Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-02-02

said, the ground hog of our society is
n thoroughbred. The little fellows
seen so numerously on the sunny hill
sides are degenerates and know no
more about the weather than n skunk,
and are no more to be compared to
our prophet than the Mexican burro
is to be compared with the pure bred
Ara bian. L hope you will all remem-
Der this, for probably this will be the
last time 1 will appear before you, at
least officially, as my term of office
expires today, with my Tooth year; and
to nv son, who has been carefully
reared and instructed in all the sci
ences connected with our society, will
fall the great honor of, wearing the
prophetic mantle and badge of office.
None more honorable has ever adorned
the breast of mortal man. With your
clerk is the record of my official ca
reer for these many years, and to the
absolute correctness of every predic-
ton which 1 have made there are
many here WHO can testify.
Educating the Farmer.
My whole life has been one con-
tinual effort to educate and elevate
the farmer and place him again in the
position which justly belongs to him,
and to this end l ask you all to inn
mediately enroll yourselves with the
new farmer party now organizing all
over the country. Your services will
soon be needed to wrest the reins of
government from the hands of the eX-
pansionistical politician and place
them in the hands of those who have
made the country to blossom like the
pumpkin vine. On you, my friends,
this burden rests. With our banner
carried aloft and a faithful observa-
ton of its teachings will assure you a
successful termination of every I'M
dertaking. My friends, you who have
faithfully followed the precepts of our
society have prospered in basket and
in store; love, Joy and comfort have
abided in your several homes; your
farms have broadened, your bins are
full to the top, your herds have vastly
increased in numbers, prosperity has
attended your every effort. To be
assured the continuation of all these
blessings remember the ground hog
The old hunter, completely ex-
hausted, was helped to seat by his
son. who had supported BIN through
out his address. A dead silence was
upon the audience; MANY eyes were
dimmed with tears of sympathy for
the brave old hunter. We all love
him, and our hearts are sad indeed.
The surrendering of the prophetic
mantle and badge of office by the old
hunter and the assuming of the same
by the young man was an affecting
scene, and the Importance of the
transfer was keenly felt by both par
ties-particularly so by the old hun
ter, as by this act he is released from
all connection with this society, and
the balance of his days will be spent
in a state of inocuous desuetude, as
some Romulus would put it.
The report of the committe that had
visited the ground hog quarters at
the dawn of the morning was public
ly read, and in substance was as fol-
lows:
l. That winter will continue into
the late spring months.
2. That the season generally will
be a bad crop year, especially so as to
corn, and would advise ali farmers
having corn to hold it for n much |
higher price, which is hereby assured |
3. Business generally throughout |
the country will be good by reason of
the abundance of idle money, and the
phenomenal high prices which most
all agricultural products will reach
before the year is out.
4. That the Hennepin canal will
be completed in 10 2.
5. That the Philippine islands
will never become part of the United
States.
A unanimous vote of thanks was
the citizens of Taylor Ridge,
and the meeting adjourned.