Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-12
Farmers, Leagmc Meeting.

lOll vi lTdSDulg, pTeSluenJ OF Jlle league,
occupied the chair. Hon. VIM. Chaplin of
Middlesex gave the address of welcome,
saying that Vermont farmers had for 40
years past kept themselves too much apart,
and IL was good sign to see the tide turn
ing and gatherings like this bringing them
together to discuss their common interests.
II. NJ. Arms of Springfield, speaking on
''Why farmers should organize" said they
had been pulling independently long
enough, and what they now needed was
united effort, not for politics, but for mu-
tual protection and benefit. Alpha Messer
of Rochester, master of the state grange,
gave figures showing to what extent com
paratively few millionaires have got the
wealth of the country into their hands,
and drew from this lesson for the farm
ers, saying if these few can unite and
amass wealth why can't the farmers unite
and turn the wealth where it will benefit
the masses. Trusts should be prevented
The work we do in the political line must
be of a non-partisan character. If we
have men who are earnest and honest, and
party they belong to. Victor l. Spear of
Braintree held that abandoned FARMS
were hard to find in Vermont, although
there were some that were not being used
to their full capacity. We have more I'M
occupied mills, quarries and manufactur-
ing plants in the state, he said, than unoc-
cupied farms. These should be built up
along with the farms. Mr.. Spear believed
that the tide has now turned in Vermont,
and people are beginning to think that the
state is good enough for anybody to live in,
and invest his money in. If we can help
our people here for the next five years we
! will need no outsiders to help occupy our
! farms and factories.
Col. Hooker of Brattleboro was the next
| speaker, taking his accustomed hopeful
view of all Vermont interests. Vermont
farmers. he said, earned enough in one
! year to keep for lifetime some of those
who have gone West to live in novels and
who, If they were given pair of boots,
would walk back to Vermont. One acre
of Vermont or New Hampshire land will
put more into a mans pocket than three
and one-half acres in Illinois and Mime
sofa. The words were quoted of a writer
who says that ''in 1895 the population of
our country will be so increased that our
farmers cannot furnish breadstuffs for
them and prices will be as high as in war
times Let every farmer start some little
industry on his farm. Stand by Vermont,
talk Vermont, and don't take paper that
says anything against Vermont.
The speaker of the afternoon was Hon.
George T. Powell, president of the National
Farmers league, whom the Free Press
quotes as saying in substance that while
the politicians and bad legislation are
responsible for many evils that exist to-
day the whole blame should not be
charged on them. 1t is natural and right
for the great corporate interests to have
their representatives at the front in every
legislature, but the trouble is that the
farming interests have not been given a
fair show, and the country has suffered
thereby.
lone of the first objects Of the league move
ment is for its members to go to their various
| primary meetings before elections in whatever
political party you may belong, and select the
best man TO represent you in the legislature. In
these days if man wants an Office he lays his
plans and works for it, | do not believe in a
farmers party or a farmers government, but
farmers interests will not be represented properly
until more of them are in the Legislature II we
had farmer representatives in Congress there
would not have been much immigration into
our country. The many errors and wrongs can
not be corrected until you come together and
send intelligent men to the legislatures Begin at
home with your town officers then county and
state"
Mr.. Powell also spoke against the free
coinage of silver, and against the liquor
traffic, which, he said, should not be legal
lied, but swept out.
At this point the following resolutions
were reported by the committee, of whom
c. d. Whitman of Battleboro was men,
ber, and were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, by the Vermont Farmers league
1st, that we are unqualifedly opposed to class
legislation.
3D. that We favor equal and just system OF
taxation, based upon all real and personal prop
erty alike, and we demand Of Congress law tC
provide graded income tax.
Sd, that we demand strict economy in expenses
of state and national government, with salaries OF
officials to correspond with the financial condition
of taxpayers.
4th, that we favor a sound and sufficient cur
rency.
5th, that we demand free vote and fair count
for every voter, and the adoption of the Austria
lian system of voting for the whole state,
9th, that we favor universal, compulsory,
common school education, after a reasonable
period, as a condition of suffrage.
eth, that demand a rigid limitation of all
monopoles especially such as speculate on farm
and food products.
sth, that we demand just and equitable freight
and passenger rates ON railroads.
9th, that we favor the prohibition of the adult
GRAFTON of food, and trafc in intoxicating liquors
as a beverage.
10Th that We favor rigid restriction of alien
ownership of land, and immigration of criminals
and paupers.
Mr. Whitman told the convention of
what the Brattleboro league is doing, and
DIR. ShOles told of his success in raising
corn on his Dummerston farm.
1t is stated that at a meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee, held the evening be-
fore the convention, eight out of twelve
voted to put fourth party in the field, but
all the speakers on Friday distinctly op-
posed such movement, and it was not
brought before the session. If any repre-
sentative was present from the "People's