The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-01-24

rlr. Hills Speech Before the Grain
Growers Convention at Fargo,
North Dakota.


Growers convention. It was the final
wind-up Of q most successful four days
| session. and the close was In the nature
Of an ovation to the president of the
Great Northern railway and the recently
organized Northern Securities company.
appearance here and had increased since
Its original announcement. Each day
since the convention started had aug
mented the attendance, and to-day was
the banner one OF the meeting.
Mayor Johnson introduced President
speech. as the man the audience had come
to hear. His reference to the liberality of
Mr.. Hill in providing free excursions for
North Dakota farmers to the North Da-
kota agricultural college brought forth
lot Of applause. When President Hill
arose to speak there was another OVa-
tion., He said:
Mr.. HIPS Speech.
I want to present to you to-day some
important figures which I think will es-
eablish many facts that are Of great in
terest to all the people of this country,
and more especially to the people Of the
Northwest.
An advance in the material prosperity Of
our country has always marked an i'm
provement In the condition of the people.
Every United States census from 1850 to
1900 shows an average growth which has
practically doubled the population of the
country about every thirty years. At the
close Of the Civil war this country con-
tanned, say 100000 of people; since that
time we have added fully $4,000 900 of peo-
pie. At the average rate of the increase
OF the past one hundred years we should
nave at least 100000 900 Of people by 1890.
The present increase is more than one and
half millions annually.
The all-important question presenting it.
self to every individual and to every COM
munity Is: Where will they go and what
Will they do to secure for themselves COM
Portable homes and the ability to educate
their children and to bring them up in
sucn manner as will make them GOOD.
useful citizens of the republic?
AT the close Of the war a large portion
OF the States of Iowa, Wisconsin and MIN
nesota were government lands, open for
homesteads. and practically all the country
west OF these states to the Pacific ocean
was open to settlement. The census re.
ports snow that large portion of the in
country and built up cities and states,
opened up prosperous farming commune
ties ana dotted the land with schools and
churches-every evidence of
american Enterprise ana Progress.
Nearly one-half of the capital of the
country Is invested in agricultural land
ana what goes with it for the purpose of
making 1t productive. Nearly oue-half of
the population of the country is directly
or indirectly connected with the cultiva.
zion OF the soil. and If we judge from all
she experience Of the past, the agricul-
eufal half OF the population has done more
IMAM Its share in everything that goes to
Denent the country as whole; that half
mas always Shown itself more intelligent
more patriotic, and in every way the
sheet-anchor of the nation. When men
nave been called to defend the flag of our
country the farmers sons have always
been ready to step to the front and an
sWer to the call. While the farmers are
ready to go ten miles on election day to
eaSt tnelr votes, others hang around the.
polls In the cities waiting to sell their
votes. From the farmers sons In New
ENGLAND and the Middle and Western
states are constantly recruited the num-
oers or those who engage in the profess
slons and the various walks of business.
ana their individual successes clearly es-
eablfsh their right to be placed in the
front rank wherever they have bean
called. My observation leads me to be-
ueve mat the nation at large has more to
expect from those who cultivate the soil
ehan from all others combined.
Inc largest area of unoccupied land
Wnere green trees and green grass grows.
LII where clear water runs. lies in the
zone between Lake Superior and the pa.
CHIC ocean. and to the settlement and de-
velopment OF this country we must look
Tor the increase Of our traffic and tho
future value of our investment in rail
ways. -
How are we to provide homes for our
Rapidly increasing Population:
Most OF the lands that will produce crops
every year and are susceptible of cuItl-
vatlon are already occupied The impor
tant question to-day before the states.
men of the nation is: How can the 70
manning lands best be made to furnish
homes for the rapidly crowddng popuIa-
zion! A little reflection will show
every individual man that it is only by
tne "lsest action on the part of the gem
eral government by well-matuned plans
Tor irrigation and every other means
which will make available every portion
OF the country that is or can be made
susceptible of cultivation. There is a
movement among few of our statesmen
20 secure this end. In some localities in
the West this movement Is opposed by
cattle and sheepmen who desire to retain
THESE lands for their own purposes, In
some cases an effort is being made to in
duce congress to convey the lands to the
several states, to be disposed of by them
This latter movement can only end in
failure. The lands would be frittered
away or practically given away or ap-
propriated without benefiting any con-
siderable, number Of people. I consider |
the future welfare Of the country depends
more upon the wise disposition Of tse
public domain, SO as to- secure homes for !
the people. than upon any other single
condition in our nation. Our country is |
large; our population and occupations
diner as widely as the climate and nat |
Nral conditions differ. Every congress,
shows ansactive effort being made to se-
cure some advantage toSsome local dis
trict. overlooking, as think, the broad |
general fact that the nation should and
must prosper as a. whole.
In 1895 this country settled the question |
OF gold standard; the universal want Of |
confidence prior to that time came to an
end; people who had money to invest ]
were no longer afraid that IT they put /
out q 1O0-cent dollar they would be |
compelled to take 5O-cent dollar In re- /
turn. and now the business OF the coun- |
try Is marching forward at a rate greater |
than has ever been known in our history |
or In the history OF the world. Our at
tention is frequently called to the enor- |
NOUS balanceYc trade in our favor; in |
other words. the amount of, money we
receive sfor9 y hat we sell IL. aboYe that |
which I'VE pay for. what we buy, thus
making our country rich beyond all |
precedeutr sIf we carefully inquire into