The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-05-04
CONDITION OF THE FARMER.
LIE Grand Powers Before the Indus
trial C0mmiaaiNn.

lie Grand Powers Before the Indus
trial Commission
lie Grand Powers. Of Minneapolis. former
| Commissioner of Labor Of Minnesota. and
at present one of the five chief statisticians
OF the Census Bureau. testified before the
Industrial Commission this morning.
| Mr.. Powers, in outlining his duties while
commissioner Of labor Of Minnesota. stated
that his principal work was that of enforc-
ing the State laws regarding the employ
ment Of labor and the gathering OF statis-
| tics on labor matters.
During the fifty years from 1850 to 1890.
said the witness, the farming population Of
| Minnesota increased from 49, OOO, 900 to 27,-
| 000. 900. There has been a large increase
| in the number OF farm owners. The con-
| dition Of the farm laborers has greatly i'm
| proved over the time when slaves were en-
plOyed. there being. about 10 per cent of
| the laborers held in slavery. All these
| things have been brought about by the
opening up Of public lands. immigration
from Europe and eastern parts of the
United States, and the introduction OF i'm
proved farm machinery. Seyentyfve per
cent more men, who have endeavored to
purchase farms and homes in Minnesota.
have succeeded than In New York. They
have generally succeeded in freeing them
Gus from the proceeds OF their farms.
The use OF machinery is more general in
the North than in the South, there being
but small portion OF machinery in the
Southern States. The witness thought
that this fact was due to the negro's lack
Of education and agricultural experience.
The products OF the South are different
from those of the North, and machinery
has not yet been invented to handle many
Of them.
In Minnesota there is still some irregu-
larity in the steady employment Of labor.
This condition Is being outgrown by the
constant increase in the diversity of the
crops.
Wider clucation of the farming peo-
ple," said the witness, will check any IN
due movement of the farming classes to
the cities. With the knowledge that the
farmer can be as successful and as useful
in agricultural pursuits, the tendency to
move to the cities will entirely disappear.
The partial education Of boys is responsible
for many of the young men leaving the
farm and seeking other fields of labor.
In many parts of the United States the ag-
ricultural colleges have been responsible
for one-half of the decrease in the num-
ber Of farmers who graduate from these
institutions. In Minnesota. however. the
course of instruction has recently changed
SO as to make the student admire the farm
er's pursuit.
The system of crop sharing is very
prevalent in the West. 1t is an outgrowth
of the tenancy system. The witness did
not believe that the Commission ought to
recommend legislation providing for the
tenant system all over the country. The
system, the witness thought. would prove
harmful to the general farming interests.
The man who rents farm does not take
the same interest in the cultivation of the
ho fhof ho dnac n
he owns, and consequently he does not
establish a permanent home, making him
more unstable in his habits and character.
This tends to check his improvement.
The number of married men who are
farmers is decreasing. Within recent years
the number has decreased one-third.
"As rule" said the witness. those
engaged in farming make as good living
as those engaged in other pursuits"
Mortgage foreclosures in the East have
been ten times more than in the West
The competition of the West is the great
est factor that has driven SO many far
mers from New England and the North
Atlantic Coast States. This competition
has only commenced.
Eighty per cent OF the farm products OF
the United States are exported to Europe.
Under the best conditions. America con-
trolls the markets Of the world. As gen.
eral tnlng, however, Lue Halions VI Gu-
rope have about an equal share In the con-
troll of the worlds market. The prices are
to q great extent fixed in the large cities
Of this country.
The agriculturists are protected by the
Government to about the same extent as
the manufacturers. the witness thought.
The protection afforded to the farm by the
tariff is only nominal. however. The wit
ness did not believe. that high protective
tariff Is real protection to manufacturing
and agriculture in this country.