The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-08-13
FARMER LEGISLATORS.

In an article in the Brattleboro
Reformer, Representative John E.
Gale of Guilford, who took an active
part in perfec9ing the farmers organ.
ization in the Legislature of 1902,
writes as follows of that movement:
The farmer members Of the late
session of the Vermont Legislature
inaugurated a movement which may
we'll be, and undoubtedly will be
followed in every agricultural State
in the Union. The influence of the
farmers organizations, the grange,
dairymen's association. maple sugar
makers, bee keepers and fruit grow.
ers' associations, etc, has brought
these progressive farmers to a realiza-
zion of the fact that their greatest
weakness is in their lack OF organiza-
ton, and nowhere has this been so
forcibly demonstrated as in the legis-
lature, where the farmers have always
| held majority of the votes, but have
allowed themselves to be outgeneraled
without protest by those who often
times represented interests in direct
opposition to those of the farmers, or
of those of the people of the State in
general.
The Vermont Legislature of 1902
is generally admitted to have been
one of the strongest which this State
has had for many years The farmer
members took an unusually active
part in the work, and this was largely
due to the encouragement afforded
them by their organization, which
was perfected early in the session.
About $50 members were enrolled,
none but practical farmers being adj
mitted; an admission fee of one dollar
each was paid in for future use in the
course of business. Its officers were
president, secretary, treasurer, ex-
ecutive committee and legislative COM
mittee, A code of bylaws was care
fully drawn and adopted, and regular
meetings held in the State house each
week during session.
| Ditio VI opOOial ihuDlCst NCIO ule-
cussed. and plans arranged for intel
ligent and united action. In these
informal meetings ideals were brought
out and speakers developed which
would otherwise have had little or no
influence upon the floor; acquaint-
ances were formed here which had a
vast effect in the furtherance of a COM
mon cause, for all were united in the
attempt to promote the farmers inter
ests Within the organization there
was no partizanship, no corporate in
fiuence, no sinister motives. Thus for
the first time in the history of the
State did the farmer member fully
realize his power, his parity with the
strong men OF other vacations and
professions.
This organization will be per-
manent one, 1t will meet at the
State capital upon the converting of
the session of 1904. when the newly
elected farmer members will be en-
listed, and to the new body the legis-
lative committee of the organization
will present its report suggesting such
legislation as careful observation and
study of existing conditions may seem
to demand Thus the new organiza-
ton will have the advantage of
months of careful planning and will
be able to proceed in vigorous,
systematic and effective manner.
Through this influence it is believed
that many of the evil conditions
which now foster double taxation of
farm property, corporate exemption
from taxation, and other kindred
wrongs may be permanently re-
moved. -