The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-05-19
Some Glass Legislation in Vermont.


All over the eastern states there
seems to be an organized effort on the
part OF certain city interests to be,
little and attack farmers and farm IN
terests. Perhaps the most remarkable
case of this sort that we have seer
comes from Vermont. The editor OF tbs
Rutland Herald. in recent speech be
fore the Rotary club. warned the
members that unless the larger towns
in Vermont look out, and take steps
to fight the influence, the farmer rep
resentation in the state Legislature vii
be virtually confscating the property
of the town jewellers He pointed out as
an example, the $3.50, 900 appropriation
for eradication of bovine tuberculosis
in the state. Rutland doctors had in
formed him that there was no connec
ton between tuberculosis in human be
inps and the same disease in cattle
The measure was solely class legisla
ton, he said, furnishing funds directly
for the farmer with absolutely no di
rect benefit for those engaged in othel
occupations.
"Mr. Hindley advised that taxpay
ers' league. be formed, the object o.
which would be TO test the constitu
tionality of that which he termed clas'
legislation"
This is a small exhibition of th'
spite and meanness which is being ex
hibited by certain city men everywhere
The people of Vermont asked the leg
islature 10 appropriate 100000 annu
ally for two years for work ~ eradi
eating bovine tuberculosis. The legis
lature was almost unanimous in pass
ing the bin. Everyone understood abou
1.-THE matter was fully discussed
There was no class legislation abou
il unless you include all Vermonters u
the class. The state of Vermont i
fully dependent upon her agricultur,
for prosperity. The other New England
states have great manufacturing inter
ests or enormous fisheries aud bu
limited manufacturing. She must lool
to her agriculture for support to al
extent not equalled by any other east
ern state. And dairying is the form o
agriculture best suited to the rugged
features Of Vermont. IL is the leading
industry. and the pastures and mead
ows are the chief assets. Dairyinl
brought 20 Vermont farmers last yeai
total of S27 POI ,sl3, and in addition
to this there were large sales OF sur
plus cattle.
Thus, dsirying is not small part O
the business Of Vermont people-it II
the business of Vermont. The state
could not live without il. II is thu
foundation upon which Vermont bust
ness is built. Wipe it out and RUTLAND
would be little more than a rut in thu
land-a collection of empty houses
Therefore, to speak of Legislation
! which would benefit this foundation
industry as class Legislation" is foo
talk, for dairying helps TO butter ever.
biscuit eaten in the state. One NIGH
expect such an outbreak of senseles
reasoning in Boston or New York, TO
there we have people so far removed
from the farm that they cannot be ex
pected TO understand. but IL is discour
aging 70 realize that the germ an,
bitterness of this anti-farmer though
has actually struck into Nermont-thl
one eastern state which owes her yer,
existence 20 dairying.
IL would seem As If the merest chill,
ought Ia be- able TO see that IL the stat
Of Vermont can in any way reduce tn
number of tuberculous COWS il woul'
mean great things for her dsirymen
and thus TO every Vermont citizen
The entire world is now up in arms il
q hot fight against this disease. Tn
public IL learning TO use more milk, bu
each year they will demand eleane
milk. or milk beyond suspicion. Tn
farm. the section and the state whicl
can give a clean bill Of health for II
cows viii lead the procession in provid
I inc milk and cattle Vermont has no
done anything within the past - year
which viii give her more helpful adver
/ Using with the rest 81 the eountr!
than this evidence that she j. williu,
10 put MP her money 10 safeguard IN
foundation Of her leading industry. Ne
here b. q small soul calling . "elas
legislation and in the same hreatl
I calling fer more class legislation IN b.
/ ta1psvers' lszCnc7 He might perhap
claim that this money vii not - prop
{ erly spFui. buf 20 rank = business =
/ proposifi for the entire state e
-risss irrislation7 b. worse than uoh
serse Rural New Yorker.