The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-12-06
HATES FARMERS SOCIETIES,
The Secretary of Agriculture Adds Fuel
to the Flames.

vember 80, says: The resolution OF the
Famers' Benefit and kindred associations,
passed on the 29th inst. at indianapolis,
asking Secretary Morton to retract what
he said recently at Chicago relative to
''journeymen farmers" who promote
oranges for the purpose Of farming the
farmers" was shown to him this morn
ing and he relished it as though it were
Thanksgiving turkey. But with an OBJ
stinacy which undoubtedly thoroughly
infected him during the years that he
farmsd with mules at Arbor Lodge, Neb.,
he declined to either modify, mitigate or
retrsot anything that he had said rels-
tive to the professional rurBlists afore-
said. On the contrary he remarked:
each one of these fellows usss only
one plow, and that is his tongue, and
he does not hold that very well, nor
turn up anything very rich and Rll his
tillsge ia to get a crop Of votes in the
fall and as the result of his efforts, q
corner on an Office" But farmers insti-
tutes, any, in fact, all other agricultural
organizations which bring their mem
bers togethers for the purpose Of swap
ping experiences and discussing the
management, economics and general
domestic affairs of farm and hUmes, he
said he zeslously approved.
He believes, first, in the diljgsnt de-
velopements Of farmers individually and
then in their conferring together and
debating all questions affecting their vo.
cation. He believes in the attraction Of
mind upon mind, evolving intellectual
light, just as the attraction Of steel upon
flint evolves material fire. He hopes FOR
the promotion Of a higher home Life
among farmers Institutes and other Or
gsnizstions, which are not oath bound,
and which have nothing to conceal from
the other pursuits of the people because,
in his judgment, neither the Grange NOR
the Alliance can entertain any thoughts
90 high or beneficial that the whole pe0-
pie ought not to have them.
"Thoss grRngers that are now quoting
the diVjointed and mutilsted portions Of
that obnoxious address delivered at Chi
cago, can find on page 3, thereof the fol-
lowing: ut is q most agreeable thing 10
observe and exRlt the independence OF
those who live upon FARMS" and from
that they can read right on down, until
on page 4, they find the following: "Dur-
ing the late purturbstions in the field
Of finance and commerce, the farmers Of
this country hsYe suffered less than any
other class. In their homes the sheriff
has appeared but seldom. Among the
farmers no procession Of the unemployed
have marched. In tneir fields end
domiCiles there has been no cessation in
the hum Of industry and the hymn OF
domestic enjoyment. All through these
last six months the farmer has furnished
less of protested paper and least of want
Of all the employmsnts OF humanity in
this great republic"
"That," he said, "msy not be entirely
satisfactory to those patriotic persons
who desire to have the American farmer
appear badly ssddled with debt, ragged
and igaorsnt." But to the class Of farm.
ers who are sslf.relisnt enough to de-
pend upon their own individual efforts
for livelihood rather than upon any sys-
tenn Of associated, pooled or syniosted
alleged knowledge and presumed or
assumed brains, belonging to other peo-
pie, the secretary thinks his address May
be submitted without danger OF Idyns-
mite or other personal violence to him-
SELF He thinks time will tell the truth,