Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-12-21
WHAT THE FARMERS WANT OF CON-
GRESS.


Going into nearly 100000 farmers
homes aud rejecting the views Of almost
100000 farmers, the American Agri-
culturist feels qualified To speak Ia their
behalf TO the United States congress,
again convened 10 regular session. The
Homestead, being its eastern edition,
voices the sentiments Of New England
farmers.
The farmers immediate wants, at the
hands OF congress, are so reasonable that
they should be granted on their merits
without delay or eqaivocstiou.
The tirst thing demanded by our
farmers Is that Hawaii be not annexed TO
the L nited States. The treaty OF an
nexstion should be defeated. To an
mex these islands under present circum-
stances would be a colossal mistake
pregnant With mischief To the polite.
and government Of this country. On
purely patriotic grounds, annexation
should be defeSted al least for the pres
ent. But In addition To these considera-
tions OF patriotism, farmers also. and
justly, feel that TO annex the Sandwich
islands now would be To seriously retard
II not prevent the other~ise promising
development OF our domestic sugar in-
dustry.
The competition OF free sugar grown
by coolie labor upon these islands Ia the
one blsck cloud that now hangs over the
future ot the sugar beet aud sugar cane
crops in the United States. Give ia ss
fair a chance against this coolie product
as we have against other foreign sugars
aud II will Insure 10 Americsu farmers
this market for nearly slop, ,0oo, 900 Worth
OF sugar heretofore imported annually.
What such = new and profitable crop
means TO our farmers Il best shown by
the unprecedented interest they now feel
Ia this great industry.
The next demand of American farmers
Il the abolition Of the congressional seed
farce. The quarter OF a million dollars
~hieh has for years been expended on
this free se,d fake" il worse than
thrown away.
Farmers want part OF this money used
to enlarge the home and foreign demand
for our greatest of all crops-corn.
They favor the American Agricalturists
idea for grand International corn ex-
position With cooking schools, fat stock
and dairy shows, etc etc, Its essential
portions 20 sfjerwSrd form a large
feature at the Paris exposition In 1900
and later 10 oe shown 10 other continent
al and Oriental cities. Thus the In
creased use OF corn would not help the
market price OF this cereal, bat IL would
benefit the whole live stock and dairy in-
dustries hy enlsrging the market for
meats, lard, butter, cheese and other
products that come mainly from corn.
lie, the United States department Of
agriculture use the money now wasted
iu the government seed shop in fxcilitat-
ing this grand effort 20 benefit farmers
by uplifting the value Of their largest
crop through 8 permanently increased
consumption. La this way untold good
would be done 10 the whole nation.
Farmers demand improved rural postal
service, With more mails aud free de-
livery. They want this assured before
reduction in letter postage Is even
thought Of They would reduce the
postal deficit by cutting down the dis
tribution OF pub docs" that no one
wants, aud by securing lower transports-
tation rates for the railway mail service.
These are few simple things that
congress can do for the farmers without
injury 10 any other class, but With posi-
tive benefit 10 our ~hole people. Upon
these subjects farmers generally are
united. They look to the administration
TO foster American agriculture In every
reasonable wsy. Farmers will hold 10 a
strict accounts ability their senator's and
representatives, ss we'll as the president.
Farmers feel that 1.-THE other fellows
have heretofore resped the real benefit
Of governmental sction, while they have
been insult,d With a pittauce OF worth
less seed or put Of with dry pub docs.
Tired of this sort Of thing, farmers are
now united on the above reasonable de-
mxnGs