The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-05
GOVERNOR ATKINSON
Writes En,ertaILn III Q : Farm

Il tne Gator OF that paper:
TT gives me great pleasure to com
ply with your recent request for short
earticie on the above subject, but must
confess TINT my time has been SO, fully
occupied with my official duties that ]
have been unable to give this complex
4 question the, careful study and thought
which its Importance deserves. Agri-
culture. now admittedly the foundation
4 upon which we must build our national
prosperity, and 10 which We must look
for our national greatness and wealth
for, all coming time. is, am satisfied.
on the eve OF great forward move
4 mcnt. ~
The general awakening among those
i engaged In this G0d-giycp profession
for II Is Il profession-the development
OF the great scientific principles UNDER
Il lie and constitute the basic principles
of SUCCESSFUL agriculture everywhere,
I have slowly but surely found their way
/ into the minds OF many husbandmen
4 In every part OF our great country;
II and this. with the earnest. constant
4 demand for more general and higher
y Education on all agricultural and kin
q dred subjects, Is sure to bear much
9fruit. The agencies which are at work
d to preserve intact this great industry
X OF our, country, md to fit and prepare
Y our people, for > the new opportunities
Rand possibilities which are ever opening
Ito them, have duties to perform, the
be orcrestimated. These agencies
y must continue to resist In the
X future. rs they have resisted In the
Npast. the strong and seemingly natural
tendency to ignore agriculture. and to
. dispute the claim that 1t Is the rock
3 upon which all other Industries must
y stand. II we you'd reach our highest
and best development as u great Ma
/ ton. .FcSg, Z. a.,
I've cannot afford as government,
Ito ignore agriculture or to give TO 1t It's
srlghtful place to commerce. to manufac-,
i turing, to- mining or to any other OF the
great; Industries OF our land: but must
Il In n sense make them all subordinate
I 10 1t, and for all to work in harmony for
4 the common good, and each contrib
4 ute to the SUCCEEDS and RULER develop
K nient of the other. .zs4 .l.. ~ s,
Every attempt which Is made to rob
agriculture OF its rightful place, first
piuce among all our leading industries,
I is in direct opposition to the common
good. and can only serve to hinder our
I progress and development as q nation.
That our national ana state. govern
( ments are conceding more and more to
1 the just demands OF: our agricultural
S people Is n source OF qualification 10
II every one who Is familiar with the his
tory OF the past, and arouse the people
generally 10 the. Importance OF the
n t,1t,t fl, 70 H.
4 ed to-day. II our nation Ia to 80 for
ward to still greater and nober
u nchievements-nnd 1t certainly Island
Hat this same time encourage and pro-
Z tcct those engaged In the husbandry Of
Your country, and see to 1t that no other
y business interest Is allowed to usurp,
Signore or infringe upon their rights by
n the enactment OF unjust and discrlmin-
Eating luwe, the conditions l have mem
Il tloEed must be considered. The FARM
"a ers of this country are Its bone and
s!rcw. and as class they desire moth
4 ing but an even chancejin the race OF
4 life; and With this. they will ever be
x able to hold their rigntful splucc, and
Il fulfil their mission in'life, and prove,
8 beyond oil caTi!, that theirs is an hon
4 est and honorable profession. and that
h they arc able and willing to contribute
Il their full share towards making this n
y still greater grander and nober nation
than 1t at present IS.
4 Tho question as 10 the effect upon
our agriculture of the extension of our
q territory Is one with which we should
h deal with great care, and only after
we'll matured del!beratlon. That new
4 opportunities will thus be opened 10 us
q Is certain, but that the effect upon our
agriculture will DE beneficial IL f-allght
&wlth much doubt. Upon this point many
Y OF our great minds differ widely. That
q 1t Will benefit ON the one hand md in
Z jure on the other Is doubtless true. That
l 1t will make any great difference either
way. except tn Special cases. Is an open
II question. Whether We ere In sympathy
with the policy which brings thcgc new
opportunities. or whcrher we are not.
\ II is. our pirin duly and our privilege
i as free American citizens, to grasp the
I opportunities thus opened to US. and
make the best use OF them that we pos
Z sibly can.
II an willing to trust 10 the proper
authorities Wise adjustment OF those
I very important questions; but. Mt the
same time, We must admonish them to
give heed und careful consideration to
[ the opinions On this subject. as express
s ed by the agricultural authorities,
which make very careful study OF all
these problems. and their probable CT
feet upon the agriculture OF our COM
mon country.
"As l said ct the beginning, much Is
being done In acknowledgment OF the
claims and Importance OF agriculture,
both BY the nation and by the different
states Of the republic.
among the different departments
and organizations involved In the issues
before US. desire to name few OF
those whose opinions and counses
should be sought In the settlement OF
these and'all other matters OF interest
(. and Importance TO the great and grow
Ing interests of our common country
to-wit: The department of agriculture,
: Washington, D. c.. and the state de-
purtments' Of agriculture in all our
states: and the national grange OF the
patrons of husbandry, with the state
oranges In all Of the states maintaining
them. These, and m9ny other such or
genizations could. and would, render
very valuable service In the ADJUST
,nent and settlement of NIL these I'M
portaut questions II called upon 20 do
SO. They, OF necessity. must study
carefully and inteiligently all OF these
intricate and pcrplexing national and
international questions. and all eco
monte questions which are constantly
coming UP before the masses OF our poo
pie for solution. and 1 am persuaded
that they are doing It. and this Will
make their support all the more form!d-
able.
az ct ti,n iillnrr Of thn rnil .,nni..a 10