Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-04-03


land States and as the Farmers league has
already covered the ground to u certain ex
tent, this attempt 10 transfer plant of
Western growth to New England soil will
be something of an experiment.
As was stated in the news columns OF
Yesterdays FREE PRESS, the opening meet
ing OF this campaign was held at Concord
y. H.. Wednesday evening when addresses
were delivered by Representative Simpson
and Mr. Beaumont. The published reports
OF their speeches confirm the suspicion that
an attempt is to he made to ante farmers
aud those who work for wages in
political porty, and right here is whore
the two campaigners will find breakers
ahead Farmers are themselves large EN-
ployers of la Dor class and, overlooking
for the time the question Of abstract prin-
ciples, any appeal to class prejudice will
thus be met at the very outset by Il practical
difficulty. Mr.. Beaumont in his speech
considered at length the agitation with
reference TO hours OF labor aud expressed
the hope that an eight hour law would soon
be enacted. The working day of the farm
er during the busy season is nearer sixteen
hours than eight, or from sun to sun -
longer than the day of any other class eX-
cept possibly newspaper men-and while
the "hired man might naturally favor an
eight hour day. land owners would be sure
to resist any encroachment upon their time
honOred license to get a full day work
out Of their employees For this one rea-
son alone it will be difficult for the Farmers
alliance and any labor party to ever get
together.
\ difficulty in the way of establishing
the alliance IN the New England States
| already limited at is the existence, in ad1i-
| ton to the grange OF the Farmers league,
which has even now gained large strength,
especially in Vermont. These two organi-
cations are entirely distinct, as has been
well pointed out 10y the Vernon; Farmers
Advocate, the organ of the league in this
| State. The alliance is a secret order, while
the league is uon-secret. The two organi-
cations do not agree in relation to important
features of their platforms and it will he
remembered that the Advocate recently ex-
pressed great anxiety that the two bodies
| should not be coufounded by the press and
public, as has already been pointed out in
these columns If the alliance and league
can not agrce upon a common platform
they must necessarily be rivals to a certain
extent, no matter whether their rivalry be
friendly or hostile.
Concerning the principles TO he inculcat-
ted during this campaign tour, as ON
bodied in Mr. Simpsons speech, little need
be said, as the farmers Of Vermont and Of
New England in general are well grounded
in Their political principles we'll as in
their knowledge Of the leading issues of the
day. Mr. Simpson looks upon the railroad
corporations as the enemies of every class of
labor, aud lie appeals to the people upon the
farms and in the workshops to win for
themselves the profit of the great inventions
Of the age He also asks for concentra-
ton of taxation upon land values and ad-
vances the financial schemes peculiar to the
West which have ever found little favor in
the East.
Farmers well as other classes have just
grievances, but that it requires something
beside political strength to right wrongs
of this nature is well illustrated in Vermont,
where the Legislature has up to the very
present been composed largely Of farmer:
who have failel to afford themselve:
and their neighbors the desired relief, al
though they have had the numerical strength
necessary to pas any measure they desired
They have wisely recognized the fact that
some of the industrial and economic problem,
can not be solved through legislation under
prevailing conditions, and the efforts of the
alliance or any other organization will no
suffice to change these conditions at tn,
present time. Some of the remedies pro
, posed Icy EIr. Simpson n behalf OF tn
, alliance, have been lriod in Iowa with dis
astrous result, 50 that farmers rs well a
railroads in many sections OF the State ar
. nearly ruined. Tho Vermont correspon
, dent Of the Boston Herald well sums up the
a situation when he says that leaders Of tn
: farmer clement in Vermont do not shar
' the fears Of some on the results Of tn
Il alliance movement in New England, bu
rely upon the intelligence Of New EnglanC
e farmers tointerpret the arguments of Messrs
L Simpson aud Beaumont aud to CRITICS
% their conclusions
= As we have already said in these columns
l. the farmers of Vermont have too good CON
j, mon sense to entertain for an instant som
e Of the rattle Drained schemes which thei
n Western brethren have gone wild over
l. and We believe this statement will appl
IS with equal truth to the great majority o
a the farmers OF New England.
It There f., 40 use of Disgusting tho fact tina
u the Australian ballot bill or bills whic
are before the Legislature are in danger OF b
y Ing defeated hy the indirect and hypocritic'
llnf fri nd apEfl