People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-16
MIR. JAMES BARRETT, FARMER,
On the Management Of the Georgia
Agricultural Department.

Agricultural Department.
AUGUSTA, GA, Sept. 1, 1899.
Hon. J. A Sibley, President, and Mr..
Frank Burt, Secretary:
Gentlemen-Your favor, enclosing a
resolution of the Peoples party in mass
meating, inviting me to be present on
the 9Th instant. was received while was
absent from homo, and under the circum-
stances it was impossible to avail myself
of the opportunity of meeting with the
good people of your county.
Every citizen of Georgia has right to
know the position occupied by candidates
for the SURFACES of the people and their
views upon public questions.
have always considered the Off 20 of
Commissioner of Agriculture as non-po-
political, and that the administration of
its affairs should be non-partisan. 1t was
established for the sole benefit of the
farmers, without being used to injure
other interests; but fear that it has been
used to foster other interests to the detri-
ment of the agriculturists. Il Colonel
Nesbitt did not get his nomination over
Henderson by trade, and then give the
cold shoulder to the worthy gentleman
who secured him the nomination, rumor
has done him great injustice. Mr.. Hun
nicutt could give valuable information on
this subject; and if the same be true, then
a position which was created for the
farmers, and in their interest, has been
made the subject of trade by scheming
politician. The appointments which fol-
lowed, and the Office. holders under Nes-
bitt are the surest index to the manner in
which the Office is managed. AS most
of them are from your section, it might
be interesting for you to inquire and as
certain their connection with the farmers
Of Georgia.
Colonel Waddell was dropped for Mr..
Hunnicutt, a practical farmer, and said
to be practical and successful. When DR..
Hunnicutt was dropped, who succeeded
him? Why2 If there has been a farmer
among them I have been misinformed.
It looks like somebody had to be paid
for influence, and that they have been
and are being paid. No wonder that not
one man of five hundred of our farmers
has ever realized tbs slightest benefit from
the Department, and no wonder there is
strong feeling to have this bureau
closed, and the treasury door closed
against it.
Colonel NesbNt himself charged abso-
lutte inefficiency when administered by
Judge Henderson, and said, give me d
trial; and if I mistake not, said if ne did
no better, then abolish the Department.
If I could admit or believe that all the
wisdom of the State was embodied in
Colonel Nesbitt, land that itscould not be
made useful to the farmers if he failed,
I would agree with him and the people
who demand that the Department should
no longer be tax to the people without
benefit; but when Colonel Nesbitt has
proven himself a pronounced failure as
farmer, as shown by the condition Of his
own farm, and bis help like failures when
on the farm, it does seem the sublimity
of folly to expect anything but failure at
their hands. If the farmer voters of
Georgia, without regard to party afilia-
ton, will ask themselves the question,
and see what benefit they have derived
from Mr.. Nlsbets administration, and
vote accordingly, my judgment is that
he will get only as many votes as he has
offices and the favored few who have
sold or received seed at the expense of
the toiling farmers of the State.
''This distribution of seeds" would be
laughable and rediculously funny but
for the cost. The farmer pays small
tax-yes, very small, as Col. Nesbitt
says-for the inspection of his fertilizers,
when not one of his inspectors could
analyze if his life were at stake. But
this small tax is like all our other
taxes-amounts to a large sum, taken
from the people without any just or
ADEQUATE compensation. The farmer paws
the tax on his tag and raises the money,
for the dealer gets his pay, just as the
importer of foreign goods does, and
charges all cost to the consumer. Col
Nesbitt gets the money and employs the
sons and relatives Of men who helped to
elect him and pays them out of the tax
money, and from this money buys
beans, peas, and all sorts of seed of the
same variety and kind our grand
mothers had, and then gives them,
freight and postage paid, to all, ''my
supporters around town and few friends
in the country"
The tax is smalI-indeed not felt when
the guano note is signed-but when all
the other taxes, all small, are added to-
gether, the farmer finds when his cotton
is sold that be has nothing left, except it
be the consolation of knowing that he