The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-06
Agriculture in the Cabinet.

2 Agriculture IN the cabinet.
The project of charging the cabinet
SO as to include secretary of agricul-
ture is being urged again at Washing
ton. Certain newspapers also demand
that some farmer shall have place in
the next cabinet, with view of grant
ing suitable recognition to the great
importance of agriculture. 1t appears
TO be thought by many that a great ad-
vance will be secured in every depart
ment of agriculture if representative
of this industry is selected to be one
Of the presidents advisers. They de-
clare that farmers would take more |
pride in their calling if one of their |
number was in the cabinet. They |
state that farmers constitute the most
numerous class in the country, and
that their business, more than any
| other, conduces to the general pros
perity of the people. Some of the per-
sons who wish to substitute the secre-
tary of agriculture for an agricultural
commission do so in the hope that they
will secure the appointment. Others
favor the scheme because it affords
them an opportunity of saying some
very fattering things to farmers whose
votes or patronage they greatly desire.
A few probably think that secretary
of agriculture would have considera- c
BILE more patronage to distribute than s
a commissioner has, and that they can q
secure portion of it for themselves or c
their friends. n
1t is true in point of fact that but u
very little has been accomplished for l
agriculture by any person who has q
held the position of commissioner CT
Several interests like the growing of tea p
in the south and the production of su- W
gar in the north, have been encouraged CT
at the expense of large amount of Sc
money drawn from the public treasury.
These schemes have resulted in failure
md disappointment. Enterprises en-
outraged by the ''goyernmentfarmer" fl
lave been regarded with great favor q,
" credulors persons in all parts of 70
he country. The tea and sorghum m
experiments have resulted in the loss -,
+ many millions of dollars, which is RI
raceable to the department of agri- 90
ulture. 1t is probably true that In
sw OF our commissioners of ag- 10.
lculture have accomplished some ooI I
God. The failure to accomplish more ;ts
chiefly due to the Incompetency of th n
lie commissioners, and not to any lack
opportunity as to any restrictions vo
aced on the department. Elevating ~,
commissioner of agriculture to a po- ,uo
ton in the cabinet would not result H.
comforting any greater measure of obc
isdom, knowledge, or ability on him the
a. no poSSeoseu peiore. Inc DrA- firm
10y ~ ~ 'nI ~ ancrueu ny tallow thel
ting the source of luminosity from a Ill,
Die to the "sorry armament on 1s8:
yh." To- 10
Many of the people of the United v w
49, ~ onS 80 ~ eno BUSINESS " enal
. reo,,1 Ia' .no go'eihmenI - noe' with
90 Ill tL;.iS AZ IN 70 speI
,dition by so doing. The general are
7ernment supports and superin- be L.
DIS an army and navy, collects sa sal i
toms, administers justice, keeps up in I'm NJ
nmercial intercourse with foreign nan
ions, coins money, and disposes of bavi,
public lands. 1t is eminently .wea
per to place a person in charge of en,ie,
h of these departments of public were ware
vice, and to make them advisers of ro,,, y
president. The government, how do 10
T, is not engaged in the business of ;ted
ing corn, making cheese, or fatten- Wi
P ,,sS;,';s an 49,; nas no ocasloh tions
ha , ~ $50 !. .n1il oPerations. jects
eat industry by collecting Stats At
by performing experiments too other
ly for individuals to undertake, bic "
by spreading information OBJ 1e9s
ed from various sources before the 81 r..
lie. All these things, and some ;nsta'
rs, it attempts to do by means of Of Of t tt',
department. of agriculture. If it IN th I,t
npts to do more it is likely that IN h trs
manufacturing, mining, fishing. let's ;
numbering interests will call for ~, .
gnition, and demand representa- ola Pa
in the executive department of 81 4 90 u
general governments Chicago ba,i 8
s. p"i,