Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-09

not prefer farming TO any other occu-
patton. we would not be farmers-the
successful farmer has the brains. in
telligence and energy TO be successful
in any other honorable occupation.
We are aware that some other fields
of industry and other lines of invest
ment MAJ yield larger returns i'll
money. But we are also aware that
this is at the sacrifice of those health
full and moral surroundings and that
contact with nature that the men ac-
knowledged to be the wisest have al
ways esteemed worth more than a
large income of money. We believe
with Emerson that whose cuts a
straight path to his own living by the
help of God. in the sun and rain and
sprouting grain, solves the problem of
life. not for one. but for all men of
sound body" We believe that he
from whose partnership with the sun
and the clouds and soil comes the
robe of green that hides the grimness
of old earth, the golden grain that
the fruits and flowers-that he works
ana lives Deller Luan any OIleT man
Want just Reward.
Nor do we desire that anything that
aids us shall hinder Others We desire
comfort and happiness to the full mea-
sure of just reward for honest en-
deavor for all mankind We are sin
cerely sorry that any of Gods crea-
lures that work lack abundant food
and clothing and shelter and reson-
able recreation and fair opportunity
for a comfortable competence in old
age. And no class has more of pity
for the real unfortunates-the sick, the
crippled. and the little children and ba-
bies of the very poor. We would that
all of Gods creatures. city and coun-
try. might never suffer want and priva-
ton, that all might have gospel meas
ure of the satisfying joys of simple,
honest living We believe. we know.
that increased profit to us should
come. not from the masses of others,
but, if from any. from those already
too rich. We do not ask that the con-
sumers of our products should pay
more, but that the margin between
what they pay and what we get and
which has created aggregations and
concentrations of wealth that are both
oppressive and dangerous, should be
reduced. And especially do we re-
member that the foundation of the
lasting prosperity of others must be
our prosperity. The foundation and
guarantee of national prosperity and
progress is prosperous and progress
i've husbandry. In the words of that
grand old Roman of American agricul-
ture, Aaron Jones. AS the years come
and go industries of our country will
prosper and decline, fortunes will be
made and lost. even government may
change its form, but so long as the
world stands agriculture will be the
foundation of national wealth and pros
perity.'
Are Not Money Mad.
Finally, we are not money mad. We
regard money as a means, not an end.
We want more income from our CAPT
tai and labor, that we may have yet
better homes and schools, and those
comforts and luxuries that will make
yet fuller and happier the lives of our
wives and children While we rejoice
in our big crops of grain and grass.
of cane and cotton, and in our cattle
upon a thousand hills. we believe that
the most valuable product of the farm,
that which adds more to the real, true
national wealth than all other crops
combined, and that should most of all
entitle us TO the consideration of all