St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-09-03
A NOTABLE GATHERING.
Secretary Wilson and Senator Proctor
at Barton Landing.

Secretary Wilson and Senator Proctor
at Barton Landing.
1t is not often that small gathering o
farmers in northeastern Vermont have The
privilege of listening to two such dis
tingushed men as a cabinet officer and a
United States senator, but this privilege
was given the people of Barton Land.
ing Wednesday afternoon, when Secre-
tary Or Agriculture, James H. Wilson,
and Senator Red6eld Proctor addressed
one of the summer meetings held Under
the directors Of the State Agricultural
board
The meeting was held in the Methodist
church and Secretary Bell of the state
board presided. Ernest Hitchcock OF
Pittsford, a member of the state board,
spoke on tuberculosis which he termed
the most important matter before YER
mont farmers today. He compared the
situation in Vermont with that in other
states, showing that at present the
disease has not gained great hold here
and what there is could be stamped out
II every cattle owner should cooperate
with the cattle commission in their work.
Senator Proctor was warmly greeted
when he arose to speak and in a brief
address told something of the work in
concerning agricultural and
dairylng matters. He spoke of the
oIeomargarine bill which he believed was
very good one and which was already
proving beneficial. He said that he was
permitted to have charge of the bill in
the senate and did his share of the fight
ing and shared in the honor OF the
victory, but in this he reaped where he
had not sown, for the final success of
the bill was due to the hard labor of
General Grout and he said that he was
very happy to so state it.
Secretary Wilson's address was upon
some branches of work done by his de-
partment, and for over an hour he spoke
very interestingly.
He said he was Just a plain Iowa far
mer appointed to office by President
Mckinley and continued by President
Roosevelt with the admonition to get I'D
early and work for the interest of the
Vermont farmer. No man can be in Mr..
Roosevelt's cabinet and sleep too much.
He said that So per cent OF our exports
come from the farm in one form or an
other and that one-half of the peonle
under the American flag live on farms.
Mr.. Wilson complimented Mr.. Proctor
by saying that he did not take half
credit enough for the work he had done
in putting the department of agriculture
IN shape. In referring to rural free deliy
cry the speaker said if every farmer in
Vermont does not have his mail delivered
let HIM ask bis congressman about it and
he Will get it. He spoke of the various
sub,departments under his charge, and
explained the work of the weather
bmeau, and the bureaus of animal and
plant industry.
TWAS allexceedingly interesting and the
speaker received the closest attention of
those present. After the meeting the
secretary said that the privilege of
addressing an audience like that was
worth crossing the continent for.
Col. L. M. Mansur of Newport, was
present and the distinguished visitors
were his guests at Newport for a few
hours after the meeting and they returned
to Barton Landing to address repubIi.
can ra1lv in tho avan;, L