The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-04-22
account of their condition and their
capacity for giving legitimate insurance.

| CdDdClbl iOi SiNihb iSB ihouhhhNOs
A COMMERCIAL congress OF western
states met at Kansas City last week.
1t was free trade meeting, and free
silver coinage also was endorsed.
The report of the majority of the
committee on resolutions provoked
bitter discussion, and when it was
adopted the Minnesota delegation rose
as one man and left the hall, say
ing that it protested against a non
partisan congress being turned into
partisan convention. The other dele
gates filled the air with yells and bowls.
The Minnesota delegation and many
other delegates were opposed especially
to the planks in favor of tariff for
revenue alone, and free silver coinage.
A number of interesting letters were
read on the first day, among them
being one from President Harrison,
who earnestly opposed free coinage of
silver under conditions that would
| DldCC llllo OOuublJ Oh a Ddolo VI ollNCl
monometalism. He admitted that the
price of farm products had been below
the point of fair living and fair profits,
but believed that policy which would
reduce the number of our people en-
gagged in mechanical pursuits or dimin-
ish their ability to purchase would be
| .,,s, 10 anrioulfrra To.
words, he had more faith in a home
market than any other. Yet he looked
for relief to the farmers through the
markets which reciprocity would fur
nish in Central and South American
states and through the removal of re-
strictions on our meats and live stock
in European countries. Nothing was
, said in the letter that would indicate
that the president countenances reci-
procity with Canada. Indeed it is be-
, lieved that he, with Major Mckinley,
is decidedly opposed to it. 1t is evil
dent that there will be a good deal of
, pressure brought to bear on him, both
, from the West and New England, for
reciprocity with Canada, but he is a
/ man of convictions and backbone and
can be relied upon to do what he be-
lieves the good of the country demands.
THE Brdttleboro Ph9niG refers thus
to the proposition that the direct tax
money be spent on an independent ag-
ricultural college, " 1t would do very
well for nucleus in aid of that project,
but then we should fear that an appro-
priation would be necessary to hire stu
: dents to attend. Genuine agricultural
college students, or those that intend
to become such, with the design of max
ing farmers, are not very numerous in
) this state or in any other. Probably
there are not dozen actual farmers
or sons of farmers in Vermont that ask
for new agricultural college with any
intention of patronizing it as students
1 with this purpose" This is as cool a
J slur on the intelligence of farmers in
general and those of Vermont in par.
ticular as we have seen for many day
Farmers do not care rap about new
and scientific methods of conducting
their business--is that the idea2 We
: had an impression that good many
agricultural papers were taken al
through this country, including this ag
: ricultural state of Vermont, and we are
quite certain that fair degree of inter
u est is taken in the many exhibitions of
the agricultural societies of the state
: as well as in the meetings of the state
board of agriculture. No farmer who
is interested in these things can be
: wholly indifferent to an institution
which would unite the best of these
q with the most approved facilities fol-
u carrying investigation to its utmost
= limits. An agricultural college is simply
b the most economical and convenient
: means of studying agriculture, ant
there is a considerable element of thu
: farmers of the state that understand
that TACT very well. mat the college
at Burlington is not well patronizet
" may be laid to its poor facilities fol
Is study and the uncongenial atmosphere
Il not to indifference. Moreover, doe
u the Phonir not see the conclusion
Il whichlits own statement suggests? Sup
u pose there is too little interest in agri
Il cultural education in Vermont NJ
one disputes it, but all ought to regre
. it. But, if it is so, what are we goinl
:, to do about it? Shall we let thing
- drift on in the old anarchic way? Com
- mon sense says: Build schools; edu
cate; agitate; stir the people up; scat
= ter new ideas all through the state
and don't stop until we realize that w