Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-10-17
TIE FARMRR,s LEAGUE.
wed.csdny'- MeetinR---A Tswn LenEu
observation-disclosures pierce,s Addres

Wednesday, MeetinE---A Towu League
OrEanized---LecturerP ierce's Address.
A meeting was held at the town hall on
Wednesday afternoon. as announced last
week. for the formation of " Farmers
Political league About twenty five farm
ers were in attendance In the informal
and temporary organization which was
made j c. Newton acted as president, G..
ID Whitman as secretary, G.. y Bemis as
vice president and O.. W Sargent as
treasurer The time was mainly occupied
bv an address on the purposes Of the league
bv Walter b. Pierce Of Chenango Falls,
Broome County, n Y In the opening
portion Of his address Mr. Pierce dwelt
upon the generally unsatisfactory condition
of the farmers interests as they exist to
day They are the subject Of needless tax
alton unequally levied, their products are
freely counterfeted, as in the case Of
butter. lard, maple sugar and vinegar aud
they have not been as fully protected boy
the tariff laws of the country AS have other
industrial interests The report Of the
comptroller Of the state Of New York
shows that while the personal property
owned in the state exceeds is amount the
value Of real estate, II pays only ten per
cent Of the taxes, while real estate pays the
other ninety per cent similar state Of
dition the same in kind If not AZ great in
/ degree, will be found in all the older states
| The trouble has been that the farmers
/ have heretofore wasted their political
/ strength by acting as units or as individuals
/ instead of massing their strength as the
other great interests Of the country have
done Every other kind Of business Ia the
country is organized Not only are the
/ great manufacturing and corporate inter
ests organized and bound up into great
single forces, but the working men are
organized, aud by this means they compel
just treatment from their employers
This condition of things is even more pro
nounced IN Europe than IN this country
la England within Il short time there have
been three great labor contests. in each Of
which the working men we're victorious
There have been fifty strikes ia the state
| Of New York alone. in which the working
/ men won their point. The farmers alone
/ are unorgHnized and therefore helpless
| When they use the same tools that Others
do they will achieve the same results This
10 general way was the drift Of Mr.
[ Pierce's remarks lie closed hy explaining
the purposes which this new movement has
in view, and gave those present chance
to enroll themselves as members a mem
bership Of l6 was enrolled on the spot Of
whom, under the rules of the league the
first ten are charter members The list is
the following G. b Whitman, l. b. Taft
/ II. X Chamberlain + II Spaulding Chas
W Sargent, II r Knapp. j G. Newton
O.. y Bemis Albert Eddy. VI X Robbins
". NJ Robbins, 7 y. Lynde. + O.. TAYLOR
A. j Warren W c. Cushing, W. NJ
Howe
The league is entirely new ia this vicini-
". It, purposes are. as stated IN the con
stitutiun TO advance the farmers polit
cal welfare, securing to him due recOgui
ton and Just representation ~ all elective
aud appolutivc offices affecting his welfare.
without conflicting with the best interests
Of the entire people
In other words the organization is au ef
fort 70 secure fair play for the farmers in
politics aud in business interests aud equal
lty before the laws IN matters of taxation,
protection. etc 1t Is MI effort. SAYS Mr
Pierce. t. make the farmers do their duty
by themselves politically II Is confined T.
their political interests and does not at
tempt 70 touch their business or CONNER
rial Interests 10 does not, like the Farmer
Alliance of the west and south, come before
the public with a long list Of grievance.
but simply presents a few simple and easy
things for the farmers h. do by way Of or
gauizuti0u IL Is plain 10 be seen that 10
the end It's work will amount 70 a contest
with the corporations and monupoies and
especially with the great railroad Interests
10 compel them 10 bear their share of the
public burdens aud 10 give the farmer.
just and equal treatment with every other
interest in the country It's plan cOntem
plated town leagues, county leagues state
. leagues aud national league All officers
serve without pay A payment Of - cent-
f.tta q h.. 4
national league aud all additional ! o cents
pays for membership IN the county league
The movement had ITS origin in tine state OF
. Massachusetts,. aud state leagues nave nov
been organized ~ that state and IN Con
neeiicut. Maine, New ork aud Penn,yl
vaniR More or less town leagues have
been organized IN every state IN the Union
There are said u be forty already in Yer
mont The headquarters Is at Springfield
Mas The fact Is emphasized by Mr.
8 Pierce that the league does not mean oI
Z favor the formation Of third politica
party II simply attempts 10 nave the
+ farmers organize To compel the nomination
ami secure the election Of suitable men ia
vorahle 10 their interests 20 I'LL public office,
IN the state aud uatior Besides the pay
! ment Of the 80 cents entrance fee. the only
s qualification for membership Is the signing
of this pledge: 81 hereby affirm that
= will do all IN my power, 10y vote aud inhu
r euce. 10 advance the farmers interests II
4 politics and legislation, so far as tins car
9 be done without conflicting with the vel
D.. fare Of the entire people
p The state organization Is 10 tie made a
e Montpelier on the 22nd inst The league q
u plan Of Work, as laid down in its circu
IS lars Is the following
D. The Farmer League is non-secr,-t, ind-
pendent, non partisan organization, ia harmon
with the Alliance. trange. and kindred assst'iA
Z tons. But the League goes IA step further IL
j, object Is the farmers political welfare Its wur
Is directed toward securing "a Just represeutatiul
and treatment Of the agricultural interests o.
e. Congress and iu the legislatures and due recogu
ton Of farmers IN all public affair IL consists O
- a national league and OF state leagues with coul
7 ~ and town leagues The national league hA
e general supervision of tue affair of the Farmer
d League and the work Oi organization. and attend
specially % the farmers interests IN Cungrrs,
~ The state leagues push the work Of urgAuizatlO
IN their respective states aud attend tu the farm
q, ers special interests IN the Legislature The Cour
~ league attends 10 the farmers interests IN iocl
districts, aud IN each election precinct "
u Mr.. Pierce is an effective speaker an
e made favorable impression on those whor
he met personally lie followed for man
!. years the business Of cigar manufacture
II IN New FORK city. hut has been for >
years engaged rs farmer He is the or
e ganizer of the New y ork Milk Producer
' union. which is now about ~ put its ma
chinery into use in the cities of New York
" Brooklyn, Jersey City, Long Island City
Newark and the surrounding centres q
le population, to deliver 10 customers the mil
of the farmers without the Intervention {
middle men.