The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-04-15
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.
Co Operation Among Farmers.
exported for The Egis.


Co Operation Among Farmers.
Reported for The Egis
The April meeting of the Deer Creek Farm
ers' Club was held at "Winstone," near OAR
lngton, the residence of the President, Mr.. ID.
c. Wharton Smith, This place contains about
80 acres, all of which, except the space rescrv-
ed for the buildings, the garden, the walks and
drives, is covered with beautiful grass, dotted
with ornamental trees and flower beds. bed
of pansies in full bloom was very beautiful,
and little beds of daffodils, hyancinths, &C.,
nestled in warm hooks around the house.
The latter, handsome stone structure, is
situated on high knoll, from the top of which
the ground slopes i'm every direction, and frcm
which an unobstructed view is had of the sur
rounding country for several miles. PARKWAY
in the distant horizon u crest of wooded hills
closes the view, forming the boundary of a
large natural amphithcatre, which in ages past
may have been the basin of lake. In the in
tervening space is n charming landscape, diver
sified by wood and vale, with well-tilled fields
and verdant meadows, while comfortable
looking farm houses appear on the hill tops or
nestle in the vallies. On moOnlit summer
nights a line of fog marks the course of the
noble Deer Creek and veil of mist which
spreads over the lowlands near the stream
conveys the illusion of tranquil lake in the
distance. The spot is without doubt one of the
lovelest in Hartford. The house is admirably
arranged for comfort and convenience, and
the stables, with carriage and harness rooms,
etc, like the house, are OF stone and are sup
piled with every appliance to ensure cleanli-
ness.
heavy sod and is beautifully kept. The novel
sight was seen, on Saturday, of u man moving
the lawn in the midst of IL snow squall.
According to custom the selection of the
topic for discussion is left to the host, who is
also required to express his views first. Mr.
Smith announced as the subject, Are local
organized combinations among farmers prac-
ticable or desirable?"
The farmers of this neghborhood said Mr.
Smith, have found some advantages from an
organization they have-the Road League, and
this had turned his thoughts in the direction
indicated. On the other hand, the Alliance
movement, which was on Il larger SCALE had
failed to accomplish the good that was expected
and hoped-mainly because of the futility of
any effort to cover so wide field and such di-
vcrsifed interests. The movement also at
tructed unscrupulous men who, whether to
further their own ends and get into power
to break up the Alliance, had promulgated
theories, particularly on finance, which made
the Alliance u stencil in the nostrils of all law
abiding, conservative citizens. 1t was such
theories put in practice in the Argentine Re
public, which led to the failure of the great
banking house of Barring Bros, and spread
financial disaster over the civilized world, from
which IL has not yet recovered.
No doubt organized cooperation among men
in the same line of business would be produc-
tive of great good In the great marts of com
MERGE they have their cotton, corn and stock ex-
changes, where men meet to 10 business under
laws and rules that bind them to equity and
fair dealing. Such associations encourage
traffic and trade. Ii some organization of that
nature could be had among farmers they
might derive great benefit. There are dangers
lurking all the time in the pathway of the far
mer. Farmers clubs and the local press point
them n we rot IN hn
polls once a year to vote. Does that ensure
wise and good legislation? Another evil that
is now attracting attention over the country is
the lack of roads which can be used all the
year.
Mr.. Smith thought it might be practicable to
organize Il State League, with subordinate
county leagues and still more subordinate dis
trict leagues. Each league could have a place
where farmers could meet periodically and
discuss their affairs. Such an organization
would get many farmers out of the narrow and
selfish ruts i'll which they are prone to run. 1t
is Il healthy thing for the mind for farmers to
meet together and compare notes. They would
be strengthene dand encouraged thereby and
such meetings would promote and preserve
good feeling. New ideas would be evolved
which might not occur to members of the Leg
islature, but the utility of which would be
apparent that they would be adopted at once.
An arbitration committee could be appointed
which would settle disputes among farmers
and keep cases out of the hands of the lawyers.
VIM. b. Hopkins said his experience was that
it is almost impossible to accomplish any organ
might be.
