160 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



introduction of our tobacco, shall we allow our industry to 

 be broken down by them ? By our own laws of protection 

 to home industries our agriculturists are obliged to submit to 

 heavy taxes upon articles of daily use and necessity. Shall 

 the farmers have no protection? The cigar manufacturer 

 says " The farmer needs none." " When he is driven from 

 the production of one article he can take up another." Is 

 this right? 



While the manufacturers are able to raise millions of 

 money to be expended in influencing legislation, shall we be 

 altogether inactive in regard to our interests ? Our legisla- 

 tors should act for the people. The agriculturists are in 

 strong majority. Let us be united in our appeals to them, 

 showing them that we are in earnest. 



We only ask for such protection to our interests as shall be 

 just and equitable, for such an equalization of all taxes, as 

 that no industry shall be burdened, but protected. 



Or in the language of the late Tariff Commission, " See 

 that justice is done to all existing interests." 



Adjourued until afternoon. 



Afteenoon Session. 



The meeting was called to order at two o'clock by Mr. 

 Geinnell. 



The Chairman. The first thino^ which we will attend to 

 this afternoon, before the essay on poultry, will be to have a 

 discussion on the question of raising aud marketing tobacco. 

 Mr. Thaddeus Graves of Hatfield is one of the largest 

 growers of tobacco in the country. I will ask him to come 

 forward and tell us something in regard to the production of 

 tobacco, and answer such questions as you may ask. 



Mr. Geaves. I listened with a great deal of pleasure to 

 the remarks made by Mr. Smith. I listened to him with 

 peculiar pleasure, from the fact that I found myself in agree- 

 ment with him upon most of the statements made in regard 

 to tobacco cultivation. 



For the past twenty-five years, the cultivation of tobacco 



