New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-18
THE COUNTRY'S NEEDS
B. r. YOAKUMS VIEWS.
Calls Grain and Cotton Better De-
fences than WarShips.

shawnee Okla Aug. T.-Deprecating the grow
ing expenditures which the United States is incur
ring in connection with the maintenance OF the
army and navy. and declaring that gram ana cot
ton fields are stronger military defences than war
ships. B. F. Yoakum chairman OF the executive
committee OF the Rock Island company delivered
an address to-day before the Farmers Union OF
oklahoma He said in part:
This country now needs what our forefathers
used In laying its foundaton-a lot of old-fash-
toned common sense. Good Judgment and fair deal
ing are found more generally among the farmers
than in any other occupation, and when they ear
nestly take held of public questions they will ocI
make their good Judgment and fair conclusions felt
more and more in solving the relations of the gov
As matter Of comparison, let us for a moment
look at this country's transportation as handled
by the government and by the railroads
The splendid railroad system of the United States
itself: but how about water transportation. for
which the goae'9ment is responsible? =, COM
amd labor IL & ssyS that s
costing over S@.C0oG0. have been abandoned This
means ssoeHOo Of wasted money.
ago commenced the construction of the Illinois and
and I! has to date. With interest at per cent
To maintain this canal in its present useless con-
dition costs the country's taxpayers 10000 year.
boat has never passed through IT,
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENTS.
The government has expended approximately
s22500o.0O0 the improvement of the Mississippi
over the waters of the Mississippi last year was
3netnird less Than u was twenty Years Ss9 no
claim. i'm their efforts 10 prejudice the public
@6mm"d te ram be handled from St Louis and
other Mississippi and Ohio River points to New
hat gmpins interest on the s2s5O0Soo Of tax
money eafh ron 9f iasr wear @ tbe
taxpayers &c cents in interest. In addition TO the
canal construction and operation are as simple
as the construction and operation OF railroads
when properly located and operated In an eco
nomical manner. When railroad construction is
psnnS eTery oeta ot Co cos Shq bsS for T,s con-
struction. The government should use the same
In iso1 n The expenses OF the government were
s. 10000 annually Last wear they were more Than
grown by ali the farmers the United States last
year was not sufficient TO pay the operating ex-
This extravaganza is the result Of increasingly
chsrgeable 10 any one, There is no drec; respon-
sihility OF tho parties who have charge or these
taxpayers money. 1t comes easy and goes easy;
old 50 broadly efnroneh the newspapers that the
masses are beginning 10 realize that something is
would send the strongest private business in this
country me m rpson f
win brins surprising results II IS not pTactcs i
20 neIeT ~nese Th d.ec .bold =. rsred Tor
by reducing expenditures and not by raising taxes
We would better spend more Of the money We
ocTe farm IF irrigated lana vii comf3rtably sup
port family Of FIVE II costs $500 10 make a
7-inch gun The money that goes %, 10 pay t9r
ing homes for lss people When all the guns on all
blows A on in noise :Ss and 9 smoke s Ths WOULD
reclaim more than four thousand acres OF land.
giving homes 10 more than f~e hundred farmers
and their families The money consumed In powdeE
is lost 10 all future. The farmer who buys 10
reclaimed land must pay the government back IN
ten years. so Il does not cost the government any
farmer We should make more homes and not
many lighting machines
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION.
one Of the greatest FACTORS OF our marvellous
growth In the last twenty Ave years has ben the
To show what this means ~ the country-to con-
struct. ballast. equip and furnish terminal facilities
for the one hundred and SIX thousand miles Of
rsd an snnend,r zach Yea o not less thsn
500 o.oooo. which were paid out for labor and ma
Rqiiroad construction has practically been absn-
doned. There is no great construction under way
s the disappointing Gign Of the countrys future
growth and prosperity. New railroad construction
is just essential for the great development that
should take place in tho next twenty-five years as
II was in the last twenty-five.
our Secretary OF state sounds the keynote for
the development OF China when he SAYS; ,Ih9
II and the american government behind both"
That is q broad and comprehensive policy 10 out
adopt 20 liberal an attitude toward It's own country
icau builders the same announcement and support
Mr.. Yoakum Is making tour Of the West 10 OBJ
crop and general business conditions. He
said in interview at oklahoma City to-day:
II md that business conditions good and that
Improvement is general all along the line. Cotton
IS good condition. In some sections needs rain
The corn crop has been hugt in this state in some
sections. but there will be more than last year
by reason OF increased acreage. In other sections
OF the country the corn crop is magnificent"