The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-27

Own Enorrs- Lose Little Time I'm Cum
sidering Visionary Schemes, and Apply
Industry and Common Sense in Equal
Parts
The article which follows was pre-
pared by Mr. T I Whitney, General
Passenger Agent of the Great Northern
Railway, and read I'd the Minnesota
Editors and Publishers Association, IN
St Paul. Feb. L. L Is well worth care
ful reading and study by every one, and
Is OF especial Importance and value TO
the farmers of Minnesota:
One Of the subjects 10 be discussed by
your association Is announcement of
immigration bg the state. We are u
favor OF encouraging immigration 10
Minnesota because 1t has splendid re-
sources, a glorious and healthful CHI
mate. surface diversified with forests,
prairies. lakes and streams matched
for excellence IN any other equal area IN
America charming landscape, rich
mineral deposits, water power, quarries
OF every kind, an abundance Of building
material and fuel, two water WAYS TO
the sea-One OF the SIX states thus fa-
vOred--ailways a sturdy and enIighft-
ened people, superior educational sys-
TEN and the largest school fund ID the
Union, thriving cities and towns, a 1--we
and energetic press, and broad and well
laid foundations of statehood.
We believe IN encouraging immigra-
ton TO such a state by Legislative. midi
vidual or community aid but what is
quite as important Is encouragement 10
those already here. We have achieved
much, but there Is unrest. The state can
hefp restrain and quiet this restless
ness through institute work and associ-
ated efforts. by showing the importance
OF diversihca1iOn and rotation. the ulil-
IzaEi0n Of materials and forces now
wasted by the dissemination through the
press Gnew ideas combined with old
and economical methods.
II Is freely asserted that the general
condition Of agriculture is not good
indeed II Is claimed that affairs IN the
country are going from bad 10 worse,
while extremists and alarmisEs make II
about as bad as II can be. IL sorts of
reasons for TINS condition are alleged.
Some have land II ar the door Of the
tariff, others 10 the banking system and
SO on through long list or ills. but the
main charge Is that Il Is due 10 legisla-
tive favornIsm 10 corporate interests.
combined with the extorEi0naTe and rep
rehensihle conduct OF corporations N
general, but OF railways ID particular
The fact Is either forgotten or ignored
that the railways depend more upon the
prosperity and success Of farming com
munIues for support than upon auy
other source The best paying roads and
those upon which rates are the least, are
those which traverse tine thrifEiess agri-
cultural regions, and Eaoe versa
Laws Cnast Cure AnIIs<
Railroads, for apparent reasons, desire
the building mp not the breaking down,
of any interest-the farming interest IN
particular. The politicians plan of sal.
Walton for the farmers who have failed
tand unfortunately they have succeeded
ID causing large NUMBER OF respected
and worthy citizens TO accept their
theories Is Legislation. No railway cor
poralon can well OBJECT. and the least
possible number VIII object. 30 a fan,
system OF legislative regulation and re-
srcti0n: but they may wei complain
OF measures whose authors aye really
ignorant Of the subject they profess u
know SO much about; whose provisions
are unvIss, unjust. and positively
dangerous. and which. If carried into
effect, would prove destructive. A wal
upon any one Of the institutions of the
country Is harmful 70 every other
Many people like 10 believe that they
can secure prosperity without earning
II. Once N j Thousand times II is done
perhaps, but every one Knows that thu
rule Is that There Is no excellence
without great labor maxim as true
As II Is old. The successful men of the
country are those who have depended III
the main upon their OWL Efforts; WING
have lost but little time III the considera-
u0n OF visionary schemes or N running
after ranbOws or politicians who know
and care next 70 nothing OF the theories
and opinions OF modern social reformers
labor agIIaTers and breeders Of discon
tent, and vine al al times and under al
circumstances have made the most O.
situations and conditions.
Farmers Need Not Live in Poverty.
Farmers are not and cannot be mads
exceptions 10 the general law There
are all over the country farmers who
are prosperous; they are TO be found by
hundreds ID Minnesota and the DakOtas
men who are well qualified for their
calling. are confident OF the future, who
are today ahead, have something N The
old stocking leg. and who are not com
planning nor grmhhng. They don't
wait for chances, they make them, and
obey the injunction: :" Whatsoever
tiny hand fndeIh TO do, do Il
with thy might" They live IN the
same community where other farm
ers are ID debt, ID distress and discon-
tented They pay the same tariffs as
their neighbors; are subject TO the same
Styranuical restrictions; I'll the same
kind OF soil: buy and sell IN the same mar,
keIs, and receive only the same faynrs
and enjoy only the same natural priv
ieges. Why are they prosperous and
their neighbors unthriftys II farming
Is not profitable IN Minnesota and the