John Moores was of the opinion that while
such organizations would be desirable they are
not practicable. Farmers live too far apart to
enable them to cooperate successfully. For
instance there are at least 40 different kinds of
fertilizers sold i'll Hartford county, and if there
were any concerted action among farmers all
would use the same kind. The only things on
which farmers agree are in wanting low taxes
and the Oliver Chilled pillow. A number of
farmers asked the Legislature to appoint u
State Road Engineer, whose salary would not
have cost the counties anything scarcely, and
yet some of our best farmers opposed it. They
would not unite on this even as an experiment
James +. Kenly said farmers would no doubt
be greatly benefited by acting together, but it
would take a great deal OF time and persuasion
to accomplish it. Persons i'll other lines of bus
mess have organizations and protect and bcne-
fit their business by securing such legislation
as they may need, but if farmers don't get
what they want they don't make much fuss.
Robert +. Hanna believed it would be
good thing if farmers could work together for
their mutual benefit. Ii all would assemble
and insist upon the County Commissioners do
ing something to help our bad roads some good
might be done.
r. Harris Archer said there are difficulties in
the way. In cities it is easy for men engaged
in the same business to get together and say
what shall or what shall not be DONE but it is
difficult to get farmers to meet They are busy
all day and often too tired at night to go out.
Besides, their interests are so diversified that
they would have but little common ground to
James W. Hanna also thought cooperation
among farmers would be a good thing.
7. E. SwartZ agreed with others that while CO.
operation is desirable it is not practicable.
William ID. Lee said it would take a good
deal of education to get farmers to work to-
gether, but he could not see why it could not
be done. By cooperation good results could
be accomplished. The farmers clubs in the
county have been of great benefit. The Deer
Creek Club, for instance started the county
agricultural society, the Hartford National
Bank-the first in the county-gave an impetus
to road Improvement and has done much good
to the county.
Edward P. Moores said there might be u good
deal more of brotkerly feeling among farmers
ton. We have heard Il great deal about our
Farmer Governor, who farms on North Charles
street and at Saratoga, but when an opportun-
ity offered to do farmers good turn he gave
them the cold shoulder and favored the capital
lists. If farmers had taken some interest and
sent in their petitions he might have taken
some note of them. Every other business has
an organization and can fight through the Leg
stature laws favorable to its interests, but the
farmers sit quietly down and let things take
their course satisfied to take the crumbs that
fall from the rich mans table
Bennett III. Barnes said Mr.. MooreS had eX-
pressed his sentiments.
s. A. Williams said the difficulty of securing
cooperation among farmers grows out of the
great diversity of interests over our large
country-intereSts which are almost diver
sified as the products of the soil. Because of
this diversity cooperation must be brought
about by education and agitation. In the
cities, where men come in frequent contact
quired. Farmers live at great distances from
each other and must depend upon farmers
clubs and road leagues for the education and
agitation necessary to prepare them for co-op-
Grafton. He could see great improvement
growing out of these organizations, which tend
to bring about cooperation.
So far as local cooperation is concerned
what is first needed to bring it about is improv-
ed roads. Increased facilities of travel would
simplify the problem of corporation by en-
abling farmers to meet together oftener.
This Improvement of roads ought to be by the
State aiding the counties Baltimore city is in
terested in good county roads as well as in
railroads.
Hand in hand with this question of State aid
in Improvement of our public roads goes the
oyster question. By "a proper development of
the oyster beds of the Chesapeake Bay q re-
venue could be derived which would enable
the State to improve our main thoroughfares.
This will not be DONE however, until the coun-
ties which do not border on the bay take the
matter in hand and settle it.
Before adjOurning the following resolution,
offered by Mr.. John MoOreS, was adopted:
"ResOtCed, That it is the sense of this Club
that Farmer Brown should have signed the
assessment bill, and that as he fuilcd to do So
he should hereafter be known as Governor
Brown.
STATE OF OHIO, CITY OF TOLEDO, 90
LUCAS COUNTY. &C.,
FRANK j. CHENEY makes oath that he is the
senior partner of the firm of FL CHENEY