St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-15
Having Apparently Forgotten
That His Views We're Re-
pudiated Last Fall.
Uncle Jerry Rusk Takes q Shy
at the Depression in Ag-
riculture.
Gov. Francis to Preside Over
the Deliberations OF the
Congress.


convened at noon to-day at the Coates
opera house, with delegations present
from the following twenty-four Western
and Southern states and territories /:
California, Washington, Idaho, Colo
RADIO, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana,
Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska. Missouri.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illi-
nois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma. The
delegatio rs are composed mainly of
business men appointed by the
governors of the various states,
and are representative of the
Western and Southern people,
The convention was called for 10
o'clock. but it was nearly noon when
the chairman of the executive commit
tee raped for order. Gov. Francis. of
Missouri, was chosen president, and
John W. Springer, of Illinois, as per-
manent secretary. Twenty-four vice
presidents, one from each state repre-
sented, were appointed. The conven-
ton was called to order by State Sena-
tor Kelly, of Kansas. Mr.. Kelly laid all
the blame of agricultural depression
upon too small circulating medium.
As relief, he suggested the
RecOinage OF silver;
the raising of silver money to the stand
ard of GOLD. Gov. Francis. of Missouri,
welcomed the delegates on behalf Of
the state. He said the congress marked
a new era III agricultural. commercial
IN 5lt hfer., -, -
tory Of the country such dissension and
dissatisfaction as now exist resulted in
revolution. The people of the West
are now crying for relief. but the man
ner OF relief was sought, not by arms.
but by this dellberatlve congress. DIFF
ferent causes were assigned for the de-
preston of Western interests. Let the
cause be what it may, the effect was the
same. There was deep-rOOted diSsatiS-
faction and there was unanimous
desire that the evil of depression
be abolished and that Western
interests be stimulated. Heretofore
federal legislation had been in the IN
terest OF the East. Congress had been
favorable to the creditor class, and the
West was heavy debtor. 1t was nee
esSary now for the West to stand to-
gether, and there were many things
OF which it should be unanimous, earnest
and continued. The West wanted freer
trade with Mexico. Canada and South
America, and with all the countries Of
the WOrl0. The West wanted the Mis-
SlsslDpi connected with the great lakes.
1t wanted improved waterways. 1t
wanted an international railway, so
that one could step on vestibuled
train at Kansas City and step off it at
BuenOS Ayres. 1t
Wanted Fuller Volume
of currency. These were the things
that would relieve the distressing con-
ditiOn Of affairs. and these were things
that the West must act together uDor
L. Dwight Thatcher. Of Topeka. vel
coined the delegates on behalf of the
state OF Kansas. Adjournment was
then taken until , o'clock this after
noon. Upon reassembling, letters of
regret were read from those who had
been given special invitations TO attend
the congress. Among the letters was
one from President Harrison, who said ::
"A public discussion of the conditions
affecting agricultural and business
prosperity cannot but be helpful, if it
is conducted on broad lines and is hos
pitable TO differences of Opinion. The
y
ton OF agriculture which has taken
place in recent period in this coun-
try, by reason of the rapid en-
largement of the area of tiIlage.
under the favOring land laws of
the United States. very naturally
has called attention to the value, and,
indeed. the necessity, of larger markets.
am one of those who believe that a
home market is necessarily the best
market for the producer. as it meaSur-
ably emancipates him, in proportion to
its nearness. from the eXaetiOnS of the
transportation companies. If the farm
er could deliver his surplus produce to
the consumer out of his farm wagon. his
independence and his profits would be
larger and SuTer. 1t seems to me quite
possible to attain largely increased
market for our staple farm products
without impairing the home market by
opening the manufacturing trades to a
competition in which foreign producers
paying lower scale OF wages would
have the advantage. s policy that
would reduce the number of our people
engaged
In Mechanical Pursuits
or diminish their ability to purchase
food products by reducing wages. can
not be helpful to those now engaged in
agriculture. The farmers insist that
the prices of farm products have been
too low-belOw the point of fair living
and fair profits. l think-so, too. but
venture to remind them that the plea
they make involves the concession that
things may be too cheap s coat NAV
be too cheap. as well as corn. The
farmer who claims a good living and
profits for his work should concede the
same TO every other man and woman
who tolls. look with great confidence
TO the completion OF further reciprocal
trade arrangements, especially with the
Central and South American states. as
furnishing new and large markets for
meats. breadstuffs. and an important
line of manufactured products"
A letter was also read from Hon. J.
NJ. Rusk. secretary of agriculture, as
follows: He suggests that prominence
be given to the discussion of those
questions affecting the agricultural iu-
terests sof the country for reason that
a prosperous agricultural condition
viii Insure prosperity IN all other
branches of industry. He suggests the
subjects OF Transportation, MAR
kets" and Federal and State Statist-
les" as the pivotal questions affecting
the farmer. The large surplus of agri-
cultural products of the West must be
sold in distant markets, and the manu-
factured products must be brought
from distant sources, making the ques-
ton or transportation especially impQr~
tant to the Western farmer. Reliable
statistics touching the supply and de-
mand rot only or cur own but all for