The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-04
new DAY HAS COME.
Secretary Wilson Talks on Changes in
Business of Farming.

st. Louis, May 4.-That the farms
of the United States are not producing
half what they should because of a
lack of practical education among the
farmers was the explanation of the
high cost of living problem offered by
Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson
in an address tonight at the Farmers
union rally.
Secretary Wilson received a mixed
greeting from the largest audience
that has yet attended the sessions.
A motion that the delegates arise
when the secretary entered was voted
down with cries of Hes no better
than we are" When he appeared
about half the audience stood up while
the others shouted: "Sit down" He
was roundly applauded at the con-
clusion of his address however, and
presided at the remainder of the ses-
sion.
at believe the solution of the cost
of living problem lies in good hands,"
said Mr. Wilson. 1.-The farmers are
awake and no country is in danger
when this is the case. I have inves-
tigated charges that the farmers have
community and believe that they are
not true.
"In the past the manufacturers ask
ed no questions as to the continued
fertility of soil and no effort was made
to educate the farmer or his son,
son to leave the farm went on apace.
Manufacturing will not succeed with
out an abundance of food at reason
able prices and now that the farms in
the east have fallen away below the
standard of productiveness, the manu-
facturers are waking up to the danger
of interpretation.
1.-The government continued for
half a century to give away its fertile
lands until now we have little left
he farmer
the old day was good natured per-
son, working for what wages he could
get and being glad of it while his sons
went away from the farm.
"a new day has come. Our popu-
lation is increasing a couple of million
or so a year and our production is not
keeping pace with this growth. Prices
have gone up. Something must be
done.
"Of the fourteen states of the Mis-
sissippi valley not one is producing
half the crops it should because the
farmers have not been taught scienti-
no farming We can and will, ultl-
mately double every crop we are
growing and at the same time care for
a population of 200 million people.
When we've done that the agricultur-
lists of the day will show how to dou-
BILE the crops again. The government
is straining every effort to improve the
soil and is accomplishing wonderful
things. but there remain other Things
to be done.
onomies.
1--WE buy too much in paper bags,
forgetting the sacks and barrels. One
of the best things I could recommend
to you would be the appointment of
committee to study the economies of
the home. Rice sold at wholesale in
Louisiana at cents a pound, costs
cents a pound in the north in paper
bag.
1.-The farmer must be educated. We
need q countrywide university. If
1 had nothing else to do I should be-
come a lobbyist in my state of Iowa,
to demand that agriculture be taught
in every one of the thirty or more col
Iegea there. If we teach the young
farmers, the old farmers will soon
take interest.
1--WE must keep our young farmers
on the farm. Immigrants who have
lived on farms should be placed on
farms when they come to this coun-
try.
I'VE need agricultural teachers. We
need agricultural text books, but
where are we going to get them. Some
dav We'll have a primer and all the
readers. And that will be a STEP"