The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-09
BRYAN At LINCOLN,
DELIVERS TWO NON.POLITICAJ,
ADDRESSES DURING THE
DAY.
Talks to the Farmcrs-Says Agricul-
turists Have Not Had Their Share
Of Representation In Matters of
Government.

Government.
Lincoln, Neb., Sept 4.-William j.
Bryan, Democratic candidate for the
presidency today made two avowedly
nOn-political speeches to his home
folk The first was at the State fair
grounds, where he participated in the
dedication Of the new auditorium and
the second was at the Tabatha home.
near Fairview, where a new building
was dedicated as a hospital for the
aged. In his fair grounds speech he
was introduced by Gov. Sheldon who
has just been renominated by the Re-
publicans for governor and who was
q captain In Mr.. Bryan's regiment in
the Spanish-American war. Mr.. Bry-
an referred somewhat humorously to
his own experiences as a soldier and
said that among the candidates for
president this year he was the ony
man with war record. He said that
underlying partizan feelings in this
country was patriotism deeper and
stronger than all else, as idicated by
the ready response to the call for VOL
unteers In the Spanish-American war.
His personal experience typified this.
And less than two years after his de-
feat by Mr.. Mckinley he had volun-
teered his services at Washington for
the war. This offer, however. was not
accepted and he turned to his own
State which gave him q. commission
and he raised q regiment Of Ne
braskans. Most Of the officers In the
regiment. like Gov. Sheldon. he said,
were Republicans. though the majori-
ty ct the enlisted men were Demo-
Gratis.
Addressing himself to the farmers
he said:
my friends. we are more stingy In
making the appropriations for the
farmer than for any other classes of
our people. Why, it was a century at
ter our government was organized or
about that before We succeeded in
getting a department. Of agriculture
established. We are the greatest ag-
ricultural country in the yorld anr ag-
riculture Is the greatest industry in
our country and yet almost 100 years
elapsed before the farmer got a seat
around the presidents council cham
Der. How backward we have been
In recognizing the farmers place In
our government and among our insti-
tutions. In the time that has elapsed
since the creation Of this department
Of agriculture a great deal has been
done and yet that department Is in
Its infancy. what will you think when
tell you that for every dollar we
spend on that department we spend
more than $25 on the army and navy.
We spend 25 times more In getting
ready for war we ought never to
have than we spend on agriculture.
The agricultural school Is developing;
Its advancement is one Of the great
marked characteristics Of this gem
Grafton. think I am safe In saying
that In no other department Of learn
ing has there been 30 much progress
as In that department. which relates
to agriculture. am glad to encour-
age the Agricultural college. Why.
for yearsfit has been deemed a part OF
the duty Of the State to train lawyers
through law schools established by
the government And we have train
ed doctors through schools connected
with our State institutions, but, my
friends, we are just beginning to learn
that the training Of the farmer Is just
as important as the training Of the
doctor or the lawyer. I expect great
things from our agricultural colleges.
1 believed those colleges will lift the
average OF general intelligence of the
farmer; I expect those colleges to
equip an increasing number Of
young men for public life. We will
read the roll Of the United States
senators and we will find but two far
mers among them. Run down the
list of congressman and you will find
but very few farmers al ong them.
Considering the people engaged in
farming. the farmer has very made
quate representation In the national
congress. The result Is that the farm
er has been neglected more than any
other man and his interest disregard
ed more than the interest Of any other
class and with this larger train,nv of