The Portland daily press., 1899-06-24

The executive committee OF the farmers
OF Maine who propose to hold convent
ton In the autumn TO org aniss ard on
deavor n bring .atout certain tax reforms
held q meeting yesterday afternoon nt
SWEETS hotel. There was a large attend
anre Of the committee members ana the
matters pertaining to the proposed con-
vention were discussed. II Was decided
not 10 hold the convention nc Lewiston
st the time OF the Mnine state Fair az
Mr.. Mclaughlin said ssthe farmers would
be looked upon as a aide show and they
did not propose TO give any hippodrome
performance. Mr.. Mclaughlin was
Instructed By the committee to sst up q
tent at the Eastern Maine and Maine
state Fairs andldo what he could towards
organizing the different counties Of the
state. This would te preliminary TO the
convention which viii orcur in Water
vile about Labor Day. The committee
issued the following call to the farmers
Of Manner
TO THE FARMERS OF THE STATE
OF MAINE.
The wisdom OF an immediate organiza-
ton OF the farmers OF the state u they
would enforce the long needed reforms
Of equitable taxation and Legislative and
administrative economyiis now universal
" admitted and the necessity of this
49, is emphasized from the fact that
thSmsmhers Of tho last .Iegislature have
scarcely reached their homes before the
private and corporate Interests that con-
trolled that body ara now actually ~
work In every part or the state electing
. legislature for 1901 that will be more
blindly suhseryient to 1.-The beheets Of the
lobby and the selfish 3tarests behind ID
than even the last Legislature In many
states the lobby has been excluded from
plying their vocation at the state capitols
while In Massachusetts In addition 70 this
every corporation employing q lobbyist
Is obliged BY law to reHeer sworn re-
turn to the Secretary of state of the
amount OF money expended to influence
legislation and these returns are pub.
lished at the ulose Of every session Of the
general court. Yet in this state our
capitol swarms with professional lobby lists
some.sof whom are servants Of the state,
who neglecting the duties they are we'll
paid to perform 70 to the capitol ut the
opening of the session and remain there
until its close, or until they have pocket
ed the last dollar of the public revenues
that . plant legislature will permit.
A4rHAHa0toEb VIM 0Ab NttotcAu anu BWQIE 10
protect the interests of the state are false
20 the state and their constituents II they
allow themselves to be approached by sthe
paid agents Of selfish private or corporate
interests and We call upon the farmers
TO lose no time in affecting an Or
ganization that will enable them TO exert
q controlling influence In the selecting
the members OF The next Legislature and
this can only be done by organization
and education and organization must
preccde education. The first step has al
ready been taken to provide for an organ
fzation by the selection of sort of ad-
visary council consisting of two farmers
from zach county who viii have the gen.
eral direction OF the farmers move
ment" until more perfect organization
can be effected and we call upon every
farmer in the state who is friendly..to this
movement TO assist the chairman OF our
committee by Information and spgges-
lions 10 making up this hrst sfarmers'
council" that IL will be no mean honor
70 belong 20 and If they prove faithful to
the farmers whose interests they will be
selected to cherish they may and well de.
serve wen of the farmers of this state to
the latest generation and we trust that
the chairmen OF our oom mittee will re-
csive such advice and information from
the farmers Of the remoter counties that
no one will be appointed on this council
N'tss ASOc At0t Rtn1CHo bnb EotlE0 D0uuu6uC6
OF every farmer In MS county.
4 W. II. Mclaughlin, North Scarboro,
Alonzo Libby. Westbrook,
II. X. 9riaRs, Westbrook.
Chas. K. Herrick, Cumberland Center,
l. W. Dyer, Cumberland Center,
u. 9. Prince, North Yarmouth,
W. =. Dresser. Portland,
s. p. Winslow, Falmouth.
Mr.. EMcLaughiin made to the commit
tee yesterday the following explanation of
his plan for organizingishe farmers. He
said.
The time for action has arrived AL
ready the private and corporate interests
that controlled the last legislature are
actively employed In every part Of the
state in selecting the members Of the
next legislature, that is expected 90 b
more blindiy obsdient to Its behests than
even the lass.
We thereby call upon the farmers
throughout the state TO unite in proteo-
ting their own interests and we believe
that this oan BEST be done by the forma.
ton Of Farmers Political Leagues" in
ever county. that shall elect yearly two
farmers TO represent their counties upon
an agricultural farmers council, that
shall consist Of two deputies from each
county with the exception Of the coun-
ties OF Aroostook, Kennehec, Androscog-
gin and York, that shall be entitled to
three. and the counties Of Cuin berland
and Penobscos that shall be entitled to
four, and these deputies shall elect q pres
ident at whose call they shall assemble,
and constder. and report, to the farmers
upon the effect Of all Proposed legislation,
upon the farming interests. and in brief
become a. q guide, philosopher and
friend" 20 tho thousands NJ farmers
whose daily toll and lenethening hours
required to meet the conditions Dr. CON-
stantly Diminishing prices Of their farm
products, and the sver increasing load Of
debt and taxes, leaves them but little
time 10 acquaint themselves with the In
tricacies and effects OF state legislation
upan their In terests.
This agriculturai council may be of in
estimabie value TO the farrnsys Of the
state by enabling them to obtain infor-
nation upon matters OF state pohty, that
shey could rely upon, coming ss it would
from those Of their own class and selec.
ton, and whose interests would be identi-
cal with their own. The deputies 20 the
farmers congress should be paid q reason
able compensation for their time and SER
vices while attending this congress, ss By
this means the smaller farmers would mot
g. - - -