The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1903-03-01

I am not before you with this subject which many
are recognizing the greatest which the American
agricuturist must face today because of feeling OF
special capacity but by of the fact that
after fighting unequal battle for years. and at the
same time being blind to the struggles of my fell
lows have learned beyond possible chance for doubt
that which into the Golfers OF lgnor
is truly appalling.
John Gould in some of his recent contributions to the
"Dairyman' has unwittingy stolen of my "thun-
by writing along this line and though he ala II
without knowledge of my intention to use this theme,
yet ignorance of the law does not excuse man Tor
an infringement the same, shall place Mr. Gould IN
the category of maefactors, and exact fine from him
by making of of his concise and pithy state
ments.
Tn one place he says: "This very morning I CHANGED
upon slip from Poor Richards morallZlng, to the
effect that the greatest tax pay is not to the gov
ernment but to ignorance, and like consong renee
tops: and as look the clay hills of everywhere
am inclined think the same is true nowadays Inc
other day man blasting the trusts and charging
his failure farming to them and to Imperialism when
at home onehalf the boards off the barn ana ta
bles the had not been hauled out in two years.
and he works out all he can SOS to 1--we. NOW THESE
conclusions of Benz Franklin at the beginning of our
national life, and of our modern philosopher John
Could are but echoing and reechoing the history or
the race We can go back twentyseven centuries and
find much the statement, only in stronger terms
given by Him who is the of knowledge Je-
hovah, through Hosea the Prophet, said: My people
are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou mast
rejected knowledge will also reject thee, that thou
priest to seeing thou hast forgotten the
law of thy God, will also forget thy children
Some my have doubtless already classed me
as an alarms gets frightened at shadows has
bad dreams, etc. I trust finish to convince you'
using Shakespeare's familiar words 81 had dream
which was not all a dream" I will say, however, that
it is not safe to repudate statement unless one has at
least some degree knowledge of the subject ABOUT
which the statement made; but has the right TO
question any assertion let the author be whom ne may
It is a Cod-given privilege (this say with due rev.
erence) and Jehovah himself invites us to prove MS
promises to mankind In place we read, Come let
us reason together" in another, prove me now here
with saith the Lord" and again, 'Tase and see that
the ord is good" So I wish you to understand that
shall not be angry you question any assertion made
by me- and you have the privilege of making absolute
denial if you can prove fasehood In fact,
if everyone of my hearers will become sufficiently in
erested to prove all the statements make bearing on
the subject shall be only too we'll pleased; because
when the American people get an intelligent idea OF
what they need, they generally supply those needs
shall as briefly as possible, try to give evidence
of our being a needy people, and in fact If had the
power to state clearly, could convince you that
unless we make some changes long, bankruptcy is
inevitable.
With all our boosted enlightenment, are an 1g-
norant people, so specific knowledge is concerned
Right here | shall make remark, the wisdom ana
appropriateness of which, far as relating to your
self individually will be Immediately apparent to each
member of our organization In addressing this asso
ciation I feel sure that I standing before class
of men who are as observant critical, intelligent and
well Informed as be found in tn.s commonwealth
(now see them smile); and yet your very presence
here many of you miles from home is the very best evil