New-York tribune., 1918-03-15
Promised Much, but Gave
Little, Federation of Agri-
culture Speakers Say
Denounce Price Fixing
Abolition of Food Commission
and Farms and Markets
Council Demanded
[Sfof Correspondence


Federation of Agriculture, at meeting
here to-day. attended by about four
hundred tilcrs of the soil ard fruit
and stock growers, adopted resolutions
demanding the abolition of the Council
of Farms and Markets and the State
Food Commission, censured the Fed
cral government for pricehXing and
declared that john Mitchell is good
labor leauer, but useless as farmer
and as the head of the Farms and Mar
ket Council Various speakers attacked
the Governor for what they considered
maladminlstration of the state govern
ment where its functions affect the
welfare of the farmers.
John Dillon. former head of tne
State Food Commission and Demo
crat; Samuel Fraser, OF Geneseo; Seth
j. T. Bush, of Morton, Monroe County;
Charles W Burkett. of the American
Agriculturist" Arthur I. Benson, OF
Dover Plains. and others took rap
at the powers that be" in the Whit
man administration, and altogether
they added to the gloom of the day IN
Dutchess County. The courthouse is d
rather sombre place in bright weather,
but with the aid of the dlsgruntled
farmers it was funereal.
Now and then some one contributed
Il remark that frightened things up.
as. for instance, while questions were
being asked. a io"ose philosopher
asked: Can any one lie a good Chrls-
tian and Il farmer at one and the same
time ." Every granger forgot ms
troubles long enough to enjoy hearty
laugh at this.
In the middle of John Dillon's
speech Paul c. Woodruff, Of Columbia
County. interrupted him, saying:
"Mr. Speaker the thing for us farm
ers to DO is to get behind man that
we have confidence in and nominate
him for Governor, and if We don't elect
him this fall, keep at it until we do
elect him-I nominate John Dillon tor
Governor
Mr. Dillon blushed, held up his hand
deprecatingly. as the applause drowned
his voice, and finally said:
You have other men here, waving
toward Secretary Bush and Samuel
Fraser. "who would do better as your
candidate than | would"
1t was noticed that Mr.. Dillon did
not thrust aside the protfered crown,
but he seemed relieved when some of
the delegates muttered something
about it being a nominating conven-
ton.
Secretary Bush read the platform
and explained some of the paragraphs.
in addition to demanding the aboli-
ton OF the Council of Farms and
Markets and the Food Commission,
the platform calls for an admnistra-
tion of the agricultural affairs of the
state without the interjection of poll
ties. Another thing opposed was gov
crament Price fixing Exemption of
farmers and farm laborers by draft
boards was asked. The platform favors
the adoption ot. the Federal woman
suffrage amendment, the standardlza-
tion Of farm tools and the repeal OF
the present township school law.
Arthur !. Benson, of Dover Plains,
seemed to think it was in bad taste for
DR.. John II. Finley, of the Depart
ruert of Education, to be educating
his twelve-year-old boy in France.
Samuel Fraser, presiding, said that
the most important business Of the na~
ton was the war. He said food pro-
duction for 1918 would not equal that
of 1917 unless the farmers had addi-
tional labor and capital
Because Calvin ]. Huson, of the
Council of Farms and Markets, had adj
vised the farmers to plant spring
Weld 10 average thirty bushels to the
acre, he came in for criticism. He was
"whereased7 nine times and "resolved
four times all in one document, and
told over and over again that he dlo
not know his business.
Il respect the office of Governor
said Charles W. Burkett. "but we've
got to give somebody jar" and ther
he proceeded to give the short ane
ugly word" 10 Governor Whitman, WIZ
whom he is "through," he said.
half He said that old and beneticia
laws had been repealed by deceit anc
trickery and that the states money hat
been snent TO satisfy the selfish per
sonal ambitions Of politician Th'
Presidents appeal to the farmers t.
increase food production was in vain
he declared. in view Of the govern
ment's foolish course with the agrlcul
eurists. He said there was q CROWN,
and potatoes were keeping up to th
marx. He declared that while Charlie
Wieting was in charge Of the Depart
rnent Of Agriculture there were NOR
political scandals in the office thai
ever Nefore. Mr.. Dillon urged tn
dairymen 20 organize their own deliv
cry system in New York, delivering
their milk direct to the delicatesse1
stores. He advocated the election 0
ture next fall.
Samuel Fraser introduced set o
resolutions setting forth that Gov
ernor Whitman, following the Syracus
convention on February 20, had assure
the farmers that they could have wha
they wanted; that the federation &C
cepted this proposition in good fait
and asked for the abolition of tn
State Food Commission and the Farm
and Markets Council; that the Gov
ernor has since appointed Farms an
Markets Council No. 2; that Governo
Whitman appointed John Mitche
chalrToa ar Of the State Food Commits
sion. and as such he has revealed hi
lacl. o. knowledge of agricultural ma,
hat the federation indorses job
Mitchell az labor leader, but not a
A. cul1lral leader; that il ia no,
proye that the State Food Commi,
son - not only unnecessary. but
I. vase Of millions Of doilars of puf
hc funds; and. finally, the federatio
ayain urges the Immediate and abst
lute repeal Of the laws creating I'll
state Foxd Commission and the Farm
and Markets Council.
his set II resolutions was adopte
without dissent, az was nearly ever,
thing else proposed by the leader
There was one exception. Some fsen
tried 70 put through word Of prais
for State Senator James f.. Towner,
the DutchcSs County district, and tn
fne federation turned down.
A collection of about $3.50 Was raise,
The next meeting will be held In KIM
rffL4flu ro Mavcn m