256 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
the labor-saving machines, and also they have great reason to 
complain of the laws that constantly subject them not only to ex¬ 
orbitant and extortionary prices, but to constant imposition from 
the vendors of useless and fraudulent patents. These things 
should be speedily corrected by a modification or repeal of all 
patent laws that protect monopoly and imposition. 
As civilization has advanced, and the laws that govern labor 
become better understood, the division of labor has done much to 
facilitate and increase the power of production. One person en¬ 
gages in agriculture, another in horticulture, another in tanning 
of hides, another is a cabinet maker, a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a 
silversmith, a merchant, a weaver, a tailor, a machinist, a printer, 
a doctor, a lawyer, a minister or a book-binder, and so on. By 
this division of labor, not only the convenience but ability and 
wealth of all are greatly argumented. 
And by this division of labor, trade and commerce is gotten up 
and carried on between all crafts and sections of the world. 
Commerce is the exchanging of the productions of one section 
of the country, and of the various employments, for those of an¬ 
other, and this calls for the labor and capital of those engaged in 
providing commercial facilities and in operating railroads and 
steam or sail vessels, and various other modes of exchange and 
transportation. 
This habit or practice of exchanging, is the stimulus to labor, 
and is the vivifying power that quickens each department of in¬ 
dustry to it 3 utmost production, because it enables each to ex¬ 
change whatever portion it produces over and above its wants, for 
other commodities which will contribute more to their comfort 
and enjoyment. 
Farm labor being the most necessary that a populous country 
possesses, ought to have every encouragement that is consistent 
with the general welfare. A class so essentially necessary to the 
communitv should not be comnelled to submit to the exactions 
•J A 
of a privileged few who are engaged in carrying on the trade and 
commerce of the country. 
Heretofore every other interest has seemed to combine to pro¬ 
mote class interest and obtain class legislation, while the farmer 
Las neither protected his own interest or been protected by those 
