The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-11-12
Trilling with the Farmers.

a representative of the board of di-
rectors of the state agricultural society
presented to the committee on education
last Wednesday night plan for the
government of the University of Yer
mont and State Agricultural College"
Briefly, the plan provides for the APP
pointment of nine trustees of the agri-
cultural college, two from the state
agricultural society, two from the state
grange, two from the dairymen's asso-
citation. two on the recommendation of
the state board of agriculture, and one
g from among citizens of the state rep
resenting and interested in mining or
the mechanic arts" A board of visit
ors, also, is to be appointed, the ex-
pense of whose report is to be paid
from the experiment station fund. This
is the compromise - which the Uni
versity of Vermont proposes-for there
is no doubt about the university people
being at the bottom of it.
What is there in it that should COM
mend it to the farmers or those inter-
ested in the cause of the farmers? The
plan proposes the appointment of a
new board of trustees, in a new way.
This would probably give the farmers
nine trustees. Well, suppose these
nine trustees were all actively inter
ested in agricultural interests. What
could they do more than has already
been done? The trustees of the Uni
versity of Vermont number ten, not in
Guiding the governor, and, if these
gentlemen, none of them practical
farmers, were not particularly inter-
ested in any plan proposed by the agri-
cultural wing of the board, the latter
might whistle all day long, but they
would not get what they wanted. Par
enthetically, it may be said that the use
of "a part of the experiment station
fund for the publication of a useless re-
port of "a board of visitors would be a
waste of so much money that could be
! better used about the station.
No, gentlemen, your plan does not
change the status of things one iota.
You are simply trying to befog the
minds of the supporters of the separate
college bill. You are making a flank
movement because you see you are
likely to be beaten in a square fight.
Let no one be deceived by this scheme.
The agricultural interests of Vermont
will never be appreciably benefited by
technical school until that school is
given entire freedom to work unob-
structed in its own peculiar line. 1t is
believed by the best practical farmers
that college at which agriculture is
taught in the most approved ways will
do incalculable good to Vermont, but
if the college continues under its pres.
ent management, there will be next to
nothing to show for the $4,000 which
will annually be absorbed.
1t is evident that the university peo
pie are bound to have that money il
the most untiring lobbying, the most
adroit wire-pulling, the most subtle ex
ertion of all the personal influence thai
the aristocra,ic element of Burlington
can command, are sufficient to outwi
the farmers. These men care nothing
at all for the agricultural interests Of
the state. They wish solely to see thei
pet institution flourish. But this il
no time for pampering an institution
by national money, when the industries
of the state are crying out for help
Every farmer in Vermont knows tina
the future of his business depends OF
the means which are giveh him TO stud,
farming, and then to compete on al
equal footing as TO freight rates will
the farmers of other sections. Whel
all opportunity for securing this mean
is given him, is he to be bluffed and ca
ioled out of it by few men who wisl
to live on what does not belong to them
If the farmers, by plain statement o
their case to the legislature, cannot &c
what is really their right, they may ant
should enter the field of politics ant
fight their battle at the polls A stat
farmers league has been formed
county leagues have been formed, an
: there will be league in every farmin
town in the state. Now, if the polti
clans, the nabobs, and the Legislature
propose to refuse at this time the jus
: and reasonable demands of the farmer
in respect of this agricultural colleg