Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-01-26
The Farmers League.

The Farmers League.
The meeting Of the Vermont Far
mers' League was held at the Opera
House, ST. Albans, Jan. 16, begin
ming in the morning at ten o'clock.
President E. P. Cotton of Irasburgh
presided and made an address of
some length, in which he denied that
the league was third party. There
is need Of equalizing taxes, said he.
He then drew picture of the condi-
ton of Vermont farmers, which he
did not consider very prosperous.
There is too much money invested in
wildcat western schemes. Loan as
sociations doing business in the state
ought to be heavily taxed. The con-
dition of agriculture is such that a
change is imperatively demanded.
Careless legislation is responsible for
U1S IuCNiudI Ills u IlJubLOA vi hCdlbns
The income tax should be strictly
enforced. State taxes have increased
all the time, and if this tendency con-
tinues the state is liable to become
insOlvent. Mr.. Cotton said that the
farmers demand lower salaries, few
er fees and more stability in the laws.
The biennial tinkering of the school
law has done much to injure the state.
We demand the election of men
pledged to retrenchment. 1t is time
that the office sought the man in this
state. The future action of the
league will depend on the old par
ties, if they try to kick us out, they
will hear from US as party. In clO-
sing, Mr.. Cotton urged his hearers to
elect hereafter only men pledged to
reform.
Professor Charles Dole of North
field thought Vermont farmers were
no worse off than the farmers of 9TH
er states. 1t is impossible in the ma.
ture of things for farmers to become
very rich. AS to legislation, Profess
or Dole said that the majority of the
Legislature for years had been farm
ers, but the trouble had been in not
electing intelligent farmers.
c. F. Clough of Waterbury said
there must be some reason why the
agricultural industry of the country
was so depressed. while every other
industry pays from eight to 100 per
cent. In his opinion the reason was
that the farmers were unable to get
what their produce is worth. He
drew picture of the way in which
Boston commission merchants keep
the price paid to butter makers down.
He cOrroborated the statement of ex-
Governor Smith that the middlemen.
get all the profit. If the league will
work in harmony,it can crush the as
sociation of commission merchants.
Mr.. Clough said that the savings
banks of the state borrow money from
their depositors at four per cent and
then send it West at higher rates of
interest, whereas if it were loaned in
in the state farmers could get it at
four per cent. He asserted that the
law eXempting from taxation depos-
its in savings banks of less than ST.
500 was taken advantage of by rich |
men to avoid taxation, different mem
bers of the family making deposits
up to the limit.
In the afternoon Rev. E. j. Ran
slow of Swanton made the first ad-
dress. He approved the course of the
farmers in organizing. They are being
compelled to organize. 1t is absurd
to say that legislation can help the
but not the farmer. AL
though the farmers are in the major
ity, they do not get the legislation
they want. Two or three men make
most of the laws, and these two or
three men are not members of the
Shrewd jobs are con-
stantly being put on the farmers.
The way for farmers to get what they
want is to exact pledges from candi-
dates for office and then follow them
up after the election.
Professor j. r. Dodge of the de-
partment of agriculture spoke on the
work of the department, and gave
some of the causes of the present de-
preston in agriculture. These are
unrestricted immigration, unwise ex-
tension of railway systems, all kinds
of speculation by which men seek to
gain living by their wits rather
than by their hands, and the middle
man. Professor Dodge thought that
much could be gained by legislation.
The following resolutions, supple
mentary to those adopted at Mont
pelier last fall, were passed:
"Resolved, (D That we seek by
organized efforts to improve the con-
dition of the farmer, and SO secure
the general welfare of the whole peo-
pie. (2) That we believe that prop