The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-04-25
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
April Meeting at Mr.. GeOry re W. Sutton's
Near Perryville.

The regular monthly meeting of the Cecil
Farmers Club was held at "NIilwood" farm,
the attractive homestead of Mr. George w.
Sutton, near Perryvile on Wednesday the
22nd inst At II o'clock II. m. the President
of the Club, John p. Wilson, ESQ.,, directed
the call of the roll of members. when the fol-
lowing responded to their names: VIM w.
Moore, Henry S. Coudon. A. J. Mchiner'
George W. Sutton, Jos. Coudon (of Jos.).
Col. Enoch Noyes Col John Il. Bond John
p. Wilson, Thomas C. Bond. L. L. Duyck-
inck, George w. Clifford and Henry Il. Tor
bert. The visitors present by invitation were
the Rev. H. G. Budd of Perryvillc, and
Thompson Atkinson. of Aiken; DIR. Il. L.
Bromwell an honorary member also being
present.
Reports of experiments being in order Mr.
George ". Clifford reported that last fail he
secured a good growth of red and aIsike
clover and rye. Where the rye was not sown
thick enough the clover had been winter
killed. The members Of the cluo generally
reported Il failure of the clover and grasses
which promised 50 well last fall.
Col. Bond referred to the English agticul-
tural reports for last year, noticing the same
failure of grasses which it was recon-
mended could he remedied by rotation once
in eight years.
Mr.. Clifford reported that he had twice
sown oats with spring rye. Last year secured
30 bushels OF the mixed grain. The advan-
tage Of such sowing was, that he could raise
more grain, and on good land oats being apt
to lodge, he could secure all the grain with
the binder, the mixture also being superior
feed for cattle.
Tho regular essay being in order Mr.. Sutton
offered the following paper Oh
PROTECTION FOR THE FARMER.
The signs of the times Mr.. President, seem
to he for Mckinley and a high tariff. If we
are to have protection for the manufacturers
then let us have it for the farmers too. What
is good for the manufacturers goose is surely
good for the farmers gander. For thirty
years the manufacturers have been ENJOYING
Il tariff bounty in the form of enhanced prices
on articles used 10y the farmers The bounty
was paid without grumbling, while farming
was IL profitable business. The farmer is
generous and was touched by the plea of our
"infant industries" But now he is no longer
able to bear the enhancement of price due to
the protection Of manufacturers unless the
value OF his wheat is enhanced by Il bounty,
My protcctionist friend will say that there is
Il duty on wheat. But let me tell him that
the tariff on wheat is Il dclusion 1t does not
raise the price of domestic wheat one cent
because we are exporters of wheat. and the
price of the whole crop is fixed by the price
obtaned for the surplus abroad. But n
ounty on the surplus exported would raise
the price of the whole product 1t is not
supposed that the country will ever be
| brought to agree to bounty. but there is
danger that the agitation will make the pro-
tectonist farmer restive under existing bur
dens upon his industry. Now that the CHEAP
labor of Argentina. India and Russia have
the help of agricultural machinery in their
competition with American farmers, the latter
rightly fancy themselves entitled to equity in
protection or free trade. 1t is Il protest under
the form OF II counter proposition. 1t says in
effect, if we, the many, are taxed for the
benefit of the few, why should not the few he
taxed in return for the benefit of the many :?
1t is II turning of the tables ON the high pro-
tectionists. The farmers have awakened to
the fact that they have borne the imposition
Of high taxes long enough, and that il their
COWS are to be milked they want to do the
milking themselves.
Comment on the essay being in order Col.
Noyes said, that protection was Il question of
the price of labor with the farmer American
labor has always been well paid under any
tariff; while the farmer was prosperous he
could afford to pay the manufacturer his
bounty. Under present prices he was not
able to carry the burden of Il high tariff The
essay does not contain any reference to the
most important point involved with the ques-
ton OF protection viz, tho money question
The farmer had no complaint against the
tariff until silver was demonetized and the
grcenback funded into bonds.
Mr.. Duyckinck said that Col. Noyes ex-
pressed his views on the question of protec-
tion. The manufacturer had a decided ad-
vantage over the farmer. The former worked
on order as the result of organization, while
the farmer as a producer stood as an idiv-
dual and took the risk of the market that he
| had not the remotest chance to influence.
There seemed no prospect of combining the
| farmers in any common interest. There was
no certainty of production with the farmer.
Mr.. Thos. G. Bond did not think Mr.. SUIT
tons essay involved practical question to
be discussed by the club, but rather Il theore-
teal one.
Mr.. Clifford said the question of tariff was
II purely economic question, but dragged
into politics. As the tariff now stood, Eng
land was manufacturing what Americans
should manufacture.
Mr.. Michiner thought if the farner lived
more within his means, the tariff would not
effect him SO much. He thought if farmers
denied themselves more of the luXurics of the
day, he would not lei the pinch of a high
tariff
Mr.. Henry CoudoD, said if you want the
farmers to wear cheap clothes and starve to
death, let the other fellow the manufacturer
do the same.
Col. Bond said we are forced by necessity
to live up to the times, and beyond the limit
of economy. We arc the subjects of pride. in
some senses beyond our will. He explained
tha diffprpDpe n tha ,urnhncip,, pn,yar ,f