The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
CONDITION OF THE FARMERS.
One Who Knows Al About Them Tells
some Interesting Truths.
IRON the fatty Stakeholder.

from the lady Stakeholder.
Tho last twenty-five years witnessed moth
Ing but production and DEVELOPMENT o. this
country. Production has Kept way ahead Of
population. and so far as development is con-
cerned. every one must realize that we have
reached nearly the end OF our rope with de-
velopment. and we have nothing row to work
upon but "the arid, plains" 1t SEEMS to me
that this country never needed a broad system
Of reciprocity for her products and mnnufac-
tured goods as she does to-day. With the per-
lection OF our machinery, the wonderful fer.
tility of orr soil. raising great biz crops year
after year. a home market is simply IA delu-
sion and u snare" One reason that the move
ment Of corn this. winter Is SO light Is that tho
farmers are not obliged To sell il. When you
talk about a farmer per Sc. we only think OF
him as n producer OF corn. wheat. AMI cats.
wherets. The majority OF farmers not only pro.
duce tho above products OF grain. but are large
producers OF horses. cattle. hogs. butter. and
eggs. and poultry Of all kinds.
Tho butter and eggs and the poultry keep the
average farmer In groceries. and 20 very far
toward buying the clothing OF the family.
"f the farm. such as labor ard farm impie-
ments. lhon the wheat. corn. and oats nj
ways call the rake;"fi.' and that is a part of
the returns from the farm that 10 into tho
farmers corn c 10 or granary. lust IN the same
way that the lab"ring man and tho man upon
salary puts his money into the sa, ings banks.
The farmer always regards this aAa fund,
only to he I sod In contingencies for which he
himself with less friction to ! = is suTroundinrs
than any other class OF men earning their liy-
ing by lie sweat o. their brow. Old clothes,
rubber boots, and blue ovcralls are not loOSei
upon by him as q. disgrace. but more in the
light OF u mark Of his high calling. II n farm
er goes To the city with a load. OF cattle or hogs,
dressed somewhat In the fashion | have Just
described, and with n hickory stick and u sharp
pointed nail IN the end OF It. after ho sails his
cattle he can. 20 to any hotrl In the city and
get tho bridal chamber" II necessary. No
Other, class of men can do those sort of things.
IL ls on account OF the above reasons that
We have so much complaint, not only at the
pr, sent time. but for years OF poor condition
OF trade. This cnuutry is.more and more.be-
coming purely an agricultural one, and unless
our people cun get better and broader markets
for their products. they need not look for high.
or prices for crops. unless through u series Of
crop failures, have cOntendci for over n
year, and never felt more confident that ! was
right than do to-day, that the farmers OF the
| nited States are not sUiferioG, that even
with tho low prices Of some OF their products,
they never had 30 much 10 eat and drink, such
cheap agricultural implemcRtS, m many of
the necessaries OF life, aud so many of the
Injuries ns tacy have ,o-dny.. They are sim
ply conlpl aiming. Ike every body else Is, asking
for more, which In natural aud their right. All
tne legisll tion they need to-day Is. to be- sim
tlN lf nlnn,H ~ l. Il IntNn