The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-01-13
An Able Address Delivered Before That
Order by ]. P. Berg.
DOlEGS OF The COMMERCIAL CLUB
Wiii Organize q Farmers' Institute
A Canning Factory Under DTS.
cussion-LesseP From q Firm OF
Ex.Yakima Merchants.

At recent meeting OF the Patriots OF
America, Mr.. Berg delivered an address
on the following subject Resolved,
That the first duty Of the Government is
to foster the industry Of farming; the
passing away Of an independent yeomanry
imperils the existence of free institu-
tons, and his remarks we're substan-
TALLY as follows:
This is the leading agricultural nation
in the world. Our resources to produce
food are almost unlimited. We export
more than twice az much farm produce
as all other productions put together,
aside from gold, and much more could
be exported had we not put up our tariff
fence so high against the products Of other
nations, that it is almost prohibitory.
This is why England. Germany and
France seek every excuse to keep out Of
their country our farm produce. This
has caused farming to be such an un-
profitable business as it is at present,
which is unnecessary for me to prove, for
We have the consequences Of it before us.
For instance: Just consider for mo-
ment the enormous increase OF farm
mortgages as We have them according to
our last two censuses. From 1880 to
1890 the farm mortgages have increased
from 81, 500 ,000, 900 in 1880 to s., 900 .OOO,-
900 in 1890, or 22O per cent in 10 years,
which is four times more than the in
crease of farm values with all tho farm
improvements made during that time.
Is this not awful? The Wall Street
Doodle press 10 trying hard to make us
believe that this was sure sign of pros
perity. Do you believe it? But this is
not all. Here is another fact In the
census Of 1860 we find that the farmers of
this country owned rs per cent OF the
wealth OF this nation. In the census OF
1890 We find that they own less than 25
per cent, and it is even claimed that it
was only II per cent.
What is the cause of this? Have the
farmers become lazy? Have they been
sitting on the sidewalks whiting dry
goods boxesP They have been at home
working day and night with wife and
children week after week and on Sundays
have read their agricultural newspaper,
owned by their enemy, which told them
that they should be very happy and
thankful to the Republican party that
they we're 90 prosperous! If any OF them
would kick on account Of low prices their
paper would tell them that they must
cultivate their land better, 90 that when
wheat is only so cents bushel they must
grow two bushels where they now grow
one. Then If they kick on account of
low prices their Wall Street Doodle farm
paper would tell them that 1t is no won
der that the prices are low with such
enormous crops! ut is overproduction
that is pinching you farmers" And the
good honest old farmer believed ii, and
went on working and improving his farm
and tried to get himself home. He
converted that vast country of the great
buffalo plains into great garden. Near
ly all OF the tillable country east of the
Rocky Mountains and the country be-
tween there and the Pacific from Mexico
to British Columbia has been made what
it 10 to-day since 1850, and yet the farm.
ers to-day owns only 20 per cent Of the
wealth Of the nation against 70 per cent
in 1860.
Now the question Is, who got this? It
surely could not have been lost. But
that Wall Street Doodle farm paper that
the farmer was reading right along would
not give him any farther information than
that he must not be 30 "extravagant."
He must be more saving" He must
not "go 80 much In debt" He must pay
cash for what he buys. He must keep
at work on his farm and produce all he
possibly can to make up for the low
prices and by all means to keep out Of
politics.
But there were two or three things that
that farmers Wall Street Doodle sheet
did not tell him. 1t did not tell him the
real condition Of things. 1t did not tell
him that his wealth had decreased from
70 per cent to 25 per cent in 80 years. 1t
did not tell him that whilst he owned
less than rs per cent Of the wealth Of the
nation he was paying 80 per cent Of the
taxes. 1t did not tell him that a high
protective tariff WAS to great extent cut
ting of the market for his produce and
creating a monopoly on bis supplies. IL
! did not tell him the real cause OF bis hard