The Washington times., 1907-12-03


and in every great crisis Of the mast
a peculiar dependence mas had 70 be
| placed upon the farming population.
and this dependence mas hitherto been
justified. But II can not = justified in
the future IL agriculture is permitted to
sink in the scale as COMPARED with
other 5mplOyments. We can not af-
ford to lose that pre-eminently typicsI
American, the farmer who owns his
own mcdium-sizcd farm To have his
place taken by either a class OF small
peasant prOprietors, or by a class Of
great landlords, with tenant-farmed es-
tates would be a veritable calamity.
4 The grow IN OF our elites Is good
thing but only Ia 50 Tar as Il does
not mean a growth at th6 expense Of
the country farmer. We must welcome
the rise of physical sciences IN their
application 10 agricultural practices.
and we must do all we can 20 render
CO; mtry conditions more easy and
pleasant There are forces which now
/ but they are. as yet, in their infancy.
The National Government through
} the Department Of Agriculu re should
do all IL can by joining With the State
sOciations of farmers to encf uTage the
growth IN the open farming country OF
such institutional and social movements
as will meet tie demand Or the best
/ type Of farmers, both for the improve
ment Of their farms and for the bet
terTnent Of the life Itself. The Depart
ment OF Agriculture has in many places.
perhaps especially IN certain districts
Of the South, accomplished an extra
ordinary amount by cooperating with
ana teac hing the farmers through their
associations, on their cTn soil, how 70
| Increase their Income by managing
/ their farms better than they were hith-
erto managed
Advice to Farmers.
The farmer must not lose his inde-
pendence. his initiative. his rugged self
| reliance. yet he must learr to work
/ IN the heartiest cooperation with his
/ fellows, exactly as the business man
/ has learned to work; and he must pre-
/ Pare 10 use 10 constantly better advar-
tage the knowledge tlst can be OBJ
I talned from Agricultural colleges, while
/ he must insist upon q practical Curl
culum in the schools in which his chill
I dren are taught. The Department OF
Agriculture and the Department OF
Commerce and Labor both deal with
/ the fundamental needs OF our people
/ in the production OF raw material and
/ It's ma1.dfa ctUre and distribution, and.
! therefore, with the welfare Of those
| who produce II IN the raw staae. and
OF thoEe who manufacture and distri-
butte II
! The Department OF Commerce and
/ Labor has but recently been founded.
I but has already justified its existence;
while the Department OF Agriculture
yields to no other in the Government
/ in the practical benefits which Il pro-
| cuces IN proportion 20 the public money
1 expended II must continue IN the
/ future 70 deal with growing crops as IL
| has dealt IN the past but IL must still
| further extend its field OF usefulness
I hereafter by dealing with live men,
| through a far-reaching study and treat
I ment OF the problems OF farm life alike
| from the industrial and economic and
| social standpoint.
! Farmers must cooperate with one an
/ other and with the Government, and
/ through associations Of farmers, so as
| 10 deliver 10 the farmer the large body
1 OF agricultural knowledge which has
/ BEEN accumulated by the National and
! Ssate Governments and By the agricul-
/ tUral colleges and schools
Favors Federal Grain Inspection.
The grain producing industry OF the
! country, one OF the most important IN
the United States. deserves special con-
J sideration at the hands Of Congress.
/ Our grain is sold almost exclusively by
| grades To secure satisfactory results
/ in cur home markets and 70 facilitate
! OUr trade abroad, these grades should
approximate the highest degree OF uni
/ fOrTnity and certainty. The present d.
ve-.ie methods o. inspe ;don and grading
| Throughout the county under different
laws and boards. resVlt in confusion
and lack Of Uniformity, destroying that
confidence which is necessary for health
4 fUl trade.
| Complaints against the present meth
DDS have continued for years, and they
are growing in volume and intensity.
not only in this country, but abroad.
| !. therefore. suggest 10 the Congress the
/ adviSability Of a national system OF
| Inspection and grading Of grain entering
/ into interstate and foreign commerce as
] a remdy for the present evils.