The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-12

n
scbednles Should 20 up from this body,
and we should demand that the agrlcul-
turol department investigate each item.
Should protection be the policy or the
government, then it should be applied 10
farm products, and the agricultural de-
partment should recommend to the gen.
eroI government such changes in tarlh
schedules as will furnish equal protec-
ton to the products of the farm.
This is a non-political organization, ana
| think very properly so. Gentlemen
will see at once the improperly OF TINS
body trying to settle the great economic
questions; the congress of the United
States has been trying to settle these
great questions and have failed.
There is scarcely question that may
be raised in this body, affecting our agri-
cultural interests, but what will have
political side to it, but let us discuss
those questions without reference to its
influence upon any. political party: Let
us take each other by the hand and make
one common cause for our great inter-
est.
| do not mean by this the farmer and
agriculturalist should take no part in pol
tics. We should not for moment lay
aside or forget our duty to society and
to the government At the risk of being
called politician, it is our duty to see
to it that the political atmosphere is kept
pure and that the vicious classes are held
in check. The good citizen will not re-
main behind the counter, in the field and
in the shop and permit the political trick
ster and common lOafer to control the
caucus and the convention of the party
to which he belongs. Under our flag and
under our constitution every citizen may
exercise the right of suffrage, and he
that fails is equally guilty with the dis
honest politician; at the same time, we
should be able to lay aside our political
differences and meet on common level.
There is no interest so sensitive to rad
ical change of government policy or that
so quickly feels the effect of unfriendly
legislation as the American farm, nor
is there any interest but what can better
trusts and combinations. The Ameri-
can farmer is loyal to the American gov
eminent and to her institutions. He
is ready to defend the republic with his
money or 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 en-
fOrcement of the Monroe doctrine in
Venezuela or elsewhere. He is ready
to say to the English government that
you can not by force or intrigue have
continent, north or south, and if you
want to test the matter with the United
States. you had better see to it that your
Canadian possessions are well guarded
before you open the ball. Our democ-
racy is sufficient for us to say to the pres
ident of this country that you are right,
that we are willing to grant all necessary
aid to repel royal encroachment upon
republican territory, but we do not want
the entire cost of n proper investigation
to come from the meager appropriations
made for the agricultural department
We should demand that the agricultu-
raj department be provided with adequate
means and be invested with power to in
vestigate the many evils and to recon-
mend and enforce remedies against all
unjust discrimination against the product
of the farm. 1t should be his duty to
see that reciprocal trade relations are
esta blished between our own and foreign
powers and that our surplus farm prod
ucts enter the markets of other countries
on the most favorable terms.
Notwithstanding the antitrust laws
now found on our national statutes, COM
binations of most gigantic proportions
have been formed that bid defiance to
the courts of law and that absolutely ;on-
troll the purchase and the selling price Of
y
judgment it is dark day when these
combinations invade any state. Gradu-
ally they are extending their power and
fastening their fangs upon the important
trade centers of the state with Il rapa
cious greed that threatens to sweep every
thing before it. Will any well-read man
deny the proposition that these combina-
tons can say to the farmer, you shall
take your stock to market and sell it 10
us at our price, or to others at price
dictated by us? They have invaded our
tGn0untry with the foreign beef carcass.
They have come within the gates of our
cities and destroyed the slaughter house
and driven the local business man to the
wall, through the SIRENS song of cheap
beef, and the time is not far distant
when they will as absolutely control the
price to the consumer.
When you get behind the screen that
conceals the grain and the millers' asso-
Citations, you will find the same condition.
Unless checked by state and national
legislation, the millers' association will
soon dictate to the farmer the price of
his grain and to the consumer the price
of his bread stuff as absolutely as the
whisky trust controls the price of their
goods. The meetings of these OrganiZa-
tions are exclusive and clandestin6
Some time since L understood from re-
liable authority that there was a national
convention of oatmeal manufacturers at
Des MOines, Iowa, and their movements
were so quiet as to escape the sharp
eye of the reportCrial staff of the Des
Moines press. If you will figure the
margins between the price paid for grain
and the price charged for mill product,
there is no man but what will agree with
me that those engaged in the milling
business are not rendering reciprocal JUS
tice to the producer of the cereals or to
the customer The facts are, the silent,
submissive farmer and the public have
submitted to these growing evils without
complaint. The farmer, as a class, gives
less attention to his own interest in
legislation affecting him. and to the ex-
tortiOn practised than any other class of
American people.
BY legislation and by the courts we
have settled the great principles that the
public have a right to control these
trusts. and corporations have accepted
the principle. What we want is for the
national and state executives to lose no
time in laying before congress and the
legislative bodies the evils complained of,
and TO suggest such remedies as will
check their further growth. We should
say to these combinations, thus far and
no farther shalt thou come. We should
ask for no class legislation. We should
demand no favors beyond a legitimate
protection to the farm interest, and we
should be satisfied with nothing short of
thp Same raoopnitinp on.o,J,1 30 Ill