The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-08
The Agricultural College Fund.


Editor W. Waterman As Governor Page
well says to the legislature, " It is matter
which should receive your immediate and
careful attention. to the end that ample dis
cussion may be had before the hurry Of the
closing days of the session shall divert your
attention to matters OF infinitely less inn
portance." Now, what have we, the agri-
culturists and mechanics Of Vermont, to
say to our representatives and senators-we,
the productive workers of the state, the
toiling farmer and mechanic; we who are
heavily taxed, hardworked and poorly
paid? Why, simply this, that we want the
full benefit of this munificent gift that the
United States congress intended we should
have. After the experience we have had
with union college for the last twenty-five
years, and seeing the same experience in
many other states, it is probable that no
sane and sensible man in Vermont can
honestly say but that he thinks separate
agricultural and mechanical college, equally
well equipped and equally well managed,
would do infinitely more good than the
present arrangement
And we say, further, that we want not
only discussion on this subject, but that we
want noble, fearless and just action i'm the
matter. The University of Vermont, il is
said, claims this fund, probably on the
principle of the barons of Feudal Ages,
That he may take who has the power,
And he may keep who can"
All good Vermonters should and do have
a great respect for the University of YER
mont. 1t was founded in the patriotic days
of the Aliens and Chittendens. Ira Allen
gave nearly $4,000 towards it, and would
have given as much more only that misfor-
tunes made him poor. The town of Bur-
lington gave literally, and many noble men
of that day contributed The state gave
twenty-nine thousand acres of land. The
University has done noble work-the
mental and moral discipline of nearly
a thousand graduates, who have become
good ministers, doctors, lawyers, teachers,
and business men. But the agricultural
college, where are its graduates? 1t has
none; and may be it is all the better so. for
its teachers are without practice or expert
ence in the farming and mechanical line.
Their work is all theoretical, and the theory
often wrong. The poor graduate would,
may be, come out bigger fool than he
went in. But they tell us that the terms of
the act of congress give it to the university
and agricultural college at Burlington, and
that it would be unconstitutional to do any
thing else with the money. Well, that I'M
constitutional argument has been a favorite
one with all obstructionists ever since the
Devil talked it to Eve in the Garden of
Eden in regard to the tree of knowledge;
but the supreme court of heaven and earth
has decided that the Devil was wrong.
Every act or endeavor for human right and
progress has had to meet this objection from
its enemies. They raised the same cry
against the new listing law of 1880, and the
so-called Judevine law of the same session,
against the corporation tax law of 1882, and
many other good acts for the body of the
people. 1t seems all bosh to plain farmer
The Act of Congress, July 2, 1862 gave
funds " to teach such branches of learning
as are related to agriculture and the me-
chanic arts, in such manner as the legisla
lures of the states may respectively pre-
scribe" and il the legislature could "pre-
scribe " as to the act of 1862, why not as to
the act of 1890, which they tell us is only
supplementary to the other? Has the legis-
lature of Vermont no power over the cor
poration it has created?
But, says my University of Vermont
| friend, " This appropriation was Intended
for us. Senator Morrill, says So" May be
so but if that is true it proves too much,
for it is dead sure that if the poor farmers
and mechanics names are to be used to
draw funds from the United States treas
! ury to further enrich an already rich corpo-
ration, that don't, can't, and won't help us
| but little, then our honOred Senator Nor
! rill will lose much of that respect and ven
Grafton heretofore given him, and, but for
| the fact that the Argus has promised him
! the solid democratic vote, might fail of cleo
ton The democrats have made a good
| Start this session and may win again.
! But this is not a political letter; simply a
! business one. / would like to see a sepa-
rate and simon-pure agricultural and me-
! ChanlCal college located on a nne, Ter
tile farm at Montpelier Junction, in the
town of Berlin, or at some other equally
accessible place, the farm TO be used for an
experiment station, and the school and sta
ton to be managed by board of trustees,
| elected by the legislature, a majority of the
board to be farmers, mechanics or produc-
| tive workers.
The present state experiment station farm
is a failure. President Buckham says in his
address to the farmer class, September 80,
1890: We must have a farm nearer the
university buildings and farm
which has greater variety of soils" Well
said too: for they have spent on the station
and farm in the last three years over $4,000,
and the result is just fairly typihed by what
| they showed at the state fair this year, to
wit: " small potatoes" Now if the station
has got to be moved, let the whole agricul-
tural department go with it and let the
whole be put where it will do the most
| good
Mr.. Editor | have written this simply
| from sense of duty. Ii is written with a
hand cramped by hard labor, The logic
may be lame the argument incoherent and
the spelling little OFF; but the main pur-
! pose is right, and so,
"Abjuring all intentions evil,
quit my pen
The Lord preserve us from the Devil.
AmeH! amen!
WILLIAM CHAPLIN,
Not