Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-08-13

bard of Middlebury. Of course there
were many others to help, but these are
some noticed while we stood in line
for our cones.
At one o'clock the stable of Morgan
horses owned by the government was
exhibited AS the animals, carefully
groomed and seemingly even instructed
regarding the Importance of holding
their heads up and displaying their best
steps TO the huge crowd, were led
around the ring an announcer reading
the geneaology of each.
The speaking was held under ideal
conditions. The heat in the morning
may have been depressing on account of
the humidity, but at 2 clock the crowd
was able to welcome a cooling breeze.
Seated in the shade of the overspread-
ing trees, the thousands could listen in
comfort to the messages of their cham
pions, William E. D. Rummell, assis-
tant secretary of the National Fedora
tion, and Professor Charles Wheelr,
lecturer of the Connecticut State
Grange and professor of engineering at
the famous agricultural college at
Storrs. Prof Wheeler led the com
munity singing that preceded the
speeches and afterwards spoke on the
subject of agriculture.
When E. B. Cornwall, who presided,
introduced Mr.. Rummell, the crowd
seemed to draw little nearer and sit
up more alert, as if unwilling to lose
single word. His reputation as an ora
tor had come before him, since he had
made several addresses in the county to
the meetings Of farmers. Many who
heard him at the picnic expressed the
opinion that he was the most eloquent
speaker who ever addressed gathering
of farmers in the county. Mr.. Rummell
is touring the country in the interests
of the farm bureau organization and
visited Addison County first in New
England to promote the work of affilia-
tion with the national federation. He
stressed the fact that the farmer is all
most alone in his state of disorganiza-
ton. He pointed out that the saliva
ton of the agricuturists lay in their
banding together for their common in
terests, for the marketing of their pro-
duct and the maintenance of their
rights. By organizing to buy and to sell
the farmers become independent of the
middleman, which is only one of its
many benefits. The Farm Bureau is the
means by which the accomplishment of
the union is brought about.
In the afternoon, while the grown-ups
were listening to Mr.. Rummel and Mr.
Wheeler, the children grouped around
Judge John E. Weeks of Middlebury
and were soon wrapt in attention while
one of the greatest benefactors of
children in the County told them the
boyhood lessons that had influenced his
after life. He emphasized the value
of thrift, saying that its spirit is
paramount in the molding of the man
or woman who desires to make a sue
cess in life. When he asked how many
of the youthful audiences held bank
accounts, ninety raised their hands.
No account of picnic of the size of
Wednesdays gala event could be com
plete without recognition of the pres
ence of the politicians. Handshaking
and cigars of varying strength were
much in evidence None of the guber-
material candidates, however, invaded
the grounds to disturb things by the
suggestion of the possibility of the old
time thirst quencher in the next picnic
if their respective campaigns were
bolstered.
But the county and town Office seekers
were there a-plenty, hurrying hither
and thither. Perhaps they were listen
ed to, but to our mind the farmers were
more interested in the merits of the
different tractors, the horses, the lunch
and the speaking, and among farmers
where could politics find room in pro-
gram like that?