Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-02-16

Hon. II. F. Baker, Speaker OF the
House Of Representatives Speaks
TEACHERS MEET WITH POMONA
Prof. N. 4. Cobb of the Normal School at Mt.
Pleasant also Addresses the Gathering

There was a joint meeting OF the
Gratiot county teachers and the
Gratiot County Pomona Grange at
the opera house at Ithaca, Saturday,
February II. Owing 10 the fact that
the Glow murder trial was being con-
Quoted in the court house the meet
ing was held in the opera house in
stead OF as first planned in the court
house. The attendance was very
good, but was visibly affected by the
fact that a large number preferred to
attend the sensational trial instead
Of the educational gathering.
The principal speeches OF the after
noon were given by Hon. H. F.
Baker, speaker of the present house
OF representatives of Michigan, State
Representative Chambers of Ithaca,
and Prof NJ. A. Cobb of the Central
State Normal school at Mt. Pleasant.
The speakers were introduced by the
Grange lecturer, Mrs. Geo. Lake
Mr. Bakers speech bore at all times
on the relation of the farmer to state
and national legislation. He first ex-
planned his position as speaker on the
question of salaries for clerks of the
state senate and house of representa-
tives for Sundays. He ruled that
there should be no payment made to
the minor officials of the capital for
Sundays This ruling, though op-
posed strongly in some quarters was
finally upheld by the attorney who
said that the speaker had no right to
do otherwise than he had The case
has been carried to the Supreme
court He explained how the present
agitation over the tonnage tax bill
came about. For four years this bill
has been brought up only to be put
into the hands of an adverse commit
tee by the speakers OF former years,
where it was pigeon-holed. This bill
refers to the taxation of mines, the
most important OF which are in the
upper peninsula.
Turning TO more general questions,
the speaker showed how, as the inn
the number of farmers in them de-
creased, and on the other hand how
the opposite was true OF lawyers
B )ards of supervisors have more
farmers than any other classes of
men. State legislatures have some
forty per cent of farmers, state sem
ates have less, the national house OF
representatives has not more than
one or two farmers perhaps, while
the national senate has none. On the
only about one one-hundredth OF the
proportion of population that the
farmers do, have almost reverse of
the percentages in the various legis-
lative bodies. This the speaker ex-
planned was 10 great extent because
Of lack of interest displayed by the
farmers in political matters outside
Of their own narrow limitations. But
by leaving the legislation in the hands
OF the lawyers the farmers found that
While the farmer owns fifty per cent
of the wealth of the country. he pays
seventy-hve per cent of the taxes.
Mr.. Baker showed how trusts made
more on their capital than farmers,
but attributed a large part of this TO
difference in business methods. The
steel trust. for instance, with capi-
tai of $50 millions of dollars, had
gross receipts some years of nearly
seven -eighths of that amount. The
Standard Oil company have gross
receipts each year of twice their cap
italization High prices were laid at
the doors OF the various trusts. The
speaker stated that he believed in a
high protective tariff and gave his
reasons. They were that the tariff
benefits the farmer in that it built up
industries in cities which gave a mar
ket for the farmers crops He took
his own situation for an example.
His potatoes are almost worthless to
him. but ii there was a large market
near his home they would be worth
from thirty to forty cents a busheL
As far as reciprocity with Canada was
concerned, Mr. Baker thought that
it would not be detrimental To the
Michigan farmers because of the rela-
lively higher prices OF goods in To-
ronto and other Canadian markets
than in the United States. Speaking
of woman suffrage, bill looking
toward which has just recently been
killed in the legislature. Mr.. Baker
said that he thought the question
ought to be submitted TO direct
vote OF the people OF the state.
Mr. Baker was followed by State
Representative Chambers. Mr.. Cham