The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-11-14
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Congress Must Recognize AErIcul-
tural Interests.


After expressing the satisfaction It gave
him TO preside over the deliberations OF
the representatives OF the creates; aggre-
CATION OF wealth and intelligence known
70 history" President Clayton went on
to say:
our meeting follows In quick success
sion a determined and closely contested
nEttonal political campaign In this cam
palgn the interest OF every farmer and
producer has been involved. The two
great political parties, one OF which has
dictated the policy OF the government
for nearly loo years. met in annual con-
ventIon and submitted to the American
voter a line of policy for the control 9f
our republic for the remainder OF the
nineteenth century.
Laying aside the bitter personal At
tacks that usually characterize national
politics. having as leaders men of the
highest personal integrity and character,
a campaign OF education was inaugurated
nd seventy millions OF American people
in the sacred right coucned in the silent
ballot rendered their verdict on Novem-
Der g. and. as a result OF that campaign.
no nation SO well understands the finau-
cial system Of their government as 40
the American people
Producers of Wealth.
The speaker went on to lay stress upon
the fact that the natural product OF the
SCI aided by the intelligent and well-ii-
rected labor was the great creative force.
and the only source from which wealth
could be obtained to meet all obligations.
Every nlckle and dollar transferred from
hand to hand came from the revenues G.
the soil; for the product OF the gold and
silver mines was valuable only because
OF the commerce and wealth created from
the farms. One year Of total failure Of
the product of the earth would mean lna-
vitable wreck and ruin, starvation and
death to the world. The vast army q
mechanics. the arts, the sciences, the
trades. the professions. all had contribut-
ell 10 higher perfection Of our productive
industries, but they were not producers
OF wealth. but consumers. Agriculture
was the true source OF wealth. and the
sole foundation upon which rests the sue
cess Of the nation and the world Con
sequently she should press her claims
With even greater force under the new
condition OF things. The president went
on to insist that the congress should
now vigorously reassert the positi IN
taken at the meeting in Parkersburg. w.
Va. In 1894. 10 the effect that to what
ever the degree either great political par
~ should adopt the policy OF protection,
the representatives of the farming inter
ests demand that equal protection he
given to farm products. The speaker con
tlrUed:
There Is scarcely a question that may
be raised in this body, affecting our agr!-
cultural interests, but that will have a
political side to It, but let Us discuss III o1a
questions without reference to its iuau.
ence upon any political party. Let Us take
each other by the Aand and make one
common cause for our great interest
II do not mean by this that the farmer
and agriculturist should take no part IN
politics. We should not for i momeu; lay
aside or forget QUE duty to society ana
the government At the risk Of being
called politician. 1t is our duty to sac 10
It that the political atmosphere IS kept
pure and that the vicious classes are he.!
in check. The good citizen Will not r.
main behind the counter. in the fled and
in the shop and permit the political trick
ster and common loafer to control -A4
caucus and the convention Of the parry
to which he belongs Under our flag and
under our constitution every citizen may
exercise the right Of suffrage. ana ne that
SA'A7 10 NN-thAAy bAA4Ly win TIE E454DEE5-
politician. At the same time We should
be able to lay aside our political differ
snces and meet on comon level
Needed Legislation.
There Is no interest 50 sensitive 10 rad
ical change Of government policy, or tla.
50 quickly feels the effect Of ungriendfy
legislation as the American farm; nor ts
there any interest but what can better
protect Itself from corporate demands.
trusts and combinations. The American
farmer Is loyal to the American govern
ment and to her Institutions. He is ready
to defend the republic with his money NJ
with his life. Our government has no fear
OF revolution or anarchy among the great
agricultural classes. The farmer Is ready
TO assist In the enforcement OF the Mon
roe doctrine in Venezuela or elsewhere.
lie Is ready to say to the English govern
ment that you can not by force or By
intrigue have another foot OF soil on the
American continent. north or south, and
II you want to test the matter with the
United States you had better see to Il
that your Canadian possessions are well
guarded before you open the bali. Our
democracy Is sufficient for US 10 say 70
the president OF this country, that you are
right That we are willing to grant all
necessary aid to repel royal encroaeli-
ments upon republican territory, but we
do not want the entire cost Of a proper
Investigation TO come from the neag.r
appropriations made for the agricultural
department.
We should demand that the agrieult-
ural department be provided with oIc-
quaie means and be invested with power
to Investigate the many evils and to rec
ommend and enforce remedies against an
unjust discrimination against the pro luct
OF the farm. 1t should be his duty % see
that reciprocal trade relations are as
taellshsd between our own and foreign