Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-31

were appOiuJeu, dG lne twenty SEC
ond Annul Session of the National
Grange of the Patrons of Husband
ry, a Committee to present to your
honorable bodies the views and wish
esofthe farmers of the United States,
as represented In that great Ma
tlonal farmers organization, and to
urge the enactment of laws to pro.
tect the agriculturist from some of
the frauds and abuses practiced by
men who have combined to enrich
themselves at the expense of honest
industry.
We have, heretofore, forwarded
to each of you copy of the resolu-
tions and declarations of the body
we represent, and have also urged
before the proper Committees such
legislation as, in our Judgment, is
likely to protect the farmer from the
fraudulent practices to which we
have referred and also to accord to
our industry some portion of the pro-
lection against foreign competition
so freely given TO other industries.
We, however, believe that we shall
not have fully discharged our duty
until we have is some way urged
upon every Senator and Represen.
tative the legislation sought by the
vast army OF workers which we have
the honor to represent.
Knowing, as we do, that each and
all OF you are burdened with many
cares and great responsibility, and
that it will be almost impossible 30
secure personal audience with each
of you, we have determined to pres
ent our case IN the form of this cir
euiar letter, trusting that the mag
nitude of the industry which we
represent, and it's present unsatis.
factory condition, many lead you to
give careful thought to the subjects
presented.
NOT POLITICAL, BUT PRACTICAL
LEGISLATION WANTED.
We do not, as a Committee, discuss
partisan politics. The present nee.
essities of the farmers of our country
are Of far greater Importance than
the political success of any man or
party. The farmers ask for practical
legislation in the interest of a depress-
ed agriculture, and ask 1t NOW.
ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
We want the pending bills to pro
hibit the adulteratIon of food and
other commodities, from which every
honest industry suffers, promptly
enacted into laws.
All compounds of articles to be
used as food should be carefully regu.
lated by law, and the expense at
tending such regulation charged to
those who are making fortunes ont
OF a business the profits OF which
are not shared by the farmer or pro
Queer.
The claim that this is tax upon
one commodity for the benefit OF
another is NOT TRUE, because the
tax is imposed upon the pure COM
pound and not upon the pure articles
which enter into it. The tax must
be borne by each ingredient in pro
portion to the amount entering into
the compound.
The members of our organization,
representing every State and every
agricultural interest, have repeatedly
Endorsed the above, and those who
oppose legislation do not fairly re
present the honest farmers who
have carefully considered the mat
ter before giving it their hearty
Endorsement. We therefore urge
the passage of the Conger bill fOr
the regulation of the manufacture
and favorably reported by the Com.
mittee on Agriculture, and the ear.
~ report and passage Of the Pure
Food bills now before the committees
We are utterly opposed to the
gambling in farm produce, which is
now the principal business OF the
Boards of Trade and Chambers OF
Commerce, and the erclusire bust
ness of all the Bucket Shops" in
every city in the land.
And we also urge the speedy pass.
age of what is know as the g Butter
worth bill, y as amended and reported
by the Committee on Agriculture
The formation and continuance OF
"Trusts for the purpose ofrobbing
the unprotected people should be
prohibited by stringent legislation
and we heartily iGdorse the "Sher
man BILL" as amended and passed
by the Senate and recommend its
passage by the House.
We also assure you that large
majority of our members favor the
full and complete RECOMMENDATION OF
silver, and that all limitations as to
coinage shall be removed.
In the proposed revision of the
tariff we insist that there shall be
no discrimination against the agri-
cultural interests.
Heretofore, in every revision or at
tempted revision OF the tariff, the
protection professedly accorded to
agriculture has been largely inoper.
alive. The duties imposed upon
products, of which we grow Il sur.
plus to sell, have little effect upon
the prices of such products, and such
duties utterly fail to afford the farm.
er anything like fair share of the
protection accorded to other indus
tries. We therefore insist that. in
the revision now proposed, and
which, If enacted into law, is likely
to remain unchanged for several
years, that the agricultural interest
receive more and fairer considera.
ton than has heretofore been accord
ed that important industry.
The farmers will welcome the re-
mOval of duties from jute, jute butts,
MANILA and sisal grass not grown by
American farmers with the reduc.
ton from 81 to b cents per pound on
binder Irvine. They will also be
pleased to have free sugar. The
sugar industry has been protected
for many years without materially
increasing home production, and
thereby reducing prices. A removal
of the duty is expected to reduce the
cost to the consumer, whilst the
bounty gives direct encouragement
to home production. This is an ny.