The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-21
EDITOR OF THE TINES:

EDITOR OF THE TINES:
The resolutions adopted by the Farmers
Institute, recently held in Corunna, having
ELECTED. as it seems to me, unmsrited share
of unfavorable criticism, one critic having
gone so far as to pronounce them a disgrace
to the farmers and the institute, i, rs
member of the committee on resolutions,
feel constrained, with your permission, to
offer through the medium OF THE TIMES,
woru in defense of said resolutions.
In referring to the resolutions as adopted,
1t will be seen that everyone of them,
save two, to which certainly no exceptions
could be taken, as they are only expressive
of the pTopriety of placing names on farm
residences, and of printing and furnishing
at cost, school text books by the state. is q
mild, though earnest protest against the
present ruinously high rate of taxation, in
view of the now profitless business of farm
Ing
For anyone to affect to ignore or in any
way belittle the Importance OF a feature of
government involving so much of veal or
woe to the people, and that bears so i'm
portant part in determining the perma-
nancy of government itself as does the fea-
ture of taxation, is, in my judgment, to say
the least, neither wise nor patriotic. To all,
inclined to make light of so serious mat
ter. would say: Turn to history and there
refresh your memories as to the terrible
scourges that have been visited upon man.
kind as results of the abuse of the taxing
power. And then reflect that there is moth
ing new under the sun. What has been,
will, under like conditions be again. And
that as surely as 1.-THE darkest hour of all
the night, is the one before the dawning,"
just so surely the gravest dangers are often
lurking near, when we are most fOndly in
dulgng in dreams Of continued safety and
peace.
At time when an excessively high tax
rate is not only sweeping the last dollar of
profit from the farm, but is actually COM
pelling the farmer to borrow, in order to
meet the demand for more taxes. thus in
creasing the burden he must carry for years
to come, when intelligent farmers through
out the state, regardless of party affiliations,
are aroused and are earnestly demanding a
reason for so unusual rate, and when the
governor of the state feels himself called
upon to 20 about over the state, offering ex-
plantations which however, do not explain,
1t would seem to be the part of prudence
aud patriotism to bend ones energies in the
direction OF right solution of the vexed
question, rather than engaging in captious
criticisms of the we'll intended acts of
Others.
The resolution relative to the farm in
stitute act appears to be the one most OBJ
jectionable to the critics. deem It only
necessary to say in this regard, that very
many good men engaged in all legitimate
pursuits, and thoroughly acquainted with
the Agricultural College and its work, are
of opinion that the state has not another in
stitution that could bear so thorough an ap-
plcation of the pruning-knife, without
detrlment to any substantial interest of the
state, as could the college and some Of its
attachments.
The only other resolution that.met serious
opposition was the one relative to county
SUPPLEMENTARY of schools. This resolution
received the careful and earnest considera.
tion at the hands of the committee that its
Importance entitled it to, and while the abl-
itY and fidelity of each and every incum-
bent OF the Office of commissioner was readi-
ly conceded, II was thought best, in view of
the almost universal demand for reduced
taxation, to recommend the adjustment of
the Office.
AS there seems to DO much diversity of
opinion on this question, similar law hav-
ing been repealed some years ago, 1t would
seem to be unnecessarily harsh criticism to
say that the action of the committee and in
stitute In this regard, was disgraceful.
As we must evidently get back to lower
scale OF taxation, let psinstaking investiga-
ton, and wise discrimination determine In