Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-06
TALKS TO FARMERS
Secretary Wilson's Address at Stark
County, Ohio, Fair.
LITTLE POLITICS IN HlS SPEECH
He Points Out Benefits Of Protec-
ton to AgricuIturaIists.
PRESIDENT SENDS REGRETS

CANTON. Ohio. September 8-Secretary
Of Agriculture Wilson was the guest Of
honor at the Stark county fair today. He
was met at the station on his arrival from
Washington this morning by a committee
Of the fair management and escorted to the
grounds. where he addressed an immense
crowd OF people.
Secretary Wilson's Speech.
In introducing his remarks Secretary VIII
son dwelt to some extent on the necessity
Of the successful farmer Of today learning
of the soil in all its relations. it's anteced-
ents. its composition, its adaptabilities and
possibilities as shown by experiments which
have been conducted by scientific men. The
pioneer did not need this. He had a rich
soil that nature had been preparing for him
through the centuries. He retoiced in his
dover and inquired no further. 1t is very
different now. We violate natures laws at
our own cost. Whatever investigation had
determined regarding soils, crops, fiocks
and herds should be taught In the future
tiller of the soil. Many of the scientific dis
coverfes of our day had thrown light on
production They should be taught in
school and college ii the farmer does not
keep pace with growing information re-
garding his work he struggles against wind
and water, heat and cold, instead of using
them servants.
The Secretary went on to show there was
demand for scientifically trained farm
ers. What splendid iifework the study of
the question of the movement of moisture
opened up to the young farmer? II one
college would make the movement Of mois-
ture in the soil speciality and turn a full
faculty toward its demonstration from
every standpoint, the Secretary said 1t
would bless the country more than any
university under our flag.
Gives Some Statistics.
Continuing. he said:
1--WE buy the products Of skill from other
countries and we buy raw material, the
product of cheap labor. We sell the pro-
ducts of skill to other countries. and we
sell raw material, the product Of cheap la
Dor. within our own land. A careful study
Of this condition of affairs will lead us to
get correct estimate OF our standing,
compared with other countries. While we
sold $792, 81. 733 worth of domestic products
from the United States in 1885, we bought
s3I. 514 .S81 worth OF agricultural products
during the same year. 1t is interesting to
know what we pay this large sum of
money for, and 1t invites our thoughtful
attention to the production of such things
within our own borders in the future to
as great an extent as possible. We paid
94O00OO for sugar. Sc, 00O. 900 for coffee,
al ,0O0OO for hides and skins. $32 600 900
for silk. $25 .O00O0 for f1bers $1S, 600 600 for
fruits and nuts. $40 600 for tobacco So
which. however, Is only half al much wool
as we bought in 1893.
Several of these things We can produce
in the United States. Some of them we
cannot, on account of climatic prohibition.
The Secretary said the great activity ex-
listing in all departments OF industry had
had most beneficial effect on the prices
or farm animals.
The total increase in the value OF the
farm animals OF the United States from
January ]. 1897. to January l, 1900. was
1872. 70S,J22 The decrease in the number
Of horses during the last three years has
been pronounced. although, he said it was
becoming less and less every year. Now
that prices are remunerative the decrease
Is fading out, and II is only a question of
time when an increase will begin again
We sold Ga. 100 horses last year to foreign
countries and received 81, 812 056 for them
There Is an active demand in foreign coun-
tries for horses Of all kinds especially the
more valuable ones
Regarding Meat Products.
with regard to meat-producing animals.
the prices are high and will continue high.
because the people west Of the Missouri
river, who Craze their stock upon the range
country. have been destroying the grasses
so systematically that they are not able.
in many of the states. now to maintain
more than 30 per cent Of the meat-pro-
ducing animals found there q year ago The
meats Of the country In the future must
be produced upon the farms Of the coun-
try.
II need not tell an Ohio audience much
about sheep. The policies OF political par
this line. and nobody understands that bet
ter than the Ohio farmer When We have
open ports that industry languishes. We
buy many million dollars worth Of woods
from foreign countries. The sheep industry
Is prospecting in the United States Just now
The movement In the direction Of growing
mutton sheep with desirable wool is in the
right direction without question. The peo-
pie will be fed more economically and the
profits for the farmer will be better in the
production of larger per cent Of mutton
sheep than we have been In the habit of
producing
Secretary Wilson referred to the new
markets being opened up to the farmers of
the United States, including the territory I'm
the mining states west OF the prairie coun-
tr:'. the orient and the West Indies. quoting
freely figures to illustrate the increase in
exports in recent years.
'The United States buys $500 600, 600 worth
Of tropical products annually. 1t will be
our policy In future to educate the brown
men OF our island possessions to produce
this vast amount Of material The receipt
Of this amount Of money will enable them
to set better tables. ciothe themselves bet
ter. live In better houses and do more for
education
liberalization of Industry.
Tie Secretary declared, in closing. that
agriculture fiourishes best when the factory
fiourishes best. and added:
"Diversifcation OF industry has gone on
quite satisfactorily. The home market Is
the best In the world: the per cent of fac
tory people grows every year. Prices of
farm produce are excellent. We feed fewer
Of the artisans beyond the sea at arms
length. but factories multiply and will con-
tinue to do So In many directions more
goods can be made than the home markets
can consume We are reaching beyond our
borders for new customers to keep our
artisans busy. 1t Is the farmers privilege
to so shape politics that the sphere In
which we sell will widen as our require
ments demand
President Mckinley Sends Regrets.
After the address Secretary Wilson lunch
ed with the fair managers and prominent
citizens on the grounds, and at Las o'clock
returned east President Mckinley had &C
cepted an invitation to be at the fair on
this occasion. but the press of public bust
ness. which kept him from the Chicago
G. A. r. encampment and prevented him
from returning to Canton as planned, kept
him from the fair today. The Secretary