The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-24

of its singularly rapid growth. The
northern variety is not only the most
hardy, but also the handsomer and
more vigorous tree, aud should be ex-
clusively planted. Mr.. Douglass of
Waukegan, Wis, grows them extern
sively for sale, and we believe sends
out packages of 100 seedlings, about
a foot high, by mail, for one dollar.
IT would seem that this is an era of
universal combination in trade and
business, by which competition is being
generally done away with among the
manufacturing and commercial classes.
| We do not mean in this to refer spe-
cially to the trusts and other" combin es"
of great manufacturing interests, like
the Standard oil, sugar, binding Irvine,
reaper, and many other sorts of manu-
featuring interests. These already rule
the country in their respective spheres,
and own enough men in legislatures,
and especially in senates state and
national, to get their own way in spite
of the best efforts of the people.
What we now refer to is the extension
of the same idea among the commercial
class, even into our villages, so that
the farmer has now little or no adj
vantage from business competition,
either in buying or selling. In fact,
trade and manufacture is resolving it.
self into a series of organized or quasi
organized bodies for the elimination of
all injurious competition. What the
outcome OF such a business revolution
is to be remains for further develop
ment; but one thing is sure, if it be-
comes general and permanent, and is
recognized as legitimate under our sys-
tenn of government, it will mark the
practical serfdom of the only class
which cannot be brought into strong
and effective union-the farmers.
When both ends of every trade are
made fast in the hands of every trader,
is the American farmer going to be
much better off than the Russian serfs,
who are now starving with hunger,
and perishing with hunger-caused
plaques? -
OF course, American farmers are not
going to stand this thing when they
fully understand its existence and pur-
port. They already see trusts that have
been twenty years in existence, yet
have never felt the heavy hand of pop
ular governmental real government
of the people, by the people, for the
people "-since such a government, if
it ever really had existence in America,
is now practically moribund. We can,
by hard strug Cling for years, get nom
inal law through congress which may
indeed force trusts to change their
names, without in anyway changing
their natures-as the Standard oil has
recently appeared to debut that is all.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Homestead
writes very bitterly on this subject. He
says
The insolenee, the arrogance with which
some storekeepers treat farmers who have
produce to sell is something upon which I
have long wished to free my mind. A
good illustration occurred in this town, re-
Gently, A neighbor of mine went into a
local store with ten dozen eggs which he
wished to sell for cash. The shopkeeper
wished him to take it out in trade. Said
the farmer, 81 don't want goods o-day, but
money. / always pay you cash for grain
and groceries, now l want cash for my
eggs" 49," said the storekeeper, /
don't do business that way" Rather than
let him have the eggs under such circum-
stances the farmer took his eggs home
again. Now this storekeepsr, if he cannot
buy eggs of nearby farmers, must send to
| Boston for them. Does he ask the Bos ton
| produce dealer so take his pay in goods? |
guess not. He pays his cash every time.
If all farmers had the independence of this
neighbor of mine, storeksepers would be
brought to terms soon enough, and instead
of offering their goods and making dou BILE
profit, would be glad to pay cash for fresh
produce Unfortunately farmers are looked
upon by many storekeepers and town
jewellers with a sort of contempt. If the
question is asked as to what is the busin ess
of 80 and 80, the reply is, go. he's only an
old farmer" They forget, these town and
city people, that their very life-blood com Q
from the laboring farmer, for the farm or
feeds and clothes them all, from the poorest
shoveler of coal to the richest bondhold er
among them. Is it not time for farmers to
assert their independence? 1t is said that
farming is the most independent of all pro-
fessions, but is it? Does it look that way
when you try to sell your producer Aren't
you often bullied into accepting a ridicu-
lousy low figure. for your articles? have
been bullied more than once, and know
You have, when short of money. But let
us all change this state of affairs, and let
us demand fair price, and a money price
at that. Let us, each and everyone, show