56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



together and acquaint them of the conditions likely to arise 

 out of a favorable vote by the people on this question. This 

 committee met on August 17, and after going over the matter 

 voted to present to the Constitutional Convention the following 

 protest: — 



Whereas, The passage of the anti-aid amendment in its present form 

 would prevent the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof 

 from encouraging agriculture by the granting of appropriations to agri- 

 cultural organizations ; and 



Whereas, It is the practice of all civilized countries to foster agriculture 

 by the pajnnent of bounties and otherwise, and European countries are 

 doing this even under war conditions, and this practice is now carried on 

 by practically all other States of the Union, and has been by Massachu- 

 setts for one hundred years; therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the State Board of Agriculture register a strong pro- 

 test against the discontinuance of State and county, or other govern- 

 mental aid, to agricultural organizations, and respectfully request that such 

 organizations be definitely exempted from the operation of the amendment. 



This resolution and the following letter were accordingly 

 mailed to the members of the Constitutional Convention, but 

 did not in any way change the vote, which was overwhelmingly 

 in favor of the amendment, and the decisive vote of the people 

 at the polls leaves no doubt in our minds that a change in our 

 laws along these lines is necessary. 



August 20, 1917. 

 To Members of the Constitutional Convention. 



I am enclosing copy of a resolution which was adopted by the executive 

 committee of the State Board of Agriculture at a meeting held Friday, 

 August 17, 1917. 



Very truly yours, 



Wilfrid Wheeler, 



Secretary. 



The effect of State aid to agriculture is of vast importance, 

 and while this vote does not of necessity mean that the State 

 will forbid aid to agriculture, it does mean that it will not con- 

 tinue its aid as in the past, — through incorporated agricultural 

 societies. 



The effect on this Board is to reduce it from a membership of 

 41 to 10, retaining those persons specifically mentioned in the 

 law (chapter 89, Revised Laws). 



