The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-15

CHICAGO, May lA.-Thc officers Of tho
Farmors' National Congress wcro In
session to-day at tho Palmer House,
President D. f. Clayton. oil Iowa, pre-.
siding. Tho object Of tho meeting was
tho preparation Of n programme for tho
fourteenth annual convention OF tho
organization to DO held In Parkoraburg,
W.. Va. In October.
Tho fourteenth annual meeting oil tho
Farmers National Congress will DO hold
ut Parkorabure, W. Va, October SO
next doth dates inclusivo). The con.
gross mot in 1893 in Savannah, Ga; in
1892 In Lincoln, Neb. In 1891 In scdalia,
No. in 1890 in Council Bluffs, Town,
md IN 1880 in Montgomery, Ala.
The Farmers' National Congress Is
composed OF delegates from each state
and territory, appointed by tho cover.
nor thereof. Each atate and territory
is entitled to Us many delegates as 1t
has United States senators and cor.
eressmsn, and each state bureau OF agri-
culture is entitled to o delegate. In
each oil tho meetings named above,
. more than thirty.tive states aud terri
tories wore represented by duly mp.
pointed and properly accredited dole.
gates.
The Famers' National Congress, while
instituted TO discuss oil economical and
eociOl questions affecting the farmer, Ia
strictly nonpoliticul. This feature has
been strictly observed. So careful is
the Congross In this regard that 1t Ia
one Of It's unwrittcn lave and to which
oil its members are held strictly ac-
countable, that no n shall use his con
nection, official or other, with the Con-
gress to advance in any way his politi-
cal fortunes. An ofice-seeker has never
been elected 10 ono Of its Office. Be-
cause Of its strictly nonpolitical charac.
ter, its safe, conservative course, and its
desire to avoid idle notoriety, it is not
30 we'll known MS some farmers organ,-
cations, but mono has greater weight
with law.making bodies. The Chicago
Times recently stated that the Farmers
National Congress- had more to do than
any other rural agency with tho inser-
ton Of the item in the post
Office appropriation bill providing
for trials OF rural free mail de-
livery. Senators and Congressman have
frequently borne witness to the great
weight OF this congress. While sena-
tors and congressman have treated with
ill.concealed contempt the alliance and
other political organizations OF farmers
that have demanded sub.treasuries and
9 per cent loans, they have paid re.
spcctful attontien to the recommends.
,ions OF tho National Farmers Con.
sress-a body not com posed of ire.
aponslble, self.nppointed delegates, blu.
Of delegates appointed by tho governors
OF tho various states, hence men OF
character. standing and influence, and
oach probably personally acquainted
with the congressman from his dis.rict,
il not with tho senators from his state.
The greatest recent legislative trl-
umph Of tho Farmors' National Con-
gress has relation to rural Tree mail de-
livery. At Its meeting In Savannah,
Ga, last December, the following reso-
lutions were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, 1t has been proved by
actual tost that free mail delivery can
BIO extended to the villages and the
more thickly settled farming commune
ties with but little if any increase in the
not expense in tho p~ostofice depart
ment; therefore
ReSOiued, That We are heartily In favor
OF rural free mail delivery, and we
hereby call upon tho Congress OF the
United States and tho postoflice depart
ment to extend the free delivery Of
mail into the country as fast as tho
same can DO done without an onerous
increase in tho expense Of tho depart
ment.
Re,olred, That there should not be
my lowering in tho present rate OF let
ter postage until mail is. delivered at
least three times q week throughout all
townships having q population OF ten
or more to the square miis.
These resolutions were adopted IMAM
imously; and the vote was taken stand
ing, to make it moro emphatic 1t had
emphasis enough to overcome the oppo.
e.. EltlOll III "a llbuSc ~ Z AACC lllli
delivery, reinforced by the opposition
of Postmaster Genoral Bissell, who. in
Ills first official report, strongly opposed
rural FREQ mail delivery. Postmaster
General Wanamaker stated in his OIL.
cial report that his experiments had
shown that in a short time rural FREQ
mail delivery would 80 increase tho
mail carried that it would pay for itself
in nil oXcopt tho most sparsely settled
agricultural regions. II would certainly
DO Of incalculablo bcnod. to farmers In
.olloctually, socially, politically and f.
nancially il mail were delivered to them
daily; and It would largely remove tho
moat rcpcllant feature OF farm life.
to the annual session OF the Farmers
National Congress at Parkcrsburg. W.
Va, October SO next. AS an evidence
OF its diversity and national character,
il may DO stated that California, Geor-
gia, Maine and Texas will contribute
formal addresses. Several OF the nd.
( dresses will be by women One OF the
most successful fruit growers OF Cali.
fornia is Il woman and she will address
the congress-; and it Ia said that she has
very decided viows about tho tariff on
fruits. rail way charges. and the Chinese
exclusion law. Au increasing number
OF the delegates have been bringing
their wives and 1t is anticipated that
there vii, DO several hundred women
in attendance, as, in addition to tho
four. hundred regular delegates, there
will DO three hundred honorary dele.
gates from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West
Virginia. Then an increasing number Of
;hoso highly Interested in the progress
OF agriculture are in attendance from
all parts Of the country. Every farmer