The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-02-22


forts in the interest Of humanity.
FREE NAIL DELIVERY.
Another important matter l desire
to call your attention to is the free mail
delivery in agricultural districts. The
farmers. in the days Of our fathers.
were considered by the professionals az
something like his steers and sheep, as
something to be devoured, and the in
dignation Is great If he resists. The
farmer of today is really merchant,
and he must of necessity come In closer
contact with the markets of the world.
This can be done by receiving the news
papers which give the marketing quota
lions and assist the farmer in disposing
Of his produce. In my opinion the
farmer is more entitled to free mail de-
livery than his brother in the city, be-
cause it means so much more for him
to drive eight or ten miles to the post
Office. The city man could get his mail
at the postoffce II the delivery system
should be abolished much easier and
with less expenditure than the man in
the country.
This is high tribute to the advanced
position of the farmer Of today, but 1t is
none too much so. The solidity and
prosperity of the country begins and
ends with the farmer. He is the grand
supporter and anchor of all other
classes
Something like $500, 900 are paid
out each year to support the govern
ment Directly the farmer gets the
least of any of the industries and enter
prises. Rural free mail is a great as
sistance to him, bringing his letters and
newspapers to his door every day.
Whereas he was once an isolated crea-
ture, he is brought into immediate and
constant touch with the government
and everything else.
Enlightenment is the key stone in the
national arch. The farmer, as a mer-
chant, will not by any means be out of
place.
POWER OF FARMERS.
What can farmers do as a class for
their own improvement? The greatest
good can be secured by organization
and cooperation. There is no such pro-
portion Of the population engaged in a
single calling as there Is in this. BY
organization, local and general, the
farmers should put in the state and ma
tional legislatures men who would rep
resent their interests. And in doing
this they would advance in the interests
of the people. BY organization and CO.
operation farmers could regulate local
taxation, improve their schools, keep
and extend free rural mail delivery, buy
lower and sell higher, improve their
business methods; and by discussing
among themselves improve their ability
to take part in public affairs; a great
need. They should lay hold of the mar
ket end Of their business, study it's de.
mands and cater to them in order to
obtain larger profits. To do this it
would not be necessary to enhance the
price to the consumer so much, but tc
get the product to him without passing
through 80 many hands, and in better
condition. Consumers interests call for
their cooperation In this matter. He is
the producer of every dollar of the
worlds ordinary wealth that is not dug
from the mine or is of spontaneous
growth. He feeds and clothes the
world, while the non-producer absorbs
his earnings and speculates on and
grows rich out Of his labor. Let him
cease his toll for single year and every
railroad will suspend, every factory
close it's door, and gaunt famine, stalk
ing the earth, will lay its whitening
touch upon the heads of millions. Strong
men will yield to hunger, helpless wom-
en-, stricken with starvation, will fall
by the wayside, and furnishing babies,
tugging at withered and empty breasts,
will sink into dreamless sleep.
| /. He feeds the world and clothes the
world. He constitutes about one-half
the worlds population, and yet he is the
| plaything of politicians, and the prey
of greedy Shylocks, the slave Of every
passing ism, who has not yet shown
the courage or the judgment to embrace
the opportunity for, self emancipation
| that is, and has all along, at least in
the United States, been within his easy
| grasp. He seems satisfied to be the
newer of wood and the drawer of water
the bearer of the worlds burdens for
those who neither toll nor spin.
Producing more than half of all the
worlds wealth and making possible the
production Of the balance, does it not
seem to a fair-minded mind that he
should be the owner of at least one-half
of that which he produces? And yet in
the United States, under a republican
form of government, where his condi-
ton should be the best and his oppor-
tunities the greatest, he is the real
owner Of less than five per cent of the
| country's wealth.
| SOME FARM STATISTICS.
| There is q business cause for the
farmers lack Of prosperity that is de-
serving Of more of his attention and
careful scrutiny than all Of the political