same fate overlook the report and
bill prepared by the commission appointed
by the previous legislature. Farmers were
conspicuously absent from the post of duty,
when interests most vital to them were TO be
disposed Of, while the corporations had
their agents in the lobby. Taxes which
should be paid by operations were allowed
to remain on the shoulders of the farmers
who are continuing to stumble along the
best they can, bearing their own burthens,
and large portion of those of the rich cor
porations 10 addition.
This we believe is true statement of the
condition Of public affairs in this state and
in many others.
Ii farmers are unable to end men at the
pillow tail who are qualified to take charge
of their interests at Annapolis next winter,
they will have 10 seek them in some other
calling, but identified with them in interest
to greater or less extent, where business
and social relations create cord of SYM
pathy strong enough to warrant para
mount interest in their behalf. They ought