New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-01
WHAT FARMERS WANT.

body Wnlcn EXPRESSES luo wants
of this great army of voters must
certainly be listened to respectfully 10y
any political party. The Farmers Congress-
which ct at ST. Paul, was formed to give eX-
preston to the wishes Of farmers as such.
1t is intended to make the institution pcrma-
ncnt ono, and measures were taken on Thurs
day for its incorporation under the laws Oh
the United States as "Thc Farmers Congress
of the United States" to which delegates are
10 be sent by farmers assemblies in each State,
in the ratio of one for each Senator and Repre-
sentative in Congress. With regular sessions
each year. IL is proposed thus TO have the Will
Of the farming population definitely eXpresscd
by selected representatives from the different
States. The debate and the action OF the
Congress at St. Paul deserve attention, the
more because in these days many appeals arc
made by demagogucs to the interests or pref
ndices of the farming population, and 1t Is de-
sirablc to know what opinions are really heid
by the farmers themselves.
The resolutions reported by committee
were not passed, as is usual in political con-
yentions, with loud hurrah and without
sober consideration They were taken up
separately and discussed on their merits. and
it is stated that very few were passed as re-
portcd without some alteration. Among them
appear resolutions approving the olcomargarne
law and urging its faithful enforcement favor
ing the development Of system OF water
WAYS asking the intervention OF the general
Government to prevent unjust restrictions py
foreign powers against the Importation OF
American farm products; and advocating
large appropriation for the suppression oil con-
tagiOus diseases among animals. Inc rcSo-
lutions also ask that a ID partment OF Agn-
culture be created, with a Cabinet officer at
| lis head. and proceed to deal explicitly with
| fonr important topics. the expansion OF inc
Signal Service, the suppression OF speculative
trading, the regulation of railway traffic, and
The protection of industry by duties on imports
The farmers evidently appreciate the Signal
Service, which was established under Repuh-
hcan administrations. and which the Democrats
in power have threatened to cripple, or to
turn into an asylum for broken down political
hacks The extension Of the service would
unouestionably be Of great benefit to agr-
culture There shOnd be connected win II
= burcau of information regarding the acreage
| and the condition OF growing crops, by which
frequent reports should DC made public Inc
| reports of suoh bureau, connected with the
| forecasts of the weather which an extended
| Signal Service would be able to make, would
| have incstimable value, not only TO the pro-
| duccrs but to all legitimate and honest deal
crs. An exceedingly important feature o.
the proceedings is that the farmers themselves
| do not appear to have been dcluded by the
| pretcnccs OF gamblers in products, who have
| taken pains for some years past TO persuade
| the farmers that they are benefited 10y whal
| is called "a large market" The real pro-
| ducers see that gambling in products is per
nlcjous that it causes wild and unreasonable
| fluctuations in prices, and that it tends on the
whole TO force prices unreasonably low, and TO
| DEPRIVE labor of It's Just reward. The con-
vcntion therefore cmphatcally asks State pro-
hbtlon OF al speculation in products for future
| delivery.
The cost of transportation is vital matter
to all farmers. A change in freight rates Is
virtually change in the value of farms. II
is not strange that the convention OF farmers
insists upon the regulation Of interstate traffic.
not because rates now cXacted are on the whole
excessive, but because their frequent and arbit-
rary changes are pcrncious to producers. As
10 methods the convention could not agree
upon either Of the bills pending at Washing
ton part favored the Cullom bill, which was
passed by the Senate. and part the Reagan
hill, which was passed by the House, and The
matter was pOslponed for further considers
ton. But the Congress had no difficulty u,
reaching a decision on the tariff After long
and full discussion, resolutions were adopted
which appear to bc IN full accord with the
true interests of farmers
The protection Of American labor was IA
vored 10y the convention, notwithstanding the
Democratic plea that a protective tariff taxes
| ,hc farmer and confers on him real benefit
Sham farmers, who cultivate political fields
exclusively. and Southern planters who have
never learned the blessing of free labor in the
fullest and best sense, accept these notions
But the real producers Of the West know thai
The harmonious development of other indus
tries is necessary to their prosperity, in order
to give them a sure and growing market for
their products Accordingly. the resolution
adopted in favor of the defence Of American
industry was greeted with hearty applause.
The resolution especially asked the restoration
Of the wool duties of 1867 whereas the Dem
ocraic party in Congress proposes TO put
wool OH the free list, and it also favored a
continuance of The duties on rice and sugar
IL only remains TO remark that the farmers can
serve their true interests this year 10y giving
heavy majOritics to Republican tickets iii Their
respective States.
ANOTHER SIGN or PROGRESS