Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-19
Speaker Haskins Misrepresented.

presumably. to make strong bid for votes
in response TO the toast The Farmer in
the Legislature. He started of well
when he called the dairyman the cream,
but be mixed in quite a little sour milk
and cUrd when be said that with a major
ity Of over a hundred in the last legisla-
ture the farmers could not accomplish any
thing because they didn't know enough.
He may discover his mistake little later"
This is hardly Just to Speaker Haskins.
We are able, fortunately, to give the en-
tire speech Of Col. Haskins on that occa-
sion if necessary, but the following ex-
tracts wherein We quote bis exact words
will suffice:
Il fully recognize the fact that the great
majority always have been, and probably
always will be, engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and upon whose success and pros
perity depend the success and prosperity Of
every other occupation and profession in
life. Therefore, il is that, in matters Of
legislation-state and national-whatever
laws are required for the protection and
announcement of the farmer ought 70 re-
ceive the cordial support and approval Of
all, for such legislation must assuredly
rebound to the interest Of every one. no
matter what his occupation in life may
be-"
After speaking Of the superiority of the
products Of Vermont farms, It's men and
women, he said:
Every biennial period, as the day Of
Caucuses, conventions and elections draws
near, We hear mutterings with reference to
the neglected interests OF the farmer and
the cry goes up that We need more farmers
in the legislature. I believe that I have
had more than the average length of ex-
perience and observation as a legislator.
and I am free 20 say that is IS not an in
crease in the number Of farmers that IS
needed in our legislature, bat it is a great
er degree OF intelligence and education on
the part Of all those who get there. 1
would not question the honesty and sin
eerity Of purpose of any man when called
to the duties Of a legislator, but the farmer
who is content to plOd along in the old
beaten track Of his fathers IN the conduct
Of his farm; who has no knowledge Of the
quality of the soil his plow-share turns up
and its adaptability for the raising Of this
or that crop; who has no knowledge of or
use for fertilizers except the manure heap
I thrown through his stable windows and
/ there left exposed for weeks and months
/ TO the summers heat and winters storm;
/ the farmer who has no desire or thought
/ Of improving his breed of horses, herd of
/ cattle or flock of sheep; who does not care
| to know whether the beef, milk, butter
and cheese used in his own family and
sold 10 others TO be used was produced
/ from cows diseased; who Hever axes,
pays for, or reads the Agricultural news
paper; the farmer who never attends a
meeting of the Vermont Dairymen's asso-
citation or OF the Board of Agriculture, and
[ is connected with no farmers club or assO-
citation, is useless factor for good in mat
ters OF legislation, and often proves an
actual injury 70 the best interests of the
state"
he then took up the last four sessions
| of the legislature and showed that the
senate was composed Of 80 members, and
while the farmers had never been in the
majority in that body, yet the senate had
always stood up manfully for the interests
Of the farmer; that the average member
ship of the house for the four sessions
was 243; the average membership Of the
farmers was 14O, of the lawyers 9, all
other occupations "a, demonstrating that
it had always been in the power Of the
farmers, if united and so disposed, to abso-
lutely control all legislation. He then
said;
ITO nv mind, the Board of Agriculture
has been and is the most valuable and i'm
portant of all our state commissions, and
yet am sorry 70 say that the principal op-
position 20 its continued existence has
come from the farmers, and had it not
been for the lawyers, doctors, educators,
merchants, and men of other occupations
in that body, so far as the house is con-
cerued, il would have been wiped Of the
statute beck long ago"
He then stated that it was publicly pro-
claimed on the hoor of the House at the
session of 1898, that a majority of the
farmers Of that body had signed a paper
pledging themselves to vote for the abOli-
ton Of the Board Of Agriculture, and fall
ing in that to withhold all appropriations OF
money providing compensation for their
services and expenses, " thereby Gripping
the efficiency and usefulness Of a commits
sion whose past and present work has been,
and is, all important TO every inhabitant Of
the state"
He told of his part in the debate, and
how he did what he could to save the
Board of Agriculture to the people Of the
state, and closed his remarks by saying:
81 welcome the farmer in legislation,
but he should be fitted and equipped for
that kind of work. l recognize In the
educated, intelligent, and progressive far,
mers of the country Gods choicest noble
men, and that their services will be in con.
slant demand not only in the halls Of legis
lation, but in every other walk of life a
we'll But until he has obtained the infOr
nation necessary for the successful prose
cution of his own business, and adequatt
to the highest demands of this progressive
age, be win of necessity fail to reach thai
position wherein mans best and highesf
powers are developed, and the happiest re
suits of well spent life wrought out"
We believe that both Speaker Haskinl
. and the farmers of Vermont can vel
stand on the same platform, and that NJ
intelligent and progressive farmer will dis
agree With anything be said at the ban
. quet.