Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-20
Farmers I.st,tute. aud PoI,,,c..


JosLrS. Feb Is The ARGUS and some
OF iw correspondents are much grieved
because the Farmers institute at 1 8 late
session 10 Rock Island. did not devote all
its attention TO certain subj ct you con-
slider Of utmost importance. I quite
agree that tsrIff is subject OF impor
lance to farmers not only. but to all the
people. l hold its consideration at
these institutes inexpedient aud improp-
or. Inexpedient. because people hold
widely different views. and we must IN all
charity believe them TO be hone la those
opinions. Improper. because the subject
is so interviewer into party politics that
the discussion inevitably becomes parti>
san, and so offensive TO those of the OPP
posite view. The paper read before the
institute at Milan, and printed In the
ARGUS. is an Illustration. II this be q
sample OF q "cslm, dispsssion ate discus
sion" by independent thinkers" the
state board Of agriculture has done wisely
In 'rsbooing the subject"
A Farmers institute 10 q place where
filters OF the soil meet together TO be in
structed In their avocstiou. 1t Is sup
ported 10 part, at least. at the public ex-
pense on the theory that the prosperity
OF agriculture is the prosperity of the ma
ton. To make IL an adjunct to any po-
liticsl party would at once destroy it's
usefulness. and would also be g missp-
preparation of the public funds deserving
the severest censure. J. g. OSBORNE.
The strongest, and in fact the only
valid objection Mr. Osborne raises against
the discussion Of economic measures at
Farmers institutes, we think, is that of
the appropriation OF funds by the state
board OF agriculture. OF course the in
tention of the board is undoubtedly to
educate the agriculturalists In their par.
ocular calling, and make them more ef-
ncient and successful. A deviation
from this understanding might be deemed
a perversion OF the real objects OF the In
stitute meetings. but we Can see no harm
in doing so. There is no extra expense
attached TO the meeting II little tariff
talk is INDUCED in, Is theret The sppro-
pristion for holding Farmers institutes Is
q nominal sum when contrssted with
other state expenditures, anyway, and
the farmers themselves help to indirectly
pay for the privilege. They can discuss
what they choose. and IL is certainly due
70 themselves that they inquire into those
questions which most vitality affect them
Mr. Osborne says that it lie inexpedient
for the farmers to discuss the tariff and
legislation affecting them, because PEG,
pie hold widely different views" and i'm
proper because the subject Is 90 inter-
woven into party politics that the dis
cussion evidently becomes partisan. 4"
Here are two theoretical sbsurdities, sure
ly. with which Mr.. Osborne rem
ders his position indefensible. II people
were all Of one mild what would be the
use OF entering into q discussiont Not
any Of the papers read at these institutes
meet with unanimous approval. A diff,
ference OF opinion always crops out and
the controversy tends TO elucidste the
subject considerably. That's what would
result II the tariff question wss properly
considered, and, the widely different
views" would 10 doubt undergo q pro
cess of Capitalization In consequence.
And we can conceive Of no better time
for the farmers to discuss this vital ques-
ton than right In their institutes. where
they meet In friendly and neighborly
way. unprejudiced by the rsncor and
feeling Of an acrimonious political cam
pAign.