The times., 1899-08-23
WILSON'S VIEW OF Things
The Secretary of Agriculture Finds
Much Prosperity.
A Problem i'm the West Is What
Shall Farmers Do With Their Sur
plus Money-Crop Talk and Gold
Arguments - The Policies of the
Present Administration Defended

Secretary Wilson caused to be circulated
yesterday in convenient typewriter form
the following interview with himself:
Mr.. Wilson, the Secretary OF Agricui-
ture, in an interview yesterday. stated that
the farmers in the United States were en-
joying unprecedented prosperity; that this
happy condition OF affairs would be perma-
nent; that money was plentiful in the
great agricultural communities; that the
legal enactment OF the single gold standard
by the next Congress would be greatly to
the advantage of the farmers; that the
Western States were already feeling the
good effects of commercial expansion in
the Oriental markets, and that so far as
he could judge the best people, morally.
religiously, and patriotically, in the United
States would sustain the President in bis
effort to conquer peace and to press the
war in the Philippines to a successful con-
clusion.
81 am confident said the Secretary,
that the agricultural interests in the
United States are today in as prosperous a
condition as could reasonably be desired.
The crops in the Mississippi Valley are the
heaviest grown there Kansas will pro-
duce 400, ,000, 900 bushels Of corn. Nebras-
ka's yield is estimated at 800, ,000, ,000 bush
els. Iowa and Illinois will have record
breaking crops. Throughout the Western
country feeding animals are scarce and
dear Heavy exports OF corn Will result,
our great balance Of trade will be main
tanned, and ready money will be brought
back TO the producers Agriculture and
horticulture are exceedingly prosperous in
the mountain States and along the Pacific
Coast. Our total wheat crop will be short
OF last years figures, but all other crops
Will be superabundant.
:" L believe that the legal enactment of
'Ghe single gold standard will be OF prac-
teal and permanent advantage to the ag-
rieultural interests Of the United States.
Since July. 1897, the United States has ex-
ported to foreign countries more than 81
100000 worth of goods. OF this total.
more than $3.50, ,0O0,0Vv has been contrib
uted by the farms. l think that we should
in the interest Of our agricultural classes.
seek to strengthen our present position in
favor OF sound and safe money by legally
enacting the single geld standard at the
next session of Congress. / believe that
such legislation would give certainty to the
financial situation for many years TO come.
and would enable all producers, and es-
pecially the farmers, to make safe caIcu-
lations accordingly. 1t would naturally
give sense of security 10 the great cred
itor class, and would insure a satisfae-
tory financial condition from almost all
points of view.
F" The State of Iowa has today s130 Co.,
600 idle in its banks. Other States of the
Northwest are similarly provided with
surplus deposits. All this money came
from the soil. Not dollar of it today
can be lent in the West even at per cent
interest. The people do not need the
money The farmers are plentifully sup
piled. Some farm loans are, / learned.
being made at per cent The conditions
are so satisfactory today that the money
question is rarely mentioned among far
mers in the West. Prices OF farm products
all along the line are high Large addi-
tions viii be made to this bank surplus
Indeed. 1t Is becoming a problem as to
what the people will do with their surplus
money. l have heard many advise that
this money should be used to build up an
American merchant marine. l heartily
concur in that opinion. The commercial
outlook in view of new and large oppor-
tunities in the East is certainly inviting
and encouraging. The reason why we have
not built carrying ships heretofore has
b"en that the rates of interest have been
too high. American money is now as cheap
as IL not cheaper than that of any other
furnishing loans to other nations.
:" This prosperity in agriculture has come
to stay. 1t is based upon conditions OF
permanent success in the operation of farms
and upon economic laws regulating the
prices OF farm products. There is nothing
ephemeral or spasmodic about IL. The great
Mississippi Valley will continue its ratio
in the production OF staple goods, and will
increase it as scientific knowledge of farm
management becomes more general. What
Is true of that section Is measuTably true
OF all other agricultural communities.
=" The peole in the United States are salts
fed with the present policies OF the Ad-
ministration. They are gratiisd with the
good wages for labor and with the prosper
Gus manufacturing activities. They are
sanguine of our commercial future The
West is unanimously in favor OF expansion
The people there have already felt the
stimulating advantage of the Oriental
markets. While the war with Spain was
not begun for commercial aggrandizemeut
yet Dewey did go TO the Philippines to pro-
tect our commerce in the Pacific, which was
very heavy then and which is a great deal
| heavier now. The people in the West be-
lieve that the responsibility OF the United
States attached as soon as Dewey sunk
the Spanish fleet. They believe that the
responsibility is still incumbent upon us.
Iney can see no good reason why the
United States should abandon that respon-
sibility and forfeit those commercial ad-
vantages which would surely be assumed by
European powers the moment our feet
should leave the coast of Asia. The best
people morally. religiously patriotically. ip
the United States are in favor of sustaining
the President in his effort TO conquer a
peace. 10 crush out the insurrection and to
press the war TO AN honorable and success
ful conclusion. The people believe that
when that has been accomplished every ef-
fort will be made by the United States
Government 10 establish order and to pro-
mote good government in the Philippines
| just as we have already done in Cuba