Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-04
The Question Of Barley Raising.


The following communication from
Hon. Edward Wiggin, master of the
State Grange, appeared in the last
number of the Pressure Isle Star Her
aid:
Editor Star-Herald:
Having received many letters asking
my opinion in regard to the project for
the raising of barley by Aroostook far
mers for the New Hampshire brewerieS
and two oranges in the county having
already taken strong ground against
the enterprise, / feel called upon to
state my position in regard to the mat
ter.
/ am heartily in accord with the reso-
lutions adopted by Island Falls Grange
and with those passed by Houlton
Grange few days since.
The raising of any food product for
the general market is unquestionably
a legitimate business, even though q
part of that product may find it's way
to a brewery or to distiller. Whiskey
is made from wheat. rye, barley, corn
and even from potatoes, but that is no
reason why the farmers in any locality
may not engage in the raising of those
sumption, without doing violence to
their own consciences or to the moral
sentiment of the community
But when the farmers of any section
enter into an agreement. or quasi-con-
tract, with the proprietor of brewery
to receive seed grain from him and ship
to him the product raised therefrom.
they become virtually partners in the
extent that they would become partners
in the business of making butter, cheese,
or starch by contracting to furnish
milk, cream or potatoes to the factories
of those several industries.
The business of raising n food pro-
duct for general consumption and that
Of raising the same product under the
agreement above outlined, are wholly
distinct and different and no amount OF
sophistry or special pleading can make
them otherwise. 1t is a bald, cold bust
ness proposition,-"Yo raise the barley
and I'll make the beer and We'll share
the profits
The opposition to the enterprise on
the part of the Patrons of Husbandry,
and Of all farmers who are in favor OF
temperance and morality, is perfectly
consistent and there is no undue ten
derness of conscience" about it, nor are
they "straining a point of morals
needlessly far
The last twelve lines of your editorial
in the Star Herald of April 22d, state
the situation so correctly and succinct-
iy that ] beg leave to quote them here
and to make them part of my protest.
As it is il would do violence to Maine
sentiment, damage the prestige of our
State, and weaken respect for it's good
faith in the championship OF prohih-
ton 1t would be putting Aroostook
agriculture in direct partnership with
the beer brewing business, and the in
consistency would not be essentially
enlarged by inviting Mr. Jones in and
establishing him and his big breweries
inside the boundaries of our county"
The grand work of the grange, in this
State, has been to improve the rural
homes of Maine and to cultivate in
them higher standard of morality
and of social and intellectual culture.
In this work the patrons of Aroostook
have done their full share and we point
with pride to the Improvement of the
farm homes of our Garden county,
brought about. in large measure by the
beneiicent influences of the grange.
With what consistency. then, can We,
as Patrons CT Husbandry. become part
ners in the production of an article
which, if introduced into those homes,
would more than counterfeit all the
good we have done and would debase,
degrade and ruin their inmate?
May the time be far distant when the
fair fields and fertile soil of our beau
tiful Aroostook shall be devoted to the
production of an article which destroys
manhood, wrecks lives full of promise
and brings only disgrace, disaster and
ruin to comfortable and happy homes.
EDWARD WIGGIN.