Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-09
TO FARM ERS.
|.eoaeTARY WILSON so RECOo
r,zED az AGRiCUlTuRISTS.
.i.cral Extracts from an Address by
- Able Head of the Agricultural
nscartment- A Practical Talk by a
very Practical Man.
Greatness of Our Country.

Greatness Oh our
n Is tine that Americans fully realized
NJ relative greatness Of their own people,
IN n view to fuller comprehension of
Mir ability to make u market. They
. the best educated, best fed, best hous-
y hest clothed and farthest travelled TO-
a0OOO Of people in the world. II the laws
Ehterfere with their industries in any way,
hyoring their competitors abroad, inter-
ip,ins with their power to purchase to-
rard education, nutrition, lodging, cloth
M and travelling, as we have seen for
|tAe four years past, their power to make
market is lowered correspondingly.
prsperiAv has come naturally; public
sNIicies have been changed; the workers
sre employed; they buy more literally;
he farmer gets better prices; he puts the
,rce Of his crops into circulation; the
eurrent warns up all the veins of com-
nerce; the twenty millions Of farmers buy
more literally OF all household and other
commodities; the wholesale merchant
feels the %quickening influence and puts
more agents ON the road; the country mer-
Aant whose stocks have been low for
yesrs repienishes his shelves, and this
ives orders to the manufacturer, who
Employs more labor and skill; the busy
vorkmen have money to buy the farmers
and other products, all Of which make the
mod times we enjoy. The beginning OF
Al this was the change of public policy
! hat was ordered last November by the
poplc when they elected Gov. Mckinley
President, the keeping of jobs at
/ home for our own people, and the keep
ias of INC money at home to pay u to
sar own people.
President McKinley's administration
has set about the Introduction OF prosper
H. amsag all classes Of people by a com
plete change Of public policy. That change
kbrineing good results already. The first
eject h better prices for farm products.
It b said that the scarcity OF wheat
abroad ia the cause of better prices here.
Concede dat for the sake Of the argu-
nent. Why are other grains higher, with
beef, mutton. pork. wool and other farm
PRODUCTS? The voters who changed pub
liz policies a year ago have confidence in
The change Of administration. They are
Tie moving power OF the republic. They
70 the bulk Of its business. They are ia
miliar with American history for a cen
fury and a quarter, a. affected by pro-
lection to home industries and the want
II Il. They are n ready to take a step
toward the experience of the last four
years. The questions that were settled a
year ago will stay settled while this gen.
Grafton lives. and the cost Of sending our
jobs abroad and starving our workers at
home Is fresh in our memories.
Effect Of Changes of Policy.
The effect Of the changes Of public pol
Icy On agricultural interests is well illus
tfated By the changes in the prices OF II
farm stock and farm products. The de-
crease in the value Of the horses has been
very great during the past ten years.
Superficial observers tell lis that the sub
stitution Of steam and electricity on street
cars for horses has made this change.
But there are other factors that have been
ct work during this decade to destroy the
value It horses. The United States
changed it's public policies in the mean
time. Industries along all lines were par
liyzed, because u workmen were turned
out Of employment. They were not able
to buy farm products, the factories be-
came IDLE. and the farm horses were not
wanted about the factories, in the towns.
nor anywhere in the United States, as
much as formerly. Ii the value Of horses
were rcducsd during this change of public
policy, and tho prices of other materials
tefnatncd the same, VIC would be COM
PEELED t. conclude that some other cause
man general depression had lowered the
Price OF horses, but we will find in looking
ever the productions Of this great State
mat everything else pertaining to the
Larm decreased in value at the same time.
The farmers were left with large sur
piuses on their hands. Unfortunately for
~ our horses could not be put to n
treat extent pom the worlds market, be-
cause we had been producing such horses
= pleased us, and not such horses rs the
.oris demanded outside of the United
states. The worlds market for horses
IAed me prices for us, and We had so few
nat the world wanted to buy, that prices
slopped to an Improbable figure. II we
aso nccn producing heavy draft horses,
sOecn horses and saddle horses, Europeans
would have bought them at high prices.
.ney have agents in this country, and
s1ve Had them for many years, searching
.or nc Kind Of horses l have named, but
sNe nat able to find them ms plcntifully
!. unes desire. We are undoubtedly able
y produce horses in the United States
sle1per than any other country can pro-
~ taean, because we have the cheapest
49, ana grasses. good water, and intel
49,. people to rear them. 1t is a ques-
~ Dor the farmers in the future as to
~ ohey shall breed and develop their
aorse stock.
Sugar Beets.
We pay SlOO, 5000 each year for su-
~. made to a great extent from sugar
Sseu grown in Continental Europe. since
- eaaban war began. People will re-
-u that when President Mckinley
~ chairman Of the Ways and Means
Wso0a'nittcc in the House Of Representa-
- seaie years ago, he secured legisla-
~ "a the interest Of the farmer, giving
L~ufagCanen to the growing OF sugar
~ he attention OF American farm
drawn toward that industry.
Huecmcn were made to test the Gu.
- - ~ our soils In all parts Of the Unit
yates. Some factories were built, and
aln a reasonable time all the sugar
Es1lcans require would hnve been made
. un United States. Sugar. like hut
~. Consists OF labor and sunshine. The
49, OF would have been raised all