The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-30
AGRICULTURAL.
As to the Board of Agriculture.

As to the Board OF Agriculture.
What was the real animus of the
fiery appeals of the leaders of the cru
SADIE against the board of agriculture in
the House9 Were their philippics in
spired by burning and unsoldsn zeal
for the public good? Were there no
knives up their sleeves2 Were they
reaching out for no mans throat?
These interogatories, and others of a
similar nature might be raised, and the
answer could hardly fail to be an i'm
parchment of the motives and purposes
of the strenuous orators.
If farmers barns are infested with
rats, does he burn them down to get rid
of the pests? Not unless he is as fool
ish as some of the farmers who have
been zealously working to abolish an
institution designed to advance their
interests, and which would accomp-
lish its purpose if appointments were
always wisely made. If the officers of
railway do not manage its affairs
wisely or efficiently what is the rem
edy? Close the road? If the board of
agriculture Is infested with political
rats, if its affairs are not administered
with wisdom and efficiency, what is
the remedy? Destroy it? Or, in any or
all these cases, is not reform the proper
fundamentally the brute remedy,
destruction?
There was cavailing, and charge of
political conniving and wire-pulling,
and all sorts of other things, laid at the
door of the board of agriculture, but
these charges never assumed any more
tangible form than wild vociferation.
There was an entire absence of speci-
fcation, and when particulars were
sought there was no answer Loud
and empty declaration is not argument
or reason, and unsupported-and IN
supportable-ac are not facts.
These things may influence the pref
udiced, or the minimizing, or the ig-
norant. They should have no weight
with men of candor, honesty and intel
ligence.
If the existing board Of agriculture
is larger in numbers than its best use
fulness requires, cut down its member
ship. If any of its members are not,
by education or experience, or tor any
other reason, competent to teach agric-
10 inc in, tar rtoi n
ing to practical and successful farming,
put new and capable men in their places.
These are all proper matters of wise
reform, not of butchery, and the rem
edy is in the hands OF the Governor
the appointing power. Reform is the
remedy of civilization; assassination is
the resort of the barbarian.
In State more exclusively agricul
tural than any other in the Union, an
institution like the board of agriculture
for the upbuilding of the leading indus
try, is required by every dictate of rea
son or wise business sense. Once be-
fore, in the present generation, this board
was abolished and substitute provided
The board was restored when the folly o
the change had been demonstrated Tht
existing plan is approved by reason anC
practical experience, in other States o
the Union as well as ia Vermont HOLD
fast to it. II any of his predecessors
have made appointments to this boarC
in payment of political debts, as ha
been currently charged, it was a griev
GUS wrong and grievously hath it beer
borne. Governor Smith has fine op
porLunity to set the pace for his sue
cessors in making appointments to thi
board. There are men on the existing
board competent by training and ex
perience 10 continue its work. 1t il
not necessary to say that these SHOULD
be retained. 1t stands to reason tina
they should be, aud new men of full
competency to complete an effective
organization added. The constitution
oil a new board will be the most impor
tant duty, in the way of making appoint
ments, that Governor Smith will hav,
TO perform.