Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-08
FARMERS INSTITUTE
Enthusiastic Meeting at Calmar
Last Wednesday and
Thursday.
LARGE NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE
The Leading Farmers Of the County
Join Together to Discuss Questions
of Mutual Interest. Synop-
sis of the Different
Sessions.
LARGE NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE

Sessions.
The Winnesheik County Farmers
Institute convened in the opera house
at Calmar, last Wednesday afternoon
Mt 1:30 p. m. When we arrived we
were surprised to note the splendid
audience which had gathered to par
ticipate in the discussions and listen
to the addresses. Joe Trigg, OF Rock
ford, was there, and his talks were a
source Transportation and instruction to
everyone.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
After the reading of the program by
Sec'y. Tyler the first subject for dis
cussion, Farm Prosperity. Should
its evidence first appear in barn, stock,
machinery or in the home" was ably
presented by John Hegg and others,
bringing out many salient points in
farm management.
Crop Rotation" was then taken up,
will remarks by j. A. Closing, J. b.
Kaye, J. s. Trigg, A. jacobson, and ].
]. Walenta, several different methods
of rotation being suggested, and favor
ed.
Then came the subject Expansion
Of the Territory of the United States.
Will it Benefit the Farmer?' 10.
Trigg said that he was an expansionist
by compulsion; the United States now
has the Philippines and must take care
Of them. but the man that eats bana-
mas daily can't be starved or civilized.
He described the climate, Inhabitants,
productions and conditions of living of
these people; said that the sugar pro-
ducing faculty of these countries when
properly developed would kill all. the
production of home beet sugar, for
which mills are being erected all over
this country, with large investment
OF capital; and he compared other
staple productions, bringing out the
disadvantages to this country. But
we've got to take these countries and
adjust ourselves to them; though he
couldn't see much benefit to be deriv-
ed by the farmer. They need no cloth
for clothing to speak of, no luxuries
such as we enjoy, no wheat, no wool,
no beef; they wantto be left alone, to
live on what they can produce with
out much labor. But our national
pride compels us to make the best of it.
We must sustain the authority of the
government and take care of them, but
we should never invest them with re-
presentation. Our high type of
civilization is repugnant to them; they
resent it, and want to live as they
were reared. These territories offer no
inducement to the poor man, for we
cannot compete with their low wages.
There is no comparison between the
losses of Americans with the benefit
gained. regard the acquisition of
these countries as detrimental to the
best interests of the farmer.
John b. Kaye said that like all other
questions there were two sides to this
one, and both should be developed.
We have the philippines on our
hands; Mr.. Trigg would have abandon
ed them after the victory at Manila
But what would we have accomplish
ed by that? The only loss to Spain
would have been the destruction of
her feet. We were entitled to assume
control of Manila Bay and did SO.
The problem is what shall WE do with
them, and will the result benefit the
farmer? We should remove the him
ORANGES, and place them In condition
to be civilized. The PHILIPPINE can be
educated as well as the Chinese or
other people. Civilization will in
spire them to wear good clothes, etc,
and this is sure to result when COM
mercial interests are opened with
them. The PHILIPPINES have better
natural endowments than Indians,
and they can be educated. We can
exchange the farmers products for the
product Of their cheap labor at a cor
rect ratio. 1t is our duty and oppor-
tunity to uplift them and we must do
il. The farmer will surely be benefit
ed by expansion. !.
A paper written by HI. A. Bigelow,
taking the negative side of the ques-
hon, was then read and has been pub
nshed in full.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
What was said by many to be the
largest crowd that ever gathered In
Calmar came out in the evening; even
standing room was at premium, and
many were unable to get into the hall.
After beautiful selection by the CAL
mar orchestra, the school children sang
. song Of greeting, and Rev, G. A.