The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-11-25
Had Roads a Tax.

Good roads, the adoption of busi-
ness principles by the farmer and the
cooperation of the agricultural in
terests with the railroad, banking and
Industrial interests of the country
were urged in an address at Dallas,
Texas, by Mr.. B. f. Yoakum, chair
man of the board of directors of the
'Frisco-Rock Island Railroad system.
He was the orator of Prosperity
Day" at the State Fair and the SUBJ
ject of his address was "The Farmer
and Business"
THE public speaker or candidate
whose argument lies in the condemna-
tion of corporations and wealth and
whose method is to instill feeling
OF antagonism IL not true friend of
the farmer or of the country" he
said.
This is not said in defense of cor
porate interests or wealth when mis-
used, but in defense Of the spirit that
should prevail with ell men and all
classes in trying to develop a feeling
of closer relations and substantial CO.
operation.
IL tht uculdSOSueS are given W
understand that their talks will be
of more interest and will result in
more good by discussing plans and
methods of upbuilding, of the ini-
provement of public highways, of
making acres more productive or
other substantial developments of the
country, and by encouraging closer
cooperation among the producers,
the merchants, the bankers and the
transporters, their efforts will be in
the right direction and will result in
much good.
Whether accomplished through
existing organizations or by other
methods, an organized system upon
business principles that will promote
the interest of the farmer is in
evitable.
ITO procure bankers' assistance,
correct and acceptable business meth
DDS must be devised. Some start
must be made which will give the
farmer the same advantage which the
owner has who borrows money on re-
serve piles of coal, stocks of ore or
lumber. Any plan undertaken will
not be perfect in its origin, but will
be improved upon as it natures.
THE manufacturers are organized,
transportation is organized, the bank
ers have a systematic method of
handling their business. The pro-
ducers of the raw agricultural ma
terial (the annual production OF
which amounts to SS,OOO,000,0 900,
cotton alone approximating s6n0,-
000,000) are not working under
| systematic organization through
which they can cooperate to their
best advantage.
AN organization of the farming
interests cannot be made as effective
in any other way as through co-opera-
tion with its next door neighbor, the
railroad. The two interests by work.
| ing together create for both the rail-
road and the farmer beneficial busi-
ness condition that brings the farm
ers' organization in closer touch with
( the financial and business interests of
the country. The cooperation of the
] three classes without political inter-
| ference is essential to a full measure
of success If the farmers organize-
tion will cooperate we will place
man in each State served by the rail-
roads I am associated with to help
work out plans of cooperation with
the agricultural interests. 1t will be
his duty TO attend meetings in every
county or district in the State to dis
cuss ways and means of advancing
the interests of both, working in har-
mony in every way with tAat one OBJ
ject in view.
Il believe in fair and equitable
taxation, be 1t inheritance, income or
otherwise, but l believe in keeping
our tax money at home for good
roads and State purposes rather than
sending 1t to Washington to add to
the extravaganza fund of the Federal
Government, the necessity for which
is increasing with alarming rapidity."