Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-06

At7:40 Gen. A. c. Parkinson, presiden
of the State Agricultural society, called
the convention to order BY his side wal
Gov. Peck and Dr. Chamberlin, president
of the state university.
The program of the evening was opened
by song-We Shall Meet and We Shall
Miss Him-by the state university Glee
club, which net with almost deafening
applause, which did not end until the
club reappeared and sang decidedly
comic song-The Man in the Moon
which brought forth bursts of hearty
laughter.
The Presidents Address
President Parkinson then delivered his
annual address, which was;isteneG to with
marked attention. The following
extracts from it will be read with in
terest:
| shall offer no apology then, in depart
ing from the accepted custom of the oc-
caslon, to invite your attention to a very
brief consideration of a single thought,
touching the political duty of the farmer.
We hold that every man, but much more
our farmer and wage Garner, should be a
politician.
Our farmer class are the most gullible
people under the sun. For years they have
been the easy prey of political sharks and
freebooters, In every political campaign
they stem to get elevated into a sort of
beatltude begotten of the cajolery of party
platforms and stump-speeches, from which
condition they do not descend till next
taX-paying time. Having the numerical
strength, they have it within their power
to shape legislation fairly in their inter
est, but nine-tenths of all our legislation
is proposed and passed in the interest of
and for the protection of the aggregated
wealth of the state.
The special business of our former is
actual participation in politics. But
hear some of you say that is correct the
ory, but there is no encouragement for us
to enter into politics since the field is pre-
occupied by place hunters, ward bummers
and demagogues. More is the reason
why it becomes your duty to go into poll
ties. The financial interest and domestic
security of every intelligent citizen de-
mand this service, this eternal vigilance
To adjust tariff to the wants of the
government and the masses; to right the
wrongs of our financial system; to effect
harmony and cooperation between war
ring capital and labor; to avert the evils
incident to the enormous aggragations of
wealth in the hands of the few; these are
some of the knottier problems which only
the honest thought and patriotism of the
republic can rescue from further complica-
tlon and confusion.
The proper settlement of these questions
is of greater vital importance to the farm
ers of America than to any other. or all
other classes. Upon iC depends their
future security, peace and happiness; IN a
word, their very liberty itself. That
proper adjustment depends upon the cult
vated brains, the solid judgment, the
brave hearts of the land-workers of
America.
Insist first OF all upon being heard in
the councils of your party. Send your
Clinton Rabbits, your John NJ. Trues. your
Alexander Arnolds, your Nicholas Traits
ID congress, now and then. There is sore
reed of them there.
My friends, there has already been born
irto this new world of ours, the idea that
the time has come when ownership IN our
lands should be limited by law to moderate
holdings, and to our own people. This
thought we know is not the accepted one
of colleges and universities, but really
what is their very new or very startling
in the suggestion? 1t is the same idea
that lies at the bottom of all our home
stead and pre-emption laws.
We have no disposition to chase down
the thought, but it does seem to US no
question can be named of deeper concern
than that of preserving the lands of the
nation In ice simple In moderate holdings
to the nations people.
Possibly we are over sangulne In our
hopes cf reform through existing party
organization; bat it does not seem as if
the halt had not yet been tried. Old
parties are not easily destroyed; you know
that; new ones are not readily organized
for effective purposes. The past proves it
and the future vii! show it. Then why
should the seven millions of farmers seek
to form a new party Of then own when
they now have it in their power to control
10th the old parties?
The president was frequently interrupt
cd by hearty applause.
The Governors Address
Gov. Peck being INTRODUCED to the con-
vention, took position at the chief
clerks desk amid a grand round Of ap-
plause 1t was soon rt-iized that the gov
ernor was about to open up in humorous
vein, and hearty laugh went over the
chamber and around the galleries before
he uttered wold.
The governor said he had been invited
to address the convention and he had Sc
leeted as a subject The Boy On the Farm
the boy of 40 years ago as a contrast with
the boy on the farm of today. The pic.
ture of the farm boy going for a doctor
brought down the house. He is not
thought Of much except at
meal time. He attracts some
attention when he comes home with
a toe off, or finger or two torn to pieces
wrestling with corn shelter. The boy 5
greatest Job is when he starts N to teach a
calf how to drink milk out If tin pail
This is e terrible strain on boy-if it's a
good sized calf-no matter whether ii be a
Jersey or otherwise. The cslf generally
manages, in snorting, to blow pretty much
all the milk up the boys coat sleeves.
so that his mother is obliged
to run hin through a
clothes wringer The boys sehooI-boy days
were discussed in a happy way. Tie
sand bill near the ssehool was more at
tractive to him than the school, He
stood by the hill more than he did by the
school, lapplauseJ, and from that sand
hill he could look over into the grave
yard, and that is how he became states
man. The boys first love and his visit to
the circus with her, as told By the COVER
nor made the audience rear.
Applause and laughter made the
chamber ring at times II was noticed
that number of jolly old farmers came
close to tumbling of their seats during
a portion Of the time that the speaker mad
the farmers boz wrestling with the calf.