The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-07
ket for the product of such expensive

ket for h product of such expensive
methods.
The progress Of economic thought and
understanding has enriched every other
in society more than the farmer.
A number Of our farm products are
produced just as extensively as they
were 40 years ago. Ancient m
no longer pays. We can do something
IL we are practical men to help along
a reform in this respect among our
brethren.
our ability to retain the markets of
the world depends almost entirely upon
our economic skill. Our talk about
cheap and has. i fear. c~heapened our
thought N u estimate OF what Is
involved. Expansion In acres. or in
national possessions. will mo- help US:
The expansion of the brain, skill and
Judgment of the farmer will help. Let
us never lose sight of, or forget. thai
the great objective point of all farm
ers' organizations is TO make better
farmers. From this Pierian spring viii
flow a stream of blessings to the whole
country.
The Farmers National congress is
needed as an organized body of opinion
to promote as best IL can. national leg
islation in support of the department
of agriculture. Our present able and sa-
gac.ous Secretary of agriculture Is do
ing what he can to introduce Ameri-
can food products into foreign markets
and promote their consumption. That
department hould have the authority
an means TO employ. under its " d.
~rection. commercial agents In every
food market in the world. Denmark
sends it's agents to England to receive.
guard and look after its shipments OF
butter and bacon. Canada Is doing the
same. There is no reason on earth
better than traditional abstraction, why
- "A. 49,. .Aa..lI not ahnNF tho
same good business sense. Besides,
there is a great trade awaiting US at
our very doors in the sister republics
OF the southern part OF this continent.
Can we say or do anything here
which will move our national legisla-
ture into work OF a practical character,
in the way of mail subsidies to a Line
of American steamships sailing direct
from southern ports to South American
ports? / hope we can. 1t is a reproach
to the practical craftsmanship OF the
American people. that something has
not been done of this character. "A con-
stitutional or traditional quibble Is
poor consolation for the loss of an in
ternational trade which would soon
grow into magnificent proportions.
This congress can do something in
the way of aiding the greater efficiency
of the state experiment stations. some
of which are hardly more than lodging
houses for politicians. IL can stand Up
and rebuke, in no measured tones. the
prostitution of agricultural necessities
and progress to political favoriusm, III
can and should demand of the national
government the taxation to extinction
of all counterfeit food products.
An imitation is a counterfeit, ana a
counterfeit is a fraud per Sc, and should
have no rights before the law as against
an honest product of the farm. No
matter how many hired chemists as
sert to the contrary, counterfeit tood
products are a menace to the health OF
the public. and The prosperity OF the
farmer. and the nation. In every state
there is needed "A dairy and o COM
mission to act as a bureau for the en-
forcement Of good laws against food.
drug and drink CONTRIBUTING the
only law we have is the enforced law.
This body can, in my opinion
| should. express no doubtful opinion on
these subjects.
We can promote a wide acquaintance
ship between the agriculturalists of the
whole ountry teaching ourselves the
doctrine first. that with us there - no
North, no South. no East. no West.
1t Is the bounden duty of this con-
gress TO preserve its own life. To TINS
end / would recommend the creation
of auxiliary organizations I'm the seNeral
states. Two forces Will work constant
IN TO disrupt and disorganize us: First,
the s~elishness of certain elements
which dread the effect of the education
we can. and should accomplish here.
i'm the way Of helping public conviction
TO "A true understanding of the rights
and interests Of the American farmer
Second, the personal sacrifice OF lime
effort and money necessary To the as
sembling Of this congress. one Is al
- l. 49, NHHNhtn
The in~vigorating sympathy, welcome
and hospitality with which this con.
Cress has been greeted everywhere, ano
especially by the people OF Fort Worth
and the great state or Texas, shoulo
build US anew in faith, hope ana cour'
age. Just as long as we put our pur'
pose above ourselves. will. the people
the promotion of the objects
and purposes of this organization.
We must not forget that a part of oul
duty Is to stimulate a broader and
deeper growth of agricultural citizen
shin. We have something more TO liv'
for than a living. We have. as a class
large duties to perform to the nation
the state and the community. Gu
standing among men Is the true meas
ure of the rights and privileges tha
will be accorded to us In law or so
cial relations. w have ourselves. no
our stars. to blame In we are under
lings."
Every other profession pays large re
spect to intellectual owe and devel
opment. Have they secrets more pro
found to solve than We? Have the,
problems more difficult to comprehend
No. The farmer stands daily in tn
presence OF Gods laws, the most pro
found. the most subtle of all laws {
interpret. on the outside he is met. a
all points. with the most thorough
trained intellectual forces OF the day
all seeking. naturally enough. their ow
advantage and advancement. IA
shrinks from such contention. for h
realizes his lack Of intellectual train
ing. He submits to unjust laws an
systems Of taxation. He sees persons
: property largely exempt. and lande
property grievously burdened. yet h
knows that the true basis Of all taxa
: L. - IL. .l.LIn-.. ...LtE II -ErnnnrL,