The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-01
SECRETARY STALLS REPORT
Briefly Reviews the Work of the
Farmers Congress-

In his annual report, Secretary John
NJ. Stahl, of Chicago, says:
AS by its constitution the membership of
the Farmers National congress is limited
to less than five hundred, the representation
of each state being to its combined represen-
tatiOn in the house and senate. l cannot con-
graduate our organization on "a large in
crease in membership" However, the mem
bers of the congress were never before so
alert and enthusiastic, and it is now certain
that at this meeting every state except three
and possibly every state except one. viii be
represented. AS the members of the con-
gress are appointed by the governors of the
various states, they are men of ability. char
acter and prominence; and as the congress
mas neither dues nor salaries and members
must pay their own expenses to its meet
ngs, the congress does not attract a certain
class that has done so much to degrade and
Drlng into dtsrepute many organizations AS
result the congress has always been so
sensible and conservative in its action that
1t has the respect and confidence of all
classes, and, as Mr.. Hatch, for so many
years chairman of the house committee Of
agriculture, said a short time before his
death, ':the Farmers National congress has
more influence with the congress of the Unit
eu states imam all other agricultural organ
lzatlons combined" This influence is we'll
shown in the agricultural schedule of the
Dlngley bill The Farmers National congress
was the only agricultural organization
seriously to champion the farmers interests
at the special session that enacted that law
1t presented printed memorial of 1913 pages
asking for protection for farm products"
and its legislative committee headed by
the venerable Judge Lawrence, who entered
congress in the early sixties secured fair
and just protection for farm products.
Your secretary has been for some years
the leader in the work to secure rural free
mail delivery, and he has been steadily and
heartily supported by this congress. and al
ready the press and the people are almost
unanimously in favor of rural free mail de-
livery and the post office department is con
Quoting the experiments we have asked for
Ihis congress has always done all
1t could to secure pure food legislation and
in many cases its efforts have resulted in
wise laws to benefit all classes This body
has always been the foremost advocate OF
good roads,
AT our last meeting we were addressed by
Gen. Stone, head of the good roads bureau
of the national government, and by Otto
Dorner, the chairman of the highway i'm
provement committee of the L. A. W.. and
the good roads resolutions presented were
adopted without change During the winter
your secretary, at the request of good roads
workers, particularly the L. A. W., argued for
good roads legislation before several state
legislatures. | am happy to report that the
influence Of this congress has been powerful
in securing needed good roads legislation in
several states; and also other legislation
beneficial to our agricultural interests. This
congress should be proud of the fact that
legislators now look to 1t for an expression
of the wishes of our agricultural classes, and
1T should also properly appreciate the con-
sequent heavy responsibility.