The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-07
THE FARMERS
National Body Is Now Ia Session It Fort
Worth.
SEVERAL ADDRESSES BY PROMINENT MEN
President Hoard Told the Delegates
that They Must Make the Farmer
BigBer Than the Farm.
Especial Dispatch to The Post,

Especial Dispatch to The Post.)
Fort WoiNa Texas. December 6.--The
four days session OF the Farmers National
congress opened this morning under aus
pscious circumstances and by 10 o'clock
the large audIitorium OF the city hall was
we'll filled with delegates and visitors.
Ex-Governor Hoard OF Wisconsin, pres
ident OF the congress, arrived in thu hall
shortly after 10. HIS appearance was the
saxnal FOR muse and the beelnning OF
demonstrations. -
The congress was called TO cr.ea- By Col
onea CLAYTON of Iowa, ex president Of The
association. WHO introduced Pres ,ienr
hoard, VINO formally opened the session
hev Alex G. Garrett OF Dallas followed
with an invocation OF ddyine b.e.slng
Aeting Mayor Henderson welcomed tina
Delegates TO Fort Worth.
Il Secretary John VI. Stalhl Of ;)airago re
sponded to Mayor Henderson ON behalf OF
i the congress.
He was followed by Governor Charles A.
Cuibersoa. whose a1irsss was. IN pait. as
follows yr n
DeeDly sensible OF the great Importance
i q this congress and the benefits which
should follow your deliberations. it is IN
hontr 10 greet you in the name OF the
| ieonle OF Texas and extend yon d cordial
| welcome to the State. 1t 10 particlMs ly
4 gratifying that so many States Of the
| Union aud our sister republic OF Mexico
are represented for besides the value of
the advice and counsel of their distin-
i guished delegates the occasion can but
add to the kindly relations already ex-
| isting.
Although 1t is said the specific term
| farm appears but once in sacred history,
In the parable of the marriage OF the
| kings son by Matthew we know from the
| more general words of Genesis that agr,-
| culture is coeval with mankind. Not only
1 is Ut the most ancientf and honorable, hut
| from the beginning it has been the chief
OCCUPATION of the world. Al the present
time one-fourth OF the world is engaged
in manufactures. one-tenth in trade and
i transportation, one-fifteenth in profes-
! sions, public service and like, and one
| half In agriculture. which includes beth
tillage and pastoral pursuits.
| The growth of agriou6ure in America in
| the past half century is unprecedented in
| any age or nation.
| Notwithstanding the population OF the
| United States is only about one-sixth Of
| the nations of Christend3m, we raise one
third OF the food and one half Of the
.iber produced in the world.
In other respects American farmers have
made remarkable success and exoelled all
other peoples. This is due to our i'm
proved agricultural machinery and supe-
rior intelligence, for a greater proportion
of our population is educated than of any
nation IN history ana bealues me eHol-
nous Saving OF human lapor the aVeiase .
uIouuct per it.in Is lou. tilies ~ =. e'.
If we turn 10 our own State 1t will be
seen that agriculture has made wonderful
progress here. Between 1850 and 1880 the
improved area ihcfeasea from o4o,vVV "
sV'ao.o"y acres ARricuieulsi w 1an 10 .n
ina. periou incredseu irolu sLs,ovV,ooo 10
solloov,ooo. fade OF tnis Hu'apie auNa liz,
menl is que 70 the iact tiiat each hnui
empioyed IN farming IN iexas, hceoa a,..s
70 tne census VI low plouur1s .h, e,t u.nus
as much Us one oil any olher southeIh
STATE. me lncrease OF Wealth. PEI iiht'p
liant in TINS state the pa5l lils! years'
whlcn is aireaay atllaputapie ,o asiio ,'.
VMna progress, Is Twelve uo!lars sre"eei
IMAM tie aVeraee ioi 'ui .he Se'l'es " 'iie
Union ,,.
Numbering nan une "orhins ,iilih as s,,l
or Vhe slope' pFouuci"e .As peph asa Iin ,.,
ana representing one-tnra OF the We1i,r
of nations. the Farmers enjoy inc sI,,
highel dlsnnatloh OF nayins oeen III a. al
ae1S tue ccaseiNati'e ioiSes W cl,ihHoo..i-
Whatever nie reason. wneeheI u ~ uue
10 thelr haDits Oh riusasity a.i1 ecoa si
the usraily calm ana thoughNlu' consiuef
atlon OF pubic queSeloiie wi.cl tn ~ us
invite the want OFTEN Vi lii'in y, AN
pressing pecun.a'y MA ~ 800,
-
ana c0hceauent independence ana lnlFl
duality, the equitable distribution OF
! wealth anu lack OF great fortunes a'hons
theh, uhe apseIcs OF Z" Yas.ane anu 80
snons!hle population, insepasabie from
towns and cities, uhelr ownership OF me
soil with Its steadying influence and love
of country, or TO other causes, their com,
narrative freedom from corruption ana
| other depaalng politicai influences Is rec
ognied by all. They aspire 10 the highest
ideals OF enhancement and 1t is a phil,
csopIic truth of history THAI Agricultural
States have ever been the surest abiding
places OF liberty.
The interests of this large proportion
of our people deserve earnest ana serious
| attention and 1t Il significant that such 9
representative and intelligent congress has
me- for that purpose. My relation to this
assemtlage renders a statement of govern
! mental remedies for these conditions al
| together inappropriate Limited as near
or rracieable to purely economic remedies
tha subject covers wide fled tut dsre-
enrdjny lesser considerations ouch sub
starrioI relief as may thus be afforded
/ southern ani Western farmers. as wei!