The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-01


capital. Through legislative enactments
and through the courts sthe contest has
been lone. and bitter but the principle has
Deen established and is now recognized by
the two great contending forces. While we
nave upon our statutes the interState-com
merce laws and antitrust enactments, yet
tnoSe evils are still in existence. 1t is ex-
hiDited in the Sugar Trust; we see it in the
National Millers' Association, where they
farmer and the price of the grain product
70 the consumer; and we find it in the Big
-Four Beef Company, that absolutely con-
trolls both ends of the market. If the Inter-
state-commerce Commission has not the
authority under existing laws to check the
rapacious greed of those organizations it
has failed in its mission, and should be SUI
perSeded by more effective measures.
Il am not an alarmist take. no pride
stitution that has for its object the great
est good to the greatest number of people.
bid them godspeed and a magnificent sue
cess In all legitimate enterprises; but hope
and believe there will never come an hour
when the Congress of the United States
VIII purposely give their consent to the
building up of trusts and combinations for
the control of the prices OF the necessar1es
OF human existence"
In concluding he said: There are many
questions upon which we should take ac-
ton. Notable among these is the enlarge
ment of the agricultural department, giving
II the power and the means by which 1t
can open up every possible avenue of trade
for American farm product, and to extend
to 1t the same protection accorded to other
interests. The amendments of our inter-
state-commerce law and antitrust meas
ures, giving the proper officers the right
and to make it his duty to send for persons
and papers and compel the attendance of
witnesses or to place them behind the prls-
! on bars regardless of the millions they may
possess The extension of free mail dellV-
cry TO the rural districts, the enlargement
of the Weather Bureau, q more systematic
crop statistics, the reclamation of the arid
and Semi-arid lands, and to restrict boards
of trade to a point where they will prevent
fraud in dealing in options and to entirely
stop the bucket-ShOp disgrace.
I'VE should ask the Congress of the
United States to make sufficient appropria-
ton to prevent the Importation of infected
live stock and to stamp out existing dis
cases. You, gentlemen, hailing from all
parts of the country, know much better
than | can tell you the Importance of urg-
preventing the success of the farmer. The
Congress of the United States when placed
in possession of facts have been quick to
eradicate existing evils. We should demand
no legislation; we should seek to do no
damage to other legitimate enterprises, but
we should insist upon the recognition of
our interests and we should be satisfied
with nothing else.
SECRETARY STALLS REPORT.
AT the afternoon session John M. Stahl,
Of Chicago, secretary of the congress, pre-
scented his annual report. In it he says:
LAS the members of the congress are APP
pointed by the Governors of the various
States, they are men of ability, character
and prominence; and as the congress has
neither dues nor salaries and members
must pay their own expenses to it's meet
ings, the congress does not attract GER
tain class that has done so much to de-
grade and bring into disrepute many
CARNATIONS. AS result the congress has
always been so sensible and conservative
in its action that 1t has the respect and.
confidence of all classes, and, as Mr.. Hatch,
for so many years chairman of the House
committee on agriculture said snort time
before his death, the Farmers National
Congress has more influence with the Con-
gresS of the United States than all other
agricultural organizations combined This
influence is well shown in the agricultural
schedule of the Dingey bill. The Farmers
National Congress was the only agricultur-
al organization to seriously champion the
farmers interests at the special session
that enacted that law. 1t presented a
printed memorial of 196 pages asking for pro-
lection for farm products, and the leg1Sla-
tive committee, headed by the venerable
Judge Lawrence, who entered Congress in
the early sixties, secured fair and just pro-
lection for farm products.
Your secretary has been for some years
the leader in the work to secure rural free
mail delivery, and he has been steadily and
heartily supported by this congress, and al
ready the press and the people are almost
unanimously in favor of rural free mail de-
livery and the Postoff1ce Department is
conducting experiments we have asked for.
This congress has always done all 1t could
to secure pure food legislation, and in
laws to benefit all classes. This body has
always been the foremost advocate
of good roads At our last
meeting we were addressed by Gen. Stone,
head Of the Good Roads Bureau of the
national government, and by Otto Larner,
the chairman of the highway Improvement
roads resolutions presented were adopted
without change. During the winter your
| secretary at the request of good roads
workers, particularly the L. A. W., argued
for good roads legislation before several
state legislatures. | am happy to report
powerful in securing needed good roads
! legislation in several States; and also other
terests. This congress should be proud of
the fact that legislators now look to it for
an expression OF the wishes of our agricul-
! tural classes, and it should also properly
appreciate the consequent heavy response
| bility.'