The advocate., 1891-04-22


IA, 1891, having been called TO order by
Senator II. d. Kelly Of MCPHERSON
county, Kansas, who announced that Rev.
G. p. Hays, d. d., would invoke the d.
vine blessing. Thereupon on motion Of
Governor d. r. Francis, OF Missouri, SEN
ator Kelly was made temporary chair
man Of the convention.
In the somewhat elaborate speech OF
Senator Kelly, giving the origin OF this
movement, he remarked:
This Congress represents moro intelli-
genoe than has ever existed In any such as
semblags on tho globe. II also represents
the greatest productive region Of tho world.
The eighteen statos comprising this sister
terhOod and represented in this congress
produce thFee-fOurths Of tho cereal, mOdt
and cotton products OF this country. They
produce 2OOOOO,OOO bushels Of wheat more
than they need, and they grow cotton enough
TO supply the spindles Of Great Britain.
And yet from this region comes complaint,
not Of this year alone, nor Of last year, nor
OF the year before, but for a number of
years.
Tho question is and has been: What is ro-
tarding the progress Of Agricultural This
thought has called together this as8emblage,
the tilloEs Of thosoil, TO discuss the questions
as TO what IL is that is Clogging the wheels
Of progress.
This convention is not drawn upon the
line between the man who holds che ham
dies OF tho plOw and those In tho cities who
supply the commercial needs. All wealth
Is the product Of labor, and in the west IL is
labor either in agriculture or mining in the
forests or upon Che water, but within this
vast wealth producing country there is no
force 80 important as the tilleFs Of the rich
alluvial soil Of the great Mississippi valley.
All capital is the product Of labor, but the
conflict 10 simply one between tho classes Of
labor. In the agricultural region west of the
mountains there are 8, 100000 poo
pie engaged in agriculture, while there are
only 100000 engaged in manufacturing in
terests Hence the agricultural industries
should receive a more marked attention.
Since 1873 there has been a shrinkage of
values, and we ask what is the reasonp The
prices Of all agricultural products have de-
clined. There is no reason why a dollar in
gold should buy bushel Of wheat thls year
and two next year. The evils chat rest upon
us are due 20 scarcity Of money, and
money should be found that would be
measure Of value.
Governor Francis, in his welcome In
behalf Of Missouri, in referring to what
was once considered the great American
desert, said:
In our efforts TO push forward the limits
OF civilization TO build up cities, and TO
make the pTairies TO blossom, and to repair
waste places, we have incurred obligations
TO such an extent chat the people are crying
aloud for relief.
The lands we Gill, the houses in which we
dwell, the railroads which carry our produce
TO market, our school houses, and even our
temples Of justice are mortgaged, and we
arc tOiling day after day 10 pay the interest
thereon, having almost abandoned hope Of
ever liQuidating the principal. And during
this time we have contributed our full share
towards the glory Of this country and tow
Rrds bearing the burdens OF Che state. The
result is apparent TO all. You may term che
causes unjust discrimination, class legisla-
tion, railroad influence, or the power Of
wealth, greed Of corporations, or monomet-
alism, but the fact remains tho same. II is
- a