The San Francisco call., 1904-10-28
TALK FOR FARMERS
Value Of an Agricultural Education
Is Explained by Students Of Subject
STATISTICS RELATING TO LABOR PROBLEM

BERKELEY. Oct. 27.-In an attempt
to crystallize the sentiment prevailing
in the sessions of the Farmers Insti-
tute resolutions were adopted this
afternoon asking the State Legislature
to appropriate money for the construc-
ton of an agricultural building and a
farm school at the University of Cali
fornia- The Legislature will also be
asked in these resolutions to pass a
law Incorporating agricultural studies
into the curriculum of the State nor
NAL schools.
The resolutions are the outgrowth of
the current sessions Nof the institute,
where the value of agricultural educa-
ton has been thoroughly explained by
experts. Three sessions were held to-
day by the farmers and those who are
interested in institute work, the in
stitute coming to an end tonight with
an illustrated lecture by Professor Ell
wood Mead on Irrigation Abroad"
being an account of recent observa-
tions in foreign countries.
Hearst Hall was filled this morning
when President Wheeler declared the
institute open. introducing w. V. Stat
ford, State commissioner of labor sta
tistics, who spoke of Farm Labor in
the efforts of his Office to gather sta
tistics relating to the condition OF
farm labor, and to procure information
about what could be done to benefit
farm laborers. Scores of remedies
were suggested, such as Sunday saloon
closing, exclusion of foreign workmen,
organizing unions, more churches,
smaller farms, fewer hours and better
pay, etc.
The fact that new comers to the
State seeking employment are usually
landed in the larger cities where they
are likely to stay, If they can, is one
reason, the commissioner believes, why
the farmer gets the dregs of the labor
ing population.
Continuing, the speaker said:
PATIENCE. NECESSARY.
It is regrettable that while there have been
highly intelligent and splendidly organized
for the small purchaser extraordinary pa
thence and toll in every direction for the de-
velopment of the products Of the State are
necessary
Are the farmers as a class blameless in the
matter? Have they put tithe Of the energy,
they have in every other branch Of their busi-
ness? And If they have made effort have they
made 1t consistently? Can they expect the
itself under adverse conditions without sys-
tematic aid from the employer? Baths.
vices may be used with excellent efrect.
c. H. Markham, former vice presi-
dent and general manager of the
Southern Pacific Company. who was to
have read paper on THE Farmer and
the Railroad, Their Relations" sent a
letter, regretting his inability to at
tend. In his letter to the institute Mr..
Markham said:
MARKHAM'S LETTER.
The business of transportation may enjoy
a kind of advantage from the system OF buy
ing abroad and selling abroad. but it is ad-
vantage of the present which must be charged
up against errors. to save the wastes, to vital
ize the labors of the farm. My wish IS
that every school in the country were COM
PEELED TO teach the elements Of agricultural
science This must come in time, since we are
working around to the practical ground that
the best instruction Is that which enables men
and women to get their living decently. But
as distinct from academies is not yet. AS yet
there is no systematic aducation for the farmer
excepting that which sifts out to him in one
way or another through the university. Meet
ings like those at Berkeley are OF the highest
value in that they serve to develop interest
and to promote inquiry with respect to matters
upon which the productive life of the country,
and therefore its permanent prosperity
chiefly dependent. 1t is for US agri-
cultural people to revise our methods, to
adapt our system to new times and conditions.
and when this shall be done day OF larger
prosperity than it has ever known before will
dawn upon California
1.-The Farmer as a Business Man" was