The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-09-12
THE AMERICAN FARM
It Is the Source of Our National
Wealth and Greatness.
eecretary of Agriculture Wilson
Makes Prediction and Gives
Some Excellent Reasons
in Support of 1t.
Especial Washington Letter.1

CT WILL give you statement
and a prophecy" said Secre-
tary Wilson. of the depart
ment of agriculture.
There is some talk of combina-
ton of all Europe against the United
States, commercially, if not inimical-
ly. We can come nearer now to sup
porting ourselves than any nation on
earth. Any combination of countries
against US, to embarrass us in any
way, would soon discover that they
were getting the worst of it.
"The object of all of the work OF
the department of agriculture is to
enable the United States to produce,
as near as possible, everything which
our people require, under the Amer
lean flag. It will only be reason
able number of years when we will
produce our own wooden and cotton
clothing, our shoes, socks, shirts and
everything of that character. 1t will
be very soon when we will be able to
produce all of our own food, our tea,
coffee, sugar, rubber. spices, bread,
butter, cheese, nuts, raisins, oranges,
apples, peaches, cherries, plums,
olives; in fact everything that neces-
sity or luxury requires or suggests.
All of these things, and many more
too numerous to mention, will be
produced in the United States or in
our island possessions"
No writer could portray the earn
estness and forcefulness of this typ
zeal farmer leader, as he drops his
spectacles, leans back in his chair,
rises and moves his hands and arms,
or walks about the room, while he
dwells upon the glory and greatness
of the imperial republic. He glories
in the fact that the United States
government and people are free, be-
cause valorous, and independent be-
cause prosperous and thrifty; there
fore to-day more free and independ-
ent than when the declaration was
promulgated on July 4, 1776. The
secretary is an intensely patriotic
man, and back of all Of his work is
the energizing influence of his love
of country and pride in it's grand
achievements and marvellous possibil-
tiles and proba abilities. That is what
impelled him to make the statement
and prophecy concerning the defiant
capability of the United States in the
presence of suggestions of foreign
complications and combina tons.
II will tell you what the depart
ment of agriculture is doing for the
present veal and the future COM
monweal," continued Secretary Will
son.
From the beginning of the colon
ial development of our country to-
bacco has been one of our greatest
staples. While it is true that many
people do not approve of the use Of
tobacco il any form, it still continues
to be one of our staple products.
We annually sell s3o,oOO,ooo worth Of
tobacco; but we buy $13,0o0,oOO
worth. This department is trying to
reduce our buying necessities. Of the
$13,000,o00 bought, $5,000,000 are for
Sumatra wrappers. The other S.
100000 are expended for what is
known as filters, mostly from Cuba.
We are teaching our people how to
grow filters and we expect soon to
be growing all the filters and wrap
pers we need in our own country.
We are experimenting now in Penn
sylvania and also in Texas with great
success. We also expect to grow
large quantities of these kinds of to-
bacco in Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. We intend to save $13,OOo,O0
for our own people in this industry,
and that amount will increase every
year. We ought soon to be selling
about $50,000,00O worth of tobacco
annually, and buying, substantially,
none.
1--WE cannot grow coffee in the
United States, because every part of