The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-11
Big Event Of South County Cat
Ito Show Successful.
MANY STATE OFFICIALS THERE
State Executive Made Spesch-TsId Of
Needs Of Change In Organic Law.

The banner day OF the South County
Fair Is always Governors Day. and yes
terday was no exception. For about H.
900 people filed through the gates accord
ing to the estimates
The governor and other state officials
arrived just before noon and the first
feature was the exercise In Hazard hall.
Among the guests were Lieut. Gov.
Archamhault, Secretary Of State Charles
+. Bennett Congressman Adm B. Ca
prom. Adtt. Gen. Sackstt Assist AdJt.
Gen. Wetherell, Asst. Quartermaster Gen.
Webster knight, Asst. Surg. Gen. Les
ter S. Hin, Judge Advocate Gen. Walter
II. Stiness Thomas B. stockwell. Com
missioner Of Public Schools; Col James
IA Armington OF East Providence and
Hon George IA. Utter Of Westerly. for
mer Speakers OF the House OF Represen-
tatives; Chairman Frank E. Holden and
Secretary Nathan M. Wright of the Re-
publican state central committee; Judge
Nathan B. Lewis of the Second judicial
district; Executive Secretary Grieve;
Sapt James G. Collins, Clerk of the Shell
Fish Commission: Charles II. Rowland.
Clerk of the House Of Representatives:
Seustor Horton of Cranstop, Senstor
Cross of Charlestown, George p. Batch
eler of woonsocket r. L. Marchant. Mas
ter Of the State Grange and Col William
Goddard.
President Hazard read a telegram Of
regret from Gov. Batchelder OF New
Hampshire and then introduced governor
Garyin az the speaker of the day.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH
Gov. Garvin said in part:
For many years the cry has been
heard that tho farming sections OF New
England are falling of In population and
wealth. As compared with the cities
and manufacturing towns the truth OF
the statement must he admitted Con-
trssting Washington county, which is
chiefly agricultural, with that portion
OF Providence county which Is outside
OF its principal city and which is largely
manufacturing. we find the advance In
population and wealth for 1890 to 1900 to
be as follows: Washington county--In-
crease OF wealth per cant. increase of
population 505 or n little over per cent;
Providenos county exclusive Of city of
Provtdence) )-Increase OF wealth 20 per
cent. Increase of population So,107. or a
little over "a per cent.
'In Rhode Island this lack Of progress
has been attributed to tho abandonment
OF the farms by tho moro enterprsins
members OF families, with the accompa-
nying charge that those who remain upon
the old homesteads are needless OF ad-
allow meadow land TO run out and pas
ture land TO grow up; that, in a word,
they are lazy In mind. II not I'm body.
Now, II Is true that success In agri-
culture as I'm other lines OF business
depends very much upon the capacity
OF the individual. II Is not unusual to
see well-cultivated farm side by side
with another. possessing equal natural
advantages, which is ali run out. But
why Is II that 70 large proportion Of
the farms are tnperfectly cultivated,
that so many Of them SCARCELY provide
a living for their owners. and that farm
Ink land ie 80 exceedingly cheap 1t N
attributabie. In my opinion. not to the
degeneracy of the old New England stock
bit 10 an alteration In the environment
NEED JUST LAWS
''I hear two stories about the farmers
and the laws. The story which comes
from the farmer is that legislation is all
against him; the story which we hear
govern the state. Tho two statements do
not seem consistent. II the country towns
really govern the state. why do they not
pass laws In their own INTEREST,"
The fact is that, whilst the small
towns have an unduly large representa-
tion in tho General Assembly. they derive
little advantage. but receive much injury
from legislation.
THE reason for this anomalous situa-
ton is that the laws are drawn up by a
few men whose interests are In the cities.
and who make use OF the representatives
OF the towns to accomplish their own
selfish ends IL any citizens of small
towns reap benefit from the passage OF
laws granting special privileges, II Is
few politicians and not the masses Of the
population. Five-cent fares upon street
railways for all time. state tax limited
forever TO / per cent OF their gross re-
ceipts-these and similar acts creating
monopolies. are n tremendous burden up
on the people, including residents OF the
country towns
What the farmers and fishermen OF
the state need I'm the way OF legislation IL
not special or class enactments In their
behalf. but the substitution OF just laws
which shall enable them to get and keep
the wealth which they produce.
1T would not be class legislation for
the state 10 pay more largely toward the
support OF public schools and highways.
thus lessening the necessity OF imposing
heavy taxes for local purposes I'm the
(sparsely settled sections OF the state.
The present system OF taxation, taking
Into account It's direct and indirect ef-
fects, Is very largely responsible for the
decadence OF farming here. Neither the
can shift the burden OF his annual tax
from his own shoulders 20 others whilst
the taxes OF the merchant and the manu-
facturer are transferred IN the main 10
their customers.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
After a selection by the band. the pre.
siding officer introduced Prof Kenyon
L. Buttsrfeld. president Of the Rhode
Island college. who delivered n very
able and interesting address. lie said
that as native of Michigan he fel,
that he had a peculiar opportunity IN
speaking to the people OF Rhode Island
70. Michigan owed q big debt 10 this
state. The date. Sept. 10. was the anni-
Of a day that meant much 10
Michigan by reason of the sallantry of
p son OF Rhode Island. oliver Hazard
Perry. President Butterfeld also paid a
warm tribute 10 another Rhode Island
man. ,ames n. Angel. president of the
~ Michigan. whose lahors had
raised chat institution 20 the first ranks
In EDUCATIONAL importance. He said that
he did not expect his work IN this state
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