The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-01

pleasure or these delegates TO confer with
congressman in the interest Of our pro-
ductive interests. and II u much easier TO
see that the proper man is nominated and
elected than II is to dance attendance upon
members and senators after the election.
When We consider that In so short a time
we have stepped to the mont as the wealth.
lest nation on the eartn, that our increase
of wealth under normal conditions Is at
the rate OF $2,500;000 a day; when we con-
slider the rapid mechanical and scientific
development OF the last quarter OF Gen.
fury, It is not strange that we should ace
the combination of capital and the forml-
ton OF trusts. They are the logical out
growth OF most wonderful progress. Dur
ing the last twenty five years we have been
engaged in settling the great questions in
yolving the right to control these vast cor
porations. AS far as law is concerned We
have the right TO check the rapacious greed
OF aggregated capital. Through legislative
enactments 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 contending
forces. While we have upon our statutes
the interstate commerce laws and anti
trust enactments. yet those evils are still
In existence. IL Is exhibited in the sugar
trust; we see ii in the National Miilers'
association, where they largely control the
price Of grain from the farmer and the
price OF Tue sr'oi pfOuuCt 10 tue couSutncr,
and we find 1t in the rfBig Four Beef COM
pany," that absolutely controls both ends
OF the market. If the interstate commerce
commission has not the authority under ex-
listing laws to check the rapacious greed Of
these organizations 1t has failed In It's
mission and should be- superseded by more
| effective measures.
l am not an alarmiSt: / take no pride
| In making war on any organization or in-
| stitution that has for its object the great
| est good to the greatest number of people
| bid them God speed and a magnificent
] success in all legitimate enterprises: but
/ hope and believe there win never come
| an hour wncn the congress OF the United
States Will purposely give their consent to
| the building up of trusts and combinations
| for the control OF the prices OF the reCcs-
| saries Of human existence.
| desire 10 emphasize what | have said
| upon former occasions regarding the po-
| ltical attitude of this body, a man that
! has Lo political convictions Is not fit TO
| represent his district or State in the Farm
ers' National congress. While we are a
| non partisan organization. yet is fair to
| presume that We represent nearly every
phase OF American politics. No man IS a
| good citizen who will stay away from chs
| polls and permit the election to be con-
| trolled by disreputable political dema-
| gogucs. Ii is our place to be at thel ocal
| caucus of the political party to which we
| belong. when called by the proper au-
| thoiity, and to use our influence In be.
| half OF our best men, regardless OF legit-
| mate professions or occupations
| While this organization is not political
| In Its makeup, yet there is scarcely a
| question that may arise but has a political
side to ii.
That we may differ in our notions as to
| what the policy OF the government may be
| regarding our interests. is natural The
| questions upon which we are asking Fed.
| eral legislation should be discussed frank
ly from the standpoint that we view them
| without reference to their influence upor
any political party. The strength OF on
organization In the past and our hope foi
the future lays in the fact that we ig'
note party politics as an organization, thai
we take each other by the hand in Tho
interests of the betterment of agriculture
pursuits ] hope that eacn delegate earl.
in the session will draft such resolutions
as he may deem important submit then
at once and have them referred to tn,
proper committees for their consideration
There are many questions upon which
we should take action. Notably among
these is the enlargement Of the agricuitur-
al department giving 1t the power and the
means by which it can open up every pos
sible avenue of trade for American farm
product, and to extend to it the same pro-
lection accorded to other interests
The amendment OF our Interstate
commerce law and anti trust measures
giving the proper officers the right ana
| to make IL their duty to send for persons
and papers and compel the attendance OF
witnesses or TO place them behind the
| prison bars regardless OF the millions they
may POSSESS. The extension OF Tree mai
delivery to the rural districts, the en-
largement of the weather bureau, more
systematic crop statistics, the reclama-
ton of the arid and semi arid lands, anu
to restrict boards OF trade to point wher.
they Will prevent fraud in dealing IN OPP
lions and To entirely stop the bucket shoi
J disgrace A..
We should ask the congress oil tne
United States TO make sufficient appro-
| nriation ia ureyept the importation OF m
| fccted 1.-Two stock and to stamp out exist
ing diseases You gentlemen, ha.ilng from
, | all parts Of the country, know much pettei
, than can tell you the Importance OF uis-
ing prompt action regarding every ops'a s,
| nreventtsng the success Of the farmer Inc
| scnpross az the United States. when placed
in possession of facts. have been qulcH
, | IN eradicate existing evils. We should de-
maud no legislation; we should seek 10 Nv
no damage TO other legitimate enterprises
hut we should insist upon the recosn1t u
| of our interests and we sIouIu w s"''""N
, with nothing less.
n had heen intended to appoint the com
mIttees during the morning session, out
the addresses filled the time and the mai
ter was laid over until O'clock whch Inc
afternoon session began
The first address this afternoon wep by
n. II. Candagc OF Massachusetts on me
Value of River and Harbnr Improvement
land Shipping to Agricultural lntereSls'
; Mr. Candsge said in part:
ct is popular in some quarters TO m
uagh against railways, but how shall we
, get on without them? we can not 80 nhek
TO the OK team and stage coach. Freight
rates are often OF controlling Importance 10
tho farmer and nearly 30 to the consumer
of his products, as they determine the
, profit aud loss to the farmer and the price
, 10 be paid by the latter,
From Chicago to New York or Boston
Is distance Of 1000 miles aud from thence
, to Liverpool 5000 miles. or three Tunes
greater and yet steamship rates across the
Atlantic are on the average but one-thirn
OF the all rail freights from Chicago to our
, coast which. to be equal, wouid increas'
, the ocean rates nine times.
| hIt &c an undaniable and well known