The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-18
Appeals TO Farmers.

pdTushus vi elsu6r OlliluBudu VI OlOuI
in the senatorial canvass. II the paper
has any particular friendship for either
of these candidates it has succeeded
fairly we'll in avoiding any public ex-
preston of preference. In recent
editorial article entitled "Appeals to
the Farmers" the Messenger pertinent
ly says:
Isn't it pretty nearly time to let up on
these appeals to the farmers in the interest
of the various candidates for the United
States Senate? Does any man or newspa-
per pretend to say that any one Of the four
candidates is more interested in the welfare
OF the farmers than the other three? Does
any man or newspaper undertake to make
people believe that the average seli-respect-
ing citizen OF this State, or OF any State, is
not interested as much in the farmers wei.
fare as in that OF any other class OF his fell
low menP And why should love for the
farmer be selected as the criterion by which
TO test the merits of candidates2 Are there
not plenty OF other men in other callings?
Is all legislation merely in the interest OF
CARELESS OF their calling2
The Messenger holds "this farmers
candidate business" as "cheap," "dem-
agogic," "an insult to the farmers in
telligence." The farmer sis part Of
the warp and wool of the national tex
ture, not a fringe" The Messenger
says further:
"All the endesvors OF politicians to erect
the farmers into distinctive class in the
community, to draw imaginary lines around
them, to fill their ears with appeals to class
prejudice and crafty insinuations of benefit
or injuries to their peculiar calling and the
men who follow it, will react in time. The
farmer is too clever to be caught with that
kind OF chaff. He is part Of the great bus
mess life of the nation, representative OF
its commercial and industrial fibre, and he is
entitled to share in the respect and conf
dence that are accorded other classes and
not to be singled out as legitimate prey Of
political green goods men,"
Probably the Messengers statement
OF the farmers standing in the body
polite will receive no stronger approx.
al from any class of citizens than from
the farmers themselves. The contem-
porary's words are we'll merited re
buke to those men and newspapers of
the State who have been frantically
proclaiming General Grout as ''the
farmers candidate" disappearing
the facts of his record as legislator In
the farmers behalf, and garbling and
classifying that of his opponents who
have notposed as the sole guardian of
the farmer and champion Of his rights
and interests, but who have, neverthe.
less, been always his judicious and most
helpful friends when questions directly
affecting his welfare have arisen in the
Legislature or elsewhere.
These "demagogic appeals" in
Grous's behalf have not been made
to the fa. "mer alone. They have also
been flung out to catch the soldiers
vote. A falls impression has been
conveyed and sed,. lousy cultivated that
General Grout is the .'rlme mover and
sole champion of all legie 'atlon' enact
ed or undertaken, in the nav. 'on al Con
gress for the protection of farm pro-
ducts from dishonest competition; 30
the old soldier is made to believe that ,
General Grout is his only friend at
court in the matter Of pensions, or 9TH
er things in which the soldier is direct
ly interested. Every old soldier in the
State is given to understand that his
pension is benefaction from General
Grout, not his country's bounty for dis
abilities contracted in its defense in
time of war land il General Grout should
not be sent back to Congress this boun-
ty would cease.
There is no disposition to abate one
lot or title from General CIRCUITS just
claim to services performed for the
farmer or the soldier. The protest is
against elevating the interest of one
class above that Of another, which the
Messenger has 30 forcibly made; the
protest, further, is against the gross
exaggeration, the undue magnifying of
services, the Misrepresentation, the
false claims, all for political effect.
The farmers of Vermont, the old SOL
diers of Vermont, will still have pow
erful and efficient advocates at WASH
ington il General Grout shall depart
from the national capital. 1t is, in
deed, not only possible, but highly
probable, that the championship OF
their interests there may be strength
ened by change.
W. P. Dillingham; in particular, is Of
the people, and for all the people,
whether farmers, or soldiers, or me-
chanics, or granite workers, or mer-
chants, or manufacturers, or of any other
class or condition of people. He would
on tn Washington as their representa-.