The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-20
FARMERS IN COUNCIL
Farming the Basis of All Industry.
and It's Decay the BEGINNING of a
Nations RuIa-Gaod Results of
Organization Evidenced I'm Work
of the Goxernment Lexislatfon
Needed 10 Curb Trusts and ON
other snb5ects.


Needed 70 Curb Trusts and ON
other Subjects.
Following r. tire annual address c. Hon
3. r Clayton. president @ the Farmers
National Congress. al The opening cT rhs
session u that body at St Paul on AZ
gust q;
As a nation % progressive people. proud
Of CIR achievement and with a destiny OF
sFtsnG0r, position ana power. Waiel can
only D. portrayed - 4 master hand or a
gifted tongue. We must ackuow ledge the
nuSoaEeEuan ard Eae fsileT % the soil a.
the prime influence eIevating Us TO that
END. and whether ~ peace or n var the
farmer must Dc considered the nrsf factor
IN TIE wealth and stability OF the land.
From the crude method OF soWlnE thu
seed IA the Slime deposited ay the overflow
% tire Nile and having II tTampsed IN hy
the swine. when ala agricultural labor was
performed by The lowest menlal and the
common slave. We have advanced TO q
point where agriculture is one Of the first
sciences
The farm is the foundation OF wealth
and the main source OF national and state
prosperity. but 10 the due and 48equa -
success Of the farm and The farmers there
are issues pregnant with profound
thought IN youT deliberations ! am SIRE
that important economic questions can and
viii b. resolved 10 the advantage Of agri-
carriers. and especially IN the more Just
and equitable Interpretation Of such laws,
are not only demanded as due 70 the com
mon rights Of the people, but are OF vital
ana substantial concern IL making for
your labor and the products Of your labor
d market and corresponding reward.
Farming the Basis OF Industry.
1T Is doubtful If there Is a proper ap-
BTeeiation Of The vocation % farming.
Only within a few years has agriculture
taken its place on q par with other pro-
LESSONS although. ike Atlas, II bears the
world upon It's shoulders Our fathers
looked upon the profession with pride and
pleasure, and most Of the great men Of
TIE past generation were farmers or sons
Of farmers The argument generally ad-
N&nCed against u Is labor. but no count
ing room Or mandatory Is free from thls
badge OF the greatest blessing ia the world
The labor Of the farm does not suffer from
comparison with that Of other vacations.
II may Be- harder AT times but not 50 I'M
lHteymittng- Il T. more varied and the
results are sursr. No panic invades It 10
scatter the gains Of half a lifetime 10
strikes silence It's machines or paraiyze
the arms Of its laborers. No fabrics or
warehouses show 50 beautiful results "a
spring from the farmers hand Fields
white ana yellow with their more than
silver and golden harvests and orchards
bending under their weight OF fruit. II is
Dot business IN which great fortunes can
be made and riches quickly and easily &C
cufnuafed- but the ma 5ority Of the farm
eTs are better of than the army Of en-
pIoyes IN factories or mines
The Farmers Isolation
Whether or not the different classes
have moved forward equally ia intellect
ual. physical or financial DEVELOPMENT. this
fact Is true: The farmer Of this genera
tiuu r confronted by problems more sfrf-
Gus, and requiring more trained mind 10
solve. than were presented TO the genera
ton which cut off the primevai forests and
planted the virgin soil, but he holds in his
hands a key 10 these problems. and the
power 10 redress his wrongs He should
therefore educate himself 10 a full UNDER
Standing 81 his grievances and 10 a suffi-
Gent knowledge Of the PRINCIPLES which
should be employed 10 remedy them
The farmer reads little and Is often
doubtful that he is the better from that
little; from II he learns more things 10
brood over without finding q remedy The
httie glfmpSes ne obtains If The world in
what he reads infensifss hts preJudices
parent ills
He brushes 50 little against world Il
which be Is so important a part thar the
world practically ignores his existence.
lie is enumerated in the tables OF popula-
Tor, hut expunge1 from statistical lists
OF the nations representative. He II en-
rolled or. the tax list but Cancelled in the
catalogue Of those who levy taxes He Is
registered IN the poll book hut dfsfrau-
the privileges and immHnifies -
Ter the farmers Of America win
a ri their sovereignty remains 20 be
50 No one conscious Of his power will
is strength % intellect ard mind which
must win in all economic struggles.
Benefits of Organization.
Tho outlook IS promising. The real
capitalization is apparent in the unity
81 action NTH the organization Of the
Farmers National congress and its kin
dTed institutions "a few years aNo each
farmer was as isolated as Robinson Cruz
soc on his island. The benefits which
these societies have conferred on aeri-
cultural communities cannot h. estimated
ia 6oliars and cents II has taught the
virtues o. systematic organization in
stalled ne preeept that the gree test good
70 the greatest number IS "a good state 81
mind, good thoughts and good feelings.
and established the teucts OF q higher
measure ~ general Intelligence and cul-
ture. The special mission ana work o.
these gatherings IS 20 prepare the seed
for the sowing. 10 DO the planting ane
blowing and fostering which muse nreceda
a harvest OF in'elifgeu- votes NOT % IN
vent imposing theories, bat 70 amply
more effective and judici9u> measures.
Causes OF Nations Decay.
History teaches me- that 4 government
thar Will not protect the interests Of the
great masses az her people cannot b.
come perpetual Under 4ssf years Of dem
center q the Worl5's ctriii1a tIon. huf
when psutocracy and aristoc~acy seized
upon that magnificent republic in the
forgotten interest % fhc rrrat rqa aaas az
her people the heaufifel valleys Of fair
1talv were devastated I'D tAe proud citv
cf Rome was made 70 trsmhie for her
very existence
50 long as she CFTthlcrrta~ rrpsfblfz
a-aS governed hy 3usf and equitable laws
she Was prosperous Every sea was
white with f1e sells 81 hRr vessels hrr
ccuuerce was upon every ocean. her
nag footed in every civilized port. II
IVES fre Boast ~ t'7rffa -ertan cfetnsFr r-s
that m man dare wash hfs hands "a tha
great Mediterranean sea without the con-
. g - p a- ~ 81