The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-23
A TRUE son OF THE SOIL.

A TRUE son OF THE SOIL.
Out In Indiana the other day the Re-
publicans after six ballots divided among
nearly a dozen prominent candidates. In
cluding several noted ex-members or con-
yress, suddenly concentrated. to the sur
prise of the practical politicians. upon an
almost unknown man known as Farmer
Jim" Mount. Terre Haute dispatch to
the Chicago Record emoodies much IN,
promises before the campaign Is over. to
achieve national celebrity. James A.
| Mount" II says. ''is personally known to
more farmers in tho state tnan Is any
| other man who has not made his acquaint-
ances through politics. The steady in
crease in Mounts vote for the nomination
| for governor during the seven ballots
was due to this widespread personal ac-
uuaintance. II was not at all due to po>
litical manipulation or wire-pulling and It
| was an astounding surprise 10 the WIRE
pulling politicians.
Until 1883 Jim Mount as he Is known
by his farmer friends. did not figure in
| politics outside Of his county OF Mont
gomery and had taken only the part of
| a citizen in the local campaigns: His sue
| cess as a scientific farmer made him can
didate for office In the first instance.
| when he ran for state senator The FAR
| mers wanted a representative In the legis-
lature and they elected him on the Re
| publican ticket In Democratic district.
] In 1880 the Republicans Insisted that he
| should make the hopeless race for con-
gress in this. the Eighth district. and he
| ran we'll. Since then he has not been an
aspirant for Office and 1t is fact that he
| entered the present contest at the soliclta>
| ton of many friends who are farmers.
| And It is equally true that he disapproyes
Of being called the farmers candidate. He
believes farming to be the best of occupa-
| tions and only as a vind!cation Of this con-
| tcntion that farmer may administer the
| affairs of all the people as we'll as a man
| in any other calling in life did he con-
sent to make the race.
-:I!:-
"Mr. Mounts farm of 500 acres, eight
| miles east of Crawfordsville. Is the most
| productive farm in the state and is ac-
| cepted everywhere as evidence that farm
| ing can be made to pay handsomely. Be-
measured by the investment he has made
| In that farm. All he has made he has OK
| pended upon it. His big residence. with
| the modern improvements OF city resi-
the home he expects to occupy all his
| life. The distinctive fact about Mounts
| scientific farming is that 1t Is not paid
| for with money earned otherwise. His
hobby has been to impress farmers that
their incredulity as to scientific farming
is not Justified.
| -:ll:-
| when Mount came out of the war he
spent a year in school and then rented
| small farm. In a few years he bought a
| small tract of land and the acres which
he owns today represent many purchls-
| es. The residence part Of the farm Is Ike
| a picnic grounds. In front of the resi-
| dence there Is park elaborately beauti-
fled with flowers. 1t is a custom of Craw-
fordsville people to drive out to Willow
| Dale to see the flowers, which are the
only products which the owner does not
cultivate for sale. There are barns for
stock. structures for farm implements. an
extensive hennery and many other big and
| little buildings, all constructed with the
chief purpose of outstanding everything
that can add to his prosperity. Economy
no the sarsSny mS1,S at by wSw anS bs fH. b it IS
the best implements though they be the
| costl!est. but then he cares for them as
If they were made OF gold and bedecked
with Jewels.
! -:.,:-
mo farm hand works harder than does
Jim Mount. He Sees to ali the details
| and measures the food for the stock on an
analytical and mathematical basis. He
| has read and experimental in all lines OF
| agricultural life until he can tell exactly
| when to sow, the quantity, the depth in
tilling the soil and can make a chemical
analysis of the soil. He studies the mar
| kets and crop statistics and. varies .he
proportion OF his crops as his juilgmen,
dictates. Two years ago, for instance.
he made what could be considered a small
fortune among farmers in raising hogs
There is nothing that grows in this elm.
ate which can be sold in the market that
he has not raised. Cattle and sheep bring
him much profit, but he does not breed
horses except for his own use. There is
one tenant or employed farmer-family
on the farm, but in harvest time he hires
many men. He is their friend and Co.
worker. They are good enough to sit at
the table with Jim Mount, though he has
fine house. water drawn from silver
mounted faucets into marble wash basins
and gas Of his own manufacture for illu-
minatiOn. While he Is hard worker he
works methodically and finds his pleasure
in it. He is often in Charlottesville, but
does not farm at the county seat
| ill
while Mr.. Mount is an academy grad
iate, his education really has been self,
acquired. He has large library and his
reading 10 not confined to agricultural
books. The thoroughness which is char
acteristir Of his farming pursuit Is applied
10 his reading and has made him a re-
markably well-informed man on affairs OF
state. IL he has a hobby it Is to prove that
farmer can be a man of affairs as well
as successful agriculturist. and 1t is his
zeal in this regard that led him to deliver
addresses at the farmers county insti-
tutes during the last few years. He, as
much as any other man, secured the pass
age Of a law establishing these institutes
under the auspices of Purdue university.
| ill
1.-THE candidate for governor was born
on farm near his present residence His
boynoOd was spent on the farm, with only
occasional attendance at the township
school. In 1885,. when he was 10 years Of
age, he entered the army as a private in
the Seventy-second Indiana infantry. He
was brave soldier, content to serve
throughout the war in no higher rank
than sergeant, and when the war was over
returned home to get little more educa-
ton. He had saved enough money from
his army pay to attend the academy a,
Lebanon, where he was graduated Then
from the start. Even then he was con.
vnced that practical and scientific farm.
ing were synonymous, although mos
farmers ridiculed the scientific farming
costly crops raised on the farms of city
men who could afford to have farm
managed on scientific theories. In 1867 he
married Miss Kate Boyd, who was grad
academy. She has been as enthusiastic
as himself In the advocacy of scientiti,
farming, and, like himself, she was :
frugal manager. She has accompanied
" stances has delivered addresses at the in
stitutes. The chickens at Willow Dal,
are hers. and she has made poultry pay o.
proportionately big profit as her HUSBAND
mas secured from his crops and live stock
"Hls first effort as a public speaker wa,
In 1888. when he ran for senator. 1t /!
true that he had spoken In county agri
cultural meetings ami there had mad,
known his power in debate, but in the ra G,
for the senatorship he attracted attention
outside OF the three counties forming tn,
senatorial district. In 1890 he was pre-
vailed upon to run for congress and can
vassed the district with as much earnest
ness as II there had been chance to b,
J elected. In conversation or on the stun,
he talks rapidly. In conversation he /.
fascinating. He Is of under size but Whe,
he begins talking the fearer forgets tha
fact.B BY reason of his prominent part II
the formation Of the National Horse-Thie
Protective association, al, organiza tiol
| 0rinna ting N htS 20 o..