Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-25
FARMERS POLLED.
Canvass to Ascertain the Opinions
OF the Farmers.
Federal Aid to Agricultural Education
Fayored-Well Divided as to Rail-
road Ownership.
Blaine and Cleveland First Choice for Presi'
Dental Candidates, with Harrison
and Hill Seconds.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS, Dee., 22.-An
deliberately planned canvass to ascer-
tain the opinions of farmers throughout
the country on certain political economy
questions has been conducted on an
extensive scale for the past three
months by the agricultural press
of Springfield. Liberal prices were
arranged so as to create as much
discussion in the farmers organization
everywhere and induce q large poll by
postal card ballots. In order to reach
the farmers of the whole United States
the enterprise was worked in the New
England states through the New
England Homestead, in the Atlantic aud
Middle states through the Eastern
edition of Farm ana Home, while the
central states, the West and South, the
Northwest and the Pacific slope were
reached through the Western edition of
Farm and Home. published at Chicago.
The voting was not confined to subscrib-
ers of the journals, and nearly Ill ZOO
cards were received answering these
questions: l. Is the Silo system worthy
of general adoption?
9. What is the greatest need in the
dairy2
8. What is most needed in beef pro-
duotion?
4. IN sheep industry. what advice
must needs to be followed?
5. What change or improvement is
needed in horse breeding?
s. A. Is federal aid to agricultural COL
leges and experiment stations q wise
policy?
B-Should the rudiments of agricul-
tural science be taught in the public
schools2
Anvil the new tariff help American
farming as whole?
B-Will the proposed reciprocity with
South America benefit our farmers?
C-Will reciprocity with Canada help
the farmers of the United States?
s. Would it be wise to suspend the
homestead and prescription laws. with
drawing from sale or occupation ell pub
lie lands for agricultural and grazing
purposes for Il period of years in the
hope that population and consumption
might catch up with production and thus
relieve agricultural depression?
8. A.-Should the government own
and operate the telegraph.
b. Should the government own the
railroads?
10. Who should be the Republican aud
Democratic nominees for the presidency
in 1892? Note that the question is
"Who should be?'' not "Who would
.be?'' our idea beng to draw out the
Farmers views as to the best men for
sthe presidency rather than TO guess who
The politicians may try to put up.
EThe answers have been fully tabulated
only so far as they relate to the last
question, but enough has been done to
show that federal aid to agricultural
education and the teaching of agrioul-
tural science in the rural public shoots
are overwhelmingly Endorsed.
The sentiment regarding government
ownership of the railroads is quite evenly
divided. A great many who vote against
such ownership insist on government
supervision and national control of rail-
roads.
The views expressed on the
tariff law, reciprocity and the pro-
posed notifications of the national
land policy are so diverse that it will be
some days before they are classified.
In reference to the vote for the presi-
dental candidate, it is explained that
the journal interested interpreted the
November elections as meaning that the
IhEm eIS "eto "eaIv ia oiu luVOTitoS a.i1
old measures and demanded new men and
new issues. These journals, therefore,
advocated J. NJ. Rush of Wisconsin, the
secretary of agriculture and Congress-
man William FL Hatch of Missouri, ex-
chairman of the house, committee on ag-
as the proper Republican and
Democratic standard bearers for 1892.
In spite of this influence, however, the
farmers expressed their preference for
presid entail candidates in the following
The vote for Republican candidates.
q %