The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-05-07

country. Wages are also higher in
a city, and the work not so hard. An
official of the central bureau of the
Lyons syn licate said to me
sit is believed that the influence
of the syndic4tes will be to dignity
farm labor and, by the lowering of
taxes on farms and the securing OF
protective tariffs on farm products,
to increase the wages and generally
improve the condition of farmers.
The syndicates will provide an old
age pension fund, and thus, fixing
the farmer and his family more per-
manently to the soil, will prevent
the depopulation of the country"
This organization does, in truth,
among the farm hands, and it's ten
dency is without doubt to bind them
more closely to the land they cult
vate. WOrkingmen in France, young
or old, in city or country, will not
leave a. situation which promises
them a comfortable pension for old
age and which they have partially
paid for by their labor, for No people
in the world think more of providing
for old age than the French. In
fact, it is questionable whether the
( operation of this sentiment is favor
able to the Development of the best
interests of the nation or of the best
that is in the people. The fear of
mourning obligations which may in
terfere with the enjoyment of u 500
income in old age may be one of The
reasons for the much taIked-of de
population of France
LOCAL FARMERS LIBRARIES.
Conspicuous in the work of the
syndicates is the creation of a library
in eaon locality where a society
exists. l noticed in one library IA
work written by Claude Silvestre,
the assistant secretary of the South.
eastern Union, whose headquarters
is in Lyons. 1t consists of two fine
volumes, and is at once u history of
each of the syndicates of the south
east and Of the union. This book
demonstrates most emphatically the
interest taken in this region in Civ
ing u complete development to the
law of 1884. Two hundred and fifty
copies + numbered and printed on
light handmade paper, and, while
the work brings to the attention of
the rustic farmer two volumes that
would prove Il most acceptable Orna-
ment to the library of an accom-
plished bibliOphlle, it contains IL con
else history of the societies thus far
rg4nized in this Section Of France,
with d complete guide for future or
CARNATIONS.
This Southeastern Union, which is
called the model uniori of France,
comprises 264 syndlcates, numbers
0 1000 members and the
business of the s~yndicates in ten de-
partments It's President, Mr.. Emile
DupOrt, is n of the most intelli
gent and actl2e men IN the rural
population Of France
MISCELLANEOUS.
Interference in private affairs,
which some ecOnOluc writer's de-
nounce as pAternalism, is a very CON
spiCuOuS feature in the Government
OF France. Its introduction into the
body plitic synchrOnized with the
social and political changes which
were the result of the great revolu-
ton of 1889. Is was then laid down
as d fundamental principle that taxes
should fall upon the individual clti
zen in proportion to his ability to
bear them. The direct application
Of this doctrine is made first among
the farmers, because they are be-
lieved I'd bear the bulk of the burden
of taxation. If the farmers of u GER
tain district suffer from drought, in.
undatiOn, OF other cause for which
they are not resp nsiOle, is is deemed
the bounden duty of the government
to come to their rescue. The farm
ers are generally believed to be less
able to fight the battle OF life than
the manufacturers, merchants, and
bankers Of the city, and therefore
the National Government a few
years ago loaned them 40, 600, 900
francs (S7, 72O, OOO) as u capital from
which agricultural banks and insur-
ance companies could bo organized.
This sum is loaned for five years,
but it is believed to be but the he