Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-02
B|GCROP, SAYS WILSON
Secretary of Agriculture De-
clares All Staples Are
Assured
FARMERS OF WEST FOR TAFT
Wilson Believe. TAFT Will Carry All
States Which Gave Roosevelt EIec-
toral Vote - Farmers instrumental
in Preventing Panic = Wants Nat
uraI Resources Maintained.

Washington, Sept. 2.-"The farmers
of the west are happy, and they have
right to be- said Secretary Wilson
yesterday upon his return from an ex-
tensive tour beyond the Mississippi
''The sun has shone upon them. rains
have been sufficient and with the best
soil on earth the best farmers to be
found anywhere made the most of it.
The yields are large. There will be no
shortage of any crop. OF the staples
there will be enough to supply all home
demands and leave large surplus for
expectation. The farmers still have
some of last years crop on hand, and
this they will sell at the prevailing
high prices. The new crops will soon
be moving in the direction of the mar
kets and when our wheat and corn Of
this years growth start east in volume
there will be flood of wealth in the
west
"Our farmers no longer live under
the burden Of heavy mortgages. Their
great prosperity In recent years has
rendered them independent, in the
sense that they are not forced to sell.
They are able to hold their crops for
favorable markets, and are therefore
obtaining their fair share of profits.
The farmers Of the west have not to
this day realized that there was less
than twelve months ago a depression
which has been followed by a slacken-
ing of the wheels Of prosperity.
Farmers Prevent Panic.
They have, of course, read the
newspapers and are well informed con-
corning conditions, but they have ex-
perienced no setback in their wonder
full prosperity. The slackened buying
demand has not affected them at all,
and, being the backbone and sinew OF
our material progress as a nation, they
have literally prevented any prolonged
depression. Our farmers are producing
so much wealth that it is impossible
for our commercial and business al
fairs to experience material setback.
In the west in other industries
there is marked Improvement In
conditions. Business in all lines has
improved substantially during the last
few months and the onward march OF
prosperity has been resumed with such
strides that the movement will be at
accelerated speed.
sour farmers have not only enjoyed
good crop conditions during the season
now closing, but they are producing
more per acre than ever before. There
has been notable increase In the
productiveness of the soil. due to the
observation of methods urged by the
department for increasing fertility, to
the use of better seeds and to better
cultivation
Wants Resources Kept.
At find, however, that the move
ment for the preservation of our
natural resources has not been inaug-
urated any too soon. In some Of the
western states j visited the destruc-
ton Of the forests is already telling
upon our industries For time some
question was raised as to the effect
of the destruction of our forests upon
our water supply. Now no one denies
that the freshets in the spring and
the drying up of the streams in sum-
mer are directly due to this cause. In
Colorado two of the big beet sugar
factories have been closed because OF
the shortage of water supply. The
streams of the mountains have dis
appeared with the destruction of the
forests and now only dry gulches
mark their former courses. The res
toration of our forest, which will re-
suit from the movement now afoot,
will correct these conditions.
"My time west was devoted exclus-
lively to agricultural affairs, but dur
ing my talk with the farmers 1 natur-
ally heard some politics" concluded
the secretary. 81 have no doubt from
the information which reached me
that Mr.. Taft will be strong west OF
the Mississippi do not think he will
lose a state which Roosevelt carried
four years ago. The farmers and the
people generally have no complaint to
make of the policies of the republican
party. Out west they are not much
given to needless experimenting They
are satisfied with what the repubH-
can party has done and are confident
that it's pledges will be fulfilled. The
people have no desire to swap
horses"
BABY ONLY A RUSE.