The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-01
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
MIR. CLAYTON'S VIEW OF NEEDS AND
DUTIES OF AGRICULTURIsTS.
Annual Report of Secretary Stahl,
Showing the influence of the Organ
izatiOn in Shaping Legislation.


sion was not largely attended but more
delegates are expected for tomorrow. The
delegate representation in the congress does
not, at its maximum, exceed 800. The morn
ing session was devoted largely to the mat
ter OF a formal welcome, and, following an
invocation by Archbishop ireland, the con-
gress was greeted on behalf of the city Of
st. Paul by Mayor Doran; on behalf of the
State Agricultural Society by President
Weaver, of that organization on behalf of
the State by Governor Clough, and to these
addresses, respectively, responses on be-
half of the congress were made by John
M Stahl, of Illinois, secretary of the con-
gress, and Hon. B. f. Clayton, of Iowa.
president. The morning session closed with
the annual address OF President Clayton.
He SAID in part:
LAS a nation of progressive people, proud
of our achievements and with destiny
of Splendor, position ana power which can
only be portrayed by master hand or a
gifted tongue, We must acknowledge the
huSbandman and the tiller OF the soil as
the prime influence elevatlng us to that
end; and whether in peace or In war the
farmer must be considered the nrSt factor
in the wealth and stability of the land.
From the crude method OF sowing the seed
in the slime deposited by the overflow of
the Nile and having it trampled IN by the
swine. when all agricultural TABOR was per-
formed by the lowest menlal ana the COM
mon slave, we have advanced TO point
where agriculture Is one OF the hrst SCI
enceS g4 at.
and the main source of national and state
prosperity; but to the due and adequate
success of the farm and the farmers tnere
are issues pregnant with profound thought
In your deliberations, am sure, I'M
portant 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 ana equlta-
BILE Interpretation of such laws are not only
demanded as due to the common rights OF
the people, but is of vital and suDstantlal
concern IN making for your labor and the
products of your labor a market and d
corresponding reward
THE VOCATION OF FARMING.
'It is doubtful if there is proper appre-
citation of the vocation OF farming only
within a few years has agriculture taken
it's place on a par with other professions,
although, like Atlas, it bears the world
upon it's shoulders. Our fathers looked
upon the profession with pride and pleas
ure. and most of the great men OF the past
generation were farmers or sons of farm
ers. The argument generally advanced
against it is, labor but no counting room
or manufactory rs free from this badge
of the greatest blessing of the world. The
labor of the farm does not suffer from COM
parison with that of other VocduonS. II
may be harder at times, but not so until
permitting. 1t is more varied, ana the re-
suits are Surer. II No panic lnVadeS IL TO
scatter the gains of halt HIetlme, no
strikes silence its machines or paralyze the
arms of its laborers NO Iaprlcs OF mThe-
from the farmers hand. Flelds WIllle anu u
yellow with theirC more than SILVER anu
golden harVeSts, and orchards penulnS un-
der their weight of fruit. 1t is not a bust
ness in which great fortunes can pe nlSteS
and riches quickly and easily accumulate,
hut the majority of the farmers are Detter
off than the army OF employees III 1acIoIleS
whether or not the different classes
have moved forward equally in intellectual
nhvsicaI or financial development, this
fact is true: The farmer OF this seneratlc!l
is confronted by problems more serious, anu
recurring more trained mind to solVe, imam
were presented to the generations which cut
off the primeVal forests ana planteu lHe
virgin soil but he holds in his hands a Key
to these problems and the power TO reufesS
his wrongs He should therefore EDUCATE
himself to full understanding Oh ms
grievances and to q Sufflclent knoWiedSe oL
the principles which should be employed 10
's,The farmer reads little and is often
doubtful that he is the better from that
little: from it he learns more Things TO
brood over without finding a remedy. me
little glimpses he obtains of the Worlu IN
what he reads intensifieS his pfeJudlces anu
does not prepare him to cope with appareiI
ills He brushes so little against a world
OF which he is SO important a part llldC 1IIe
world practically ignores his existence. ne
Is enumerated in the tables OIL popuiatiOh
but exnunged from statistical lists OF the
Nations Representatives. lie IS eAlollS S Oli
the tax list but Cancelled in the catalogue
of those who levy taxes. lie is regis
in the poIl book but disfranch1sed or the
privileges and imTnunities OF a cltlZen,
whether the farmers Of America VIII as
sert their soyerelg9tg, r9 nnye win Wiling
" remain a. slave, but it is strength OF IN
tellect and mind which must WIN IN an
econonic struggles. The outlook is prOrnls-
ing The real capitalization is apparent in
the unity of action. Until the oISdlllAd s ~
of the Farmers National Congress ana It's
farmer was as isolated as Robinson Crusoe
on his island. The benefits when tnese
societies have conferred on aSIlcullulIddl
communities cannot be estlinat9u III 49, 10
lars and cents. 1t has taught the virtues
of systematic organization, lnstaileu lue
precept that the greatest good 10 the great
est number is a good state Oh nli mn Spo od
the tenets of a higher measure Oh genera
intelligence and culture. The speclal ms
SION and work of these gatherings Is 40 p III
mare the seed for the sowing, 10 90 the
planting and blowing ana Fostering Mnlcn
must precede a harvest OF lntellsent NOteS'
not to invent imposing theories put " az ;,
plv more effective and judiclous measures
A FEARFUL. FINANCIAL LESSON.
Mr. CLAYTON then reviewed the work of
Farmers Congresses, and continued: The
session of this congress held at Indianapolis
November of last year was at the end of
three wears of the most fearful commercial
depression known to our country during
any peaceful period of its history. While
every interest and industry felt the ire
mendous shock nd while the merchant, the
manufactures ard the great financial in
situations were driven to desperation to
avoid bankruptcy, yet it fell with double
force upon the farmer and upon agricul-
tural persuits The cause of this sudden
calamity is a debatable question upon
which I do not care to enter That the
worlds overproduction, with the perfect
facilities for transportation that makes the
nations of the earth neighborS, largely con-
tributed to 1t / have no doubt ana that
mistaken legislation on the part OF the
Congress of the United states mas plunged
the agricultural interests of America still
daener i'm the unfortunate calamity is an
indisputable fact The American people
have experienced fearful financial lessons
in which the most rigid economy has been
brought TO bear: and while the debris OF
financial wrecks are being rapidly cleared
away: and while l congratulate you that
there has been marked Improvement In
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
President Clayton next turned his atten-
ton TO trusts. saying During the last
twenty-five years we have been engaged IN
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