The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-01-22
FOR FARMERS TO THINK ABOUT.
Paper by C. J. Brewer, President
of the Big Cove Agricultural
Society.

of the Big Cove Agricultural
Society.
The many subjects which are
coming up before US in this pro-
gressive age should claim our at
tention in the gravest manner ;
but If the great majority of us do
not become serfs it will be neces.
sary for US to take matters of
public interest into our own
hands and turn them to our ac.
count.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I
want to set before you in as brief
a manner as possible some of the
things that should claim our at
tentlon as an agricultural socie-
ty, an agricultural community,
and a country.
l believe that we as farmers
can certainly improve our condi-
ton and that of our country, and
throw off, to a great extent, our
environments but, to do this, we
must become thoroughly organ.
lied. If the agricultural popula-
would organize, there is no power
on earth that could thwart their
plans, if they are founded upon
righteous principles. If there is
any interest that can be organ
lied upon righteous principles, it
certainly is that of agriculture.
The farmer will be ignored as
long as he does not assert him.
self, and the best way to do this
is through organization. 1 believe
every farmer should be a men,
Der of some agricultural organi.
zation.
I know that politicians say,
Don't talk politics at farmers
institutes. Why? Because they
want to keep the farmers in igno-
rance. For the same reason that
the Roman Catholic church will
not allow it's members or sub
jects to read the Bible for fear
they will become enlightened and
see the truth. Well may the cor
rupt politicians and their allies
strive to keep the farmers in ig-
norance of the fact that the farm
ers bear by far the greater bur-
den of taxatiOn-which is 16t
mills, while the great railroad cor.
porations pay but 8 to 4 mills on
their net earning. Well may they
strive to keep us in ignorance of
the fact that the census shows
that about one-half of the popula-
tion of the United States are en-
gagged in the pursuit or calling of
agriculture, but have only mere
nominal representation in our
Legislative halls-both state and
national.
believe that we should arouse
from the apathy and indifference
that seems to hold us almost
spellbound under our present
condition. Why should the farm
er take a back seat, when every
sane man must admit that agri-
culture is the basis of all wealth
and prosperity. Let us no more
be the willing servants of corpo-
rations and trusts; but let us
organize, not only here, but
throughout the United States,
and rise up in body and assert
our power in such way that cor
rupt politicians, corporations and
trusts shall tremble and fall, and
their unrighteous principles be
buried forever.
Now, let me contine myself to a
few points that we should consid-
er for our individual, as well as
for our mutual, benefit. l think
that we should have this whole
country organized for financial, de-
ucational and social reasons.
/ believe that farmers have no
right to complain as long as they
do not make some effort to better
their condition, which l believe
can be done through organization
and enterprise.
The labor question is growing
more serious each year, and we
will have to solve this question in
some way; and as far as / see
now, it can only be done by inten-
sified farming. AL the rough
land should be seeded to perma.
1