Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10


Hon. o. b. Stevens makes his formal
announcement of his candidacy for re-
nomination as commissioner Of agricul-
ture. His announcement reviews the work
of the department during his four years
incumbency, and upon that record alone,
Mr.. Stevens says, he rests his claims for
denomination. The announcement In full
follows:
To the People of Georgia.
In announcing my candidacy for COM
missioner of agriculture for Georgia, sub
iect to the action of the Democratic pri-
mary to be held June 5th, feel that 1t
is due to the people of the state, who have
before intrusted TO me the affairs of this
important department and before whom
appear for their endorsement. that
should give an account Of my steward
ship.
Before entering upon a detailed review
of the record of the. department over
which am now presiding and upon which
record alone l. rest my claim Tor re-elec-
ton. / desire to say that ! shall endeaVor
to conduct this campaign as l have all
others. without bitterness or i'll feehns,
and shall accept the result, as / have al
WAYS done. with perfect confidence in the
righteous judgment Of myparty.
When first went before the people ask
ing for this office l based my candidacy
upon the solemn promise of faithful,
honest economical and above all, prac-
tical business administration of the de-
partment of agricultures How well have
kent that promise my record must snow
and to that l now refer, as 1t has been
made from day to day during my incum-
bency.
/ submit that / have given to the affairs
of this office every moment OF my Time
che N
and whatever. ability l. also possessed !
feel that il may be clained the depart
ment has been alert and active In every
movement that looked to the protection
and upbuilding of the agricultural inter
ests Of Georgia, some of which l may DC
pardoned for here referring to.
ASSOCIATION so. COMMISSIONERS
In the first place, refer with special
pride and satisfaction TO the fact thatr
through the initiative of this department
there was formed the Association OF
Commissioners of Agriculture of the
Southern states. through which great good
has already resulted to the agricultural
interests of the south and In which Geor-
gia. has shared. One OF the main objects
of this association has been the procure
ment of uniform laws for the inspection
and analysis of commercial fertlllzers ~
which Georgia has already taken the leau
1t is easy to understand, therefore, that Q
marked advance has been made In THIS
hiehlv important branch of work. Even
more important still has been the con-
certed effort on the part of this associa'
ton to secure and make public each year
accurate information rs to the COTTON
acreage. the. crop conditions and reliable
estimates of the yield, thereby forestaling
unreliable statements of sepulatlve agents
so often put forward with view 10 IN
fiuencing the market against the interests
of the farmer. AS a result Of this concert
ed effort we have had the satisfaction
during the past two seasons of seeing the
nrice of cotton advance materially, wnen
II was demonstrated that the facts ana
figures presented by the agricultural COM
rnissioners were based upon accurate IN
formation and truthful conditions.
Horticulture.
1t has been the pleasure, as Wen as
the duty, of the department to give muen
of its time to the advancement OF the
horticultural interests OF georgia, a ho
we have had the satisfaction or seeing
fruit growing in this state advance WITHIN
the mast few years into a remuneratlVe
and highly important branch OF industry,
nutting in circulation hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars, and giving employment
to multitudes.
Dalrying. Hr
The department has devoted much at
tention to our Dairymen's association III
Georgia. through which this 'mportant
and highly promising industry is so great
Iv encourage and benefited, and we fee
that we may we'll watch the progress OF
dairying in this state with great hopeful
ness.
Sugar Cane Growing.
Within the past two years the depart
ment has devoted Itself to the encourage
ment of the sugar cane industry, and II
has already witnessed most gratifying
progress. The growing Of cane and the
manufacture of syrup in the southern
section of our state has almost doubled
within the last two years, and we have
every confidence that it will soon be one
Of our greatest money crops
Tobacco.
Another striking evidence of progress
along agricultural lines is the interest
that has been aroused and the results met
with in the growing of tobacco in south
Georgia. where the best grades have al
ready been. successfully and prohtabiy
produced. -s
CassaVa.
Cassava is another new crop from which
we believe good results may be expected,
giving. as 1t does, an opportunity to our
farmers in the southern section OF the
state not only for diversification. but
promising the establishment of new In
dustrial enterprises that must in time
give employment &c more of our people.
Cotton.
But upon the states great staple crop
this department has with good reason be-
slowed special attention, not only keeping
the farmers advised as to the acreage and
yield in other cotton growing states. but
cooperating in every practical movement
tba = Ioolxad RI The upbuilding of the price,
and protecting in every way possible the
farmer from inferior fertilizers as well as
giving him the benent of all the scientific
and technical knowledge which the state
has provided
Food Products.
1t is a matter for congratulation that
the farmers of Georgia have within the