The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-09-04
NEEDS OF THE FARMER.
President Clayton In an Addree
at St. Paul Outlines Agri-
cultural Reforms.

st. Paul. MINI. Aug. 31-[ Special /
The Auditorium was filled 10 Overlooking =
this morning at the opening of the seven
teenth annual Farmers National Congress
of the United States. The delegates repre-
sent every state and territory, among them
many men and women of standing in
their respective localities, having been ap-
pointed by the governors of their states.
or by agricultural and commercial organ
izatons.
National President Il. +. Clayton of
1ndianola. Ia. called the gathering to or
der at 10 clock. and the convention
arose while Archbishop John Ireland de
livered an invocation. Addresses of wei
come We're delivered by Gov. II. VI.
Clough for the state. Mayor Frank L.
Doran for the city. and President Edgar
Weaver for the State Agricultural so
ciety, and responses were made by Pres
ident Clayton. Secretary John VI. Stahl
of Chicago and Col. j. :. Cunningham Of
North Carolina.
After the roll call of states President
Clayton proceeded to deliver the annual
address. Among other things he said:
Farm the Foundation of Prosperity.
The farm is the foundation Of wealth and
the main source of national and state pros
perity; but to the due and adequate success
of the farm and the farmers there are issues
pregnant with profound Thought In your
deliberations. | am sure. that important
economic questions can and will be resolved
to the advantage OF agriculture. Changes in
the laws of common carriers. and especially
in the more just and equitable interpretation
of such laws. are not only demanded as the
common rights of the people. but are of vital
and substantial concern in making for your
labor and the products of your labor a mar
kct and corresponding reward.
The session of this congress held at 1ndi-
annapolis i'll November Of last year was ut the
end~of three years of the most fearful com
mercal depression known to our country dur
ing any peace1ul period Of Its history. Nhlc
every industry and interest felt the tremeud-
Gus shock and while the merchant the manu-
facturer and the great financial institutions
We're driven to desperation to avoid bank
ruptcy. Yet it fell with double force upon the
farmer and upon agricultural pursuits Til"
cause of this sudden calamity is Il debatahc
question upon which do not care To enter
That the worlds OYerprnduction with the
perfect facilities for transportation that
makes the nations of the earth neighhnrS
largely contributed TO it / have no doubt.
aud that mistaken legislation ON the part Of
the congress Of the United States has
plunged the agricultural interests Of the
country still deeper in the unfortunate ca
lamity is an indiSputablc fact.
The American people have experienced fear
full financial lessons in which the most rigid
economy has been brought Ia bear, and while
the debris of financial wrecks is being RI pid-
ly cleared away. and while | congratulate
you that there has been marked improve
1nent Ill the financial condition of the country
at large. and in the price of farm products
during the past year, yet there remains
much TO accomplish before we reach the
high tide Of prosperity experienced by the
American farmer in former years. For tn"
last four years, notwithStau ing the price
of transportation has been reuuced. much of
farm product has been below the price Of
production. The farmer is confronted WITH
Investments and obligations contracted un-
der a high tide of prosperity These nhiiga
tions together with undimniShcd taxation
for the support of the government must be
met from the meager revenues secured from
reduced prices i'll farm products.
Loyalty of the Farmer.
Gentlemen of the congress there is no
class of men more loyal to his government
than the American farmer. We have not
assembled aS dsgruntled agitatorS-an as
sembly Of disappointed political aspirants
Eri' Ance against the present or some for
me-. administration. This is the seventeenth
annual session US great organization rep
rescnting II great interest OF splendid ma
ton. Holding Il commission from your GOV
eTnor rs yoi do, repre- SentiUG the tremendous
aggregated wealth Of our country produced
in the fullest sense. our object is to formU-
late such legislation our vast interests
require, to let the Congress of the United
States know our needs, and to force them
upon their attention.
When we consider that in 50 short Il time
We have stepped to the front as the wealth
lest nation on the earth, that our increa>"
OF wealth under normal -nndit ions is at the
rate Of S2,5o0.tsH Il day. when We consider
the rapid mechanical and scientific develop
ment of the last quarter OF Il century. it is
not strange that we should see the Combina-
ton of capital and the formation Of trusts
They are the logical OutgrOwth Of Il most
wonderful progress. During the last twenty
i've years we have been engaged in settling
the great questions involving the right 10
control these vast corporations. As far as
law is concerned we have the right to check
the rapaciouS greed of aggregated capital.
Through Legislative cnaCtmcntS and through
the courts the contest has been long and
bitter. but the principle has been established
and is now recognized by the two great con-
tending forces. While we have upon our
statutes the Interstate commerce laws and
the antitrust enaCtmPnts, yet those evils
are SttIl i'll existence. 1t is exhibited in the
Sugar trust; we see ii in the National Mill
erS association. where they largely control
the price of grain from the farmer and the
price OF the grain product to the consumer
and we find il in the Big -Four Beef com
pauy, that absolutely controls both ends Of
the market. If the interstate commerce
c"mms ssion has not the authority under cN-
listing laws to check the r3pa"irU> greed of
IneSe 'FGaniZaIlniN II mas 1ah.I IN It's ms
sion, and should be superseded hy more cf-
feCtiVe measures.
/ am not an aIarmiSt | take no pride in
making war on any organization or institu-
to the gref hf f2r its %nJrt the STSat'N' god d
them GodSpeed and Il magninccnt success in
all legitimate enterprises, but hope ana b,.-
iieVe there Will never come an hour when
the Congress Of the United States will pur-
p"Seiy give their consent L" the building up
Of trusts aud combinations for the control
OF the prices of the HCrCSsareS Of human
existence.
Enlarge Associations Scope.
President Clayton concluded his lengthy
address 10y enum"rating various queS-
tons to which the Farmers congress
should now devote its energies These
included the enlargement of the agricul-
ture department. giving it power ana