The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-03
n THE FARMERS INTEREST.
rbo Husbandmen's Congress Meets to
Consider Questions of Importance.
,n,raI Address of President Beverly-List
N If delegates representing Several States
Various Committees Appointed.
-. Farmers Congress of the United State

-. Indiana State Board or Agriculture, and
..1lsd to order by its president. About
"x4rsve members were present the officers
President Robert Beverly, The Plains,
% secretary, Ion B. Hall, Louisville, KY;
e.. r-osdepts A. B.'Smith, Kentucky; A. J.
=, S,'TJh;rter. Tenn; j. B. Conner, Indiana; E. G.
Wa Mississippi The congress is the most
1.:.oee-like body representing agricultural in
....ois that ever met in this city, being COM
.s If intelligent, practical men, many of
-, have had great experience, not only in
- farming industries, but in State and
national legislation.
The following are the delegates and the States
they represents
Iowa-Edward Campbell, J. w. Miles, M.
D;upsns iG"n ". Fl. McCulloch, D. III. Woodfil, A.
B. BnHIinois@W. HnoiSW O. Wilson, Paris.
Kontncky-T. c. Anderson E. D. Powell. I.
Nan. NJ. B. Moody, Scott Brown, A. b.
pcn;tb Richard Waters, Emery Whitaker.
onNI Nav Jersey-N. B. Smith, Smithville; Theo-
,oro Budd. Pemberton; H. J. Budd, Mount
fFnlIv s. Fl. Chambers, Mount Holly; joseph
wills wills Rancoens j. G. Gaskell Birmingham B.
bacon, Eyrestown:
Tennessee-A. j. McWhlrter, Nashville; G
p n;h.ell. SPARTA N. n. Cox, Franklin; John
~ Jonse, Sweot~,steT; = = IT. Cameron, London
4 g. Cockrell, Nashville; Joel B. Fort, Spring
Spd: J. c. Albernethy, Ray Springs.
Mnnesota-Springer Harbaugh, ST. Paul; j.
Bookwalter, Vernon Center; A. K. Finseth, Ken
ron: NJ R. Brown, Crookston.
Mssouri--J NJ. Ming, James Z. Matson, Benz.
p Gather, w H. Terrell.
Mississppl-E. G. Field. Rosedale.
Vlreinia-D. Randolph Harrison, A. H. Drury
J. W. Flood Robert Beverly.
Kansas-A. w. Smith, Mcpherson; A P. San
ders, Mound Valley; Matt Edwards McLouth.
Indana-Samuel Hargrave, Union; Henry J.
Johnson, Locgootee; D. F. Wiley, Charleston;
W S. Cox, Greencastle; j. 2. Nicholson, New
Castle; David T. Morris, Union City; ]. N. Cot
tom Traders Point; j. L. Carson, Shelbyville;
James Goodwin, West Lebanon; A. w. Hendry,
Angola E: B. Gerber, Ligonier; John P. Oaks
IaPorte; Joseph Rippy, Syracuse: N. A. Nc
CuuZ, Rochester,; D. l.. Thomas, Rushville; r.
M Lockhart, Waterloo.
Governor Gray made speech welcoming the
delegates
PRESIDENT BEVERLY'S ADDRESS
President Beverly then delivered the follow
address, which was referred to the committee on
resolutions:
Gentlemen of the Farmers National Congress
Il congratulate you, on your reassembling in an
rual session, that important progress has been
made in the direction of determined aud intell-
gent cooperation in furtherance of their COM
mon interests by American farmers throughout
Che Union: and in this beautiful capital city of
the great State of Indiana. carved out of the
magnificent gift of the Mother Of States to the
Union, is fitting place for us to counsel together
for the good of the whole Nation.
Gentlemen, the views Of leading agriculturists
are assuming a broader and more comprehensive
scope The bitterness of sectional issues is rap
idly dying out, and the way seems clear for
peace and good will between all those whose
great business is the foundation stone of all
stable society, and of all good government every
where throughout the world.
The past year has been characterized by a
marked shri1kage of the prices of all the prod
ucts Of the earth. and the shrinkage has fallen
mainly upon the lower grades of all farm pro-
duee; is ever the case in all pursuits, uuskilled
and unthrifty husbandry must bear the brunt of
the decline. Cotton, sugar and tobacco are eX-
ceptons to the rule of poor crops, and the prices
Of these great staples promise to be remunera-
tive, Notwithstanding heavy yields. Sheep hus-
bandry is the branch of agricultural industry
which is, perhaps, more than all others de-
pressed, as it is distinctly the victim of mali
ciOus legislation directed against it, by nation
slegisature, in which that business which gives
epployment to the majority and bread to all the
people has been so foully dealt with SO often
without protest. being practically with
out representation in either branch of
Congress, and consequently without voice
which anybody hears or heeds. The idea that
farmers have any grievances" is dealt with as a
Joke by professional politicians and partisan
political press under their control. They know
not my friends, the men with whom they have
70 deal. We have not claimed to have 'griev-
iaces, but we do claim to have rights which we
are resolved to maintain, and powers we are re-
solved to exercise in our own behalf There are
lgsatlVe measures and legal reforms necessary
iOr our own interest, and essential to the we'll be-
lagof the Nation, which can only be carried by a
majority of the people, against the rings, and
n y6 &hnir o%4 Hn IN
nation with political bosses, have SO long mis-
| governed this country. If such misgovernment
INSPIRED by such combination of corrupt in
nuences, be farmers grievance, it
Ti,. equally grievance IT.. to every! every
isgrieyance common to all callines and to ali
honest and patriotic citizens. We feel a deep
sense of of the respoDs sib biities which rest upon
US We see that between the artisans and
!Aoorne men of various trades and industrial
occupations who are from the necessities of their
business massed together in cities. towns, mining
ana manufacturing centers, on the one hand;
anu snl Inc great capitalists petted monopolists and
AeT political tools on the other hand q second
,s1epreSsibie conflict is beginning to be waged in
AN, nIs country, and we perceive, furthermore
sa as unless the great agricultural masses and
Ose OF the rural industries indirectly sup
ported ported BY the farm, conservative by nature, in
st t ages and in all communities, intervene to
~ .uSiorce upon both parties equitable and honor
M se peace, the day of civil tumult is not distant
II "uea will be followed by the dread excesses
dsspotism.
rra' ~ IS simple statistical fact that those who
ny rae ~ the plow a clear majority OF all the
rype OF the United States. 1t is impossible for
i smut our eyes to the fact that this majority
sbmoaecucally without voice or influence in the
H. of public affairs, or the conduct of pub
AMI DUSaess Tes In this Union, and in all the States
Ma. ierrltories which compose the Union.
eooS things ought not to be so, and there is no
jorrn. reason why we should suffer them any
eorToi,t 70 continue. This body, through your
ae United States three cantal G Measures sa for the
tor ,bt St t agriculture primarily, and secondarily
eyr .uo oeneht of all the people of every rank and
tarv' occupation, viz. The creation of a Secre-
lssss.@l Agriculture the extension of the