Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-21
6uRAEY CALLS UP CHAMBERLAIN.

JOu bdNC udTeu 10 CTlOIClSc oOLlC
phases Of the Farmers Institute.
Will you kindly give me a little space
to give my views?
Twenty to thirty years ago l was
somewhat active In the organization
OF Farmers Institutes In Iowa and at
a later period in Nebraska. At that
time we advertised, paid own bills
and organized independent of the
state or state aid. These Institutes
covered several days and the halls were
crowded. Where no one was, or claim.
ed tokbe, an authority all were critics.
Farming as we'll as all other subjects
pertaining to the welfare OF the far
mer and home builder were discussed.
Awkward men learned how to get on
their feet and express themselves.
Shy men with records of success were
brought out, and In a word, great
good was accomplished. Then the
state came in and took hold Of 1T and
from that time ! date the downfall Of
the real utility Of the Farmers Insti-
tute.
There Is, doubtless, more or less OF
politics In this inception Of making
large appropriations for the benefit of
the farmer, a benefit, II it can be call
ed such, which he doesn't want.
/ have talked with those who ac-
companied the Institutes In the re-
cent Black Hill tour and am told that
the audiences run generally from 3 to
9 persons and that with the exception
of Buffalo Gap no reasonable audience
was taught" in any place. At How
ard, the home town OF the Institute
conductor, he is held in such esteem
as a teacher that the farmers refused
to come In to the Institute and none
was held, though all the expense was
incurred.
When the coterie of speakers from
abroad advertise themselves as au-
thority, the audience sits and listens,
but no one dare criticise. He knows
too well the fate Of the nan who
dares to interrupt or dispute the
speaker. / believe that IL it were left
to the farmers alone to vote on this
that they would, as tax payers, abol-
ish it by an overwhelming vote.
You criticise Chamberlain, the In
stitute conductor, and why not? How
is he for a teacher? The man who
had a farm but farmed it away with
theories. The man who had a law
practice but who played with 1t till
1t played out, and then, when strand
ed high and dry like a saw log on an
island, he is hired by the state at
$500 year and all expenses to teach
Others how to do things! It is enough
to make a Jack rabbit laugh!
Is he teaching truths or error?
Who shall decide? Where are his au-
thorities? He makes the statement
that corn should never be moved more
than Is to SO miles at one time and to
establish 1t says that he once lost a
field Of corn by having moved the seed
Is miles! How al he possibly know
this to be true? Was there no other
cause that could have contributed to.
this failure? Perhaps he planted it
on Friday. or when the moon was not
right. One Is just as logical as the
other. He was informed that under
his teaching great areas could not be
planted as there was no local seed
corn. To this he answered: "Then
| would advise the farmers not to
plant a - kernel. Let them plant
something else"
This Is the way he earns his salary
by teaching the farmers how (not) to
grow corn!
In this day OF books, magazines,
and newspapers, grand agricultural
journals, departments on all Industries
and college bulletins, where all usefu,
subjects are treated by the best minds
In the best possible manner, At would
seem that the farmer or seeker after
truth can dnd it so much better at
his own fireside, that these institutes
as at present conducted are hardly ex-
cusable.
Those who know me will not be-
lieve that | am one who sits with my
legs dangling owe the tail gate and
looks backward. I believe in the best
progress and lots OF It. / want to see
every man and every industry keep
just as near the head OF the procession
as possible, but I also think / can de-
termine between real progress land
that bogus article which is sometimes
thrust upon us.
You also speak OF the great corn
question. Truly it Is a great one, and
no one holds it in higher esteem than
I do. Suppose that, to get at Its lei
Its, we take the Dakota Farmer Of
February Is, and read the letter there
from Prot. Hansen, on the subject Of
tree and corn breeding. This is au-
thority, and there Is no better au
thority in the entire world, and this
Is conceded by the world of scientific
men. Why turn away from this and
give ear TO the 'vagaries Of a man who
Is only q law unto himself, and whose
theories, logic and statements are
s.such stuff as dreams are made off,"
G. w. GURNEy.
The Cr,rx 0nciov