The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-11-12
FARMERS IN C0NCtAVE.
THE NATIONAL FARMERS CONGRESS-
Il, SESSION iN oEDAl.lA.,
Over Two Hundred Delegates, Representa-
Thirty States, Present-An Address Of
Welcome Delivered by Governor
Francis of Kansas.

ONhLlA, nlOst ANON' W. no ihl6N-
enth annual session of the National
Farmers congress met here today.
There could be no mistake in. the
character of the assembly. Woods
opera house, the place of meeting,
was handsomely decorated with vari-
GUS agricultural products, sheayes of
grain, immense stalks of corn,
pumpkins like barrels and ears,
of Corn as big. as ones
arm. There was 200 delegates pres
ent, representing thirty different
states. On the platform were seated
Gov. Francis of Missouri, Vice-Presi-
dent A. w. Smith OF Kansas, Secre-
tary b. +. Clayton of Iowa, Hon
Frank B. Meyer president of the Com
mercial Club of Sedalia, Col. Daniel
Needham of Boston, president of the
New England Agricultural Society;
Senator John Patterson, w. ID. Kent
of Iowa, Hon. "A. Popo Yeaman of
Missouri and others.
Secretary Clayton called the con-
gress to order and stated that he had
just received word from President
Kalb of Montgomery, Ala, that it
In his absence Vice President A. w.
Smith Of Kansas presided. He was
presented with phenomenally large
ear of corn to be used as gavel.
After prayer Governor Francis deliv-
cred the add ess of welcome in behalf
of the state.
After bidding the delegates well
come he said it was eminently proper
thar the men who represented the
greatest interest in the nation
should meet, confer and dis
cuss the best methods to
promote the welfare and protection of
their interests. The farmers had
grievances, there was no doubt of
that, and it was proper that they
should meet and divise means to cor
rect them. Glass legislation, he con-
tinued, had been one potent cause of
the depression of agricultural inter-
ests. This depression had been of
long continuance, and it was time
now that the farmer was given recog-
milton in the counsels of the nation.
There were two great questions, the
proper solution of which would tend
to ameiorate the farmers condition.
One was the improvement
of the great water curses,
which would furnish cheap
transportation for farm products. The
Mi souri, river could be improved at
a cost of $40, 900, ,000-a small sum COM
pared to the expenditure of the billion
! dollars congress. The other great
J question was the Improvement of the
c. untry roads which would furnish
good transportation for the small
farmers to their nearest markets.
Vice-president A. w. Smith re.
sponded to the address of welcome.
He thanked the governor for his cor
dial words Of welcome. He agreed
with the governor that the great
water courses of the country should
be improved, both in the in
terest of the farmers, manufacture
ers and merchants. Twenty million
dollars was a small enough amount to
be donated to the improvement of a
big river like the Missouri. He was
not alarmed, he said, at any billion
dollar congress. He thanked God
that he lived in a country where the
appropriation of q billion dollars by
one congress would not bankrupt the
treasury. The agricultural interests
were the greatest interests of the ma
tion, and legislation should take it
more into account than it does. Still,
the farmer did not ask for class legis-
lation. The affairs of the nation could
and should be administered without
any CHASING of interests of the farmer
and of the manufacturer.
Acting Mayor Carroll also delivered
an address of welcome, to which Col.
Daniel Needham of Boston responded.
He returned thanks for the cordiality
of this welcome. They came here, he
Continued, not as Democrats, not as
Republicans, and he thanked God not
as Farmers Alliancers." They
come, representing the agricultural
interests Of the nation, irrespective of
party. Still another address of well
come was extended by Frank b.
Meyer, president of the Sedalia COM
mercial club Secretary B. f. Clayton
of Iowa responded, after VIII ch an ad-
iOurnment was taken until 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon.