Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-10-11

Clllt 5 SpttIdI 'll"iu ~ '.lt liN ! Oh III
ing congress at Spokane. arrived
home at II o'clock last night, bearing
a tired but happy party. Starting
home With a train loaded to capacity.
the members dropped off at various
points in Montana and North Dakota.
all Drumming over with enthusiasm
which they had absorbed on the trip
and at the congress. That the party
was made up OF men who had a
mission in making it, was in evidence
from the start, and that it had accom-
plishcd results was manifested by ac-
ton taken on the train cnroute home.
Realizing that those who had attend
ed the congress had derived benefits
from it, the next consideration was
how to pass those benefits OIL down
tl, line to others who had not been
so fortunate. and plans were formed
for the organization of local and sec
tiOnnl bodies to bring the farmers to-
gether where agricultural subjects
could be discussed and the knowledge
of new and approved methods brought
hone to all. The western North
Dakota men laid plans to start the
movement at once, and it is the eX-
Ecctation that the idea will spread.
All who went on the trip were con-
vinccd % fore starting that crops
could be raised successfully in re-
gionS having Il rainfall at one time
considered insufficient but even the
most optimistic were hardly prepar-
ed for the ocular demonst ration of
successful efforts in this line. The
first great eye-opener came while the
train was passing through the valley
of which Beach, n. d.. is the center.
Eight big elevators are taxed to ca
pacity where five years ago there was
no farming. The Montana state fair
was the next revelation. Fairs III
older states may and do present
larger exhibits. but none can surpass
it in quality. and the products of lands
cultivated by dry farming methods
vie with that under irrigation and
do not suffer by comparison in quail
ity and labor, and momentary cost
considered. make Il good comparison
of financial return.
Learn From Montana.
One thing was apparent, and that
| is that all of the fairs can learn
something from Montana in the way
of artistic displays Of agricultural
products Experts who have follodcw
fairs declared they never before saw
anything so artistic in this line. So
beautiful were the arrangements that
! they Immediately challenged the at
tention of very visitor to the thing
which was being exhibited, ald inter
ested him whether he willed or not.
At Spokane the interstate fair that
was held in connection with the Dry
Farming congress, was another rev.
citation. Covering a much wider field
than the Montana fair. in fact having
many of the exhibits from Helena,
the Spokane exhibit was larger and
more complete and of the same high
standard of quality.
The congress itself was composed
of earnest men who came for a pur-
pose and who allowed nothing to d.
vert them from it, The sessions were
all well attended, the addresses prac-
teal and the informal discussions ana
institute hours prolific in developing
the best thought along agricultural
lines. Without disparagement OF pre-
vious sessions it can be said truthful
ly this has been the most profitable
of ALL 1t started, it is true, with an
interest already awakened and with
the benefit of another year OF study
and experiment on the problems which
confront the farmer and fruit raiser.
Four days of speeches and debate
ordinarily have a depressing effect
and interest flags towards the last,
but in this case the time was all too
short to thresh out the matters which
came up.
Miss The Rocks.
With all of it's success, the con-
gress came much nearer the rocks
than most of those in attendance
knew, but skillful pilotage avoided all
the reefs and shoals and put it on
a broad and safe course. The first
danger was the effort of some to
boost political fortunes at the expense
of the congress, but this met with
defeat in he election of j.. II. Wr:s:
of the North Dakota agricultural col
lege as president over Governor Bra
DIV of Idaho. The second and hnal
victory was the decision of the com
mittee on resolution to exclude from
its report all matters excep: those
directly concerned with the problems
of the farmer. There wee several
resolutions thus shut out, some OF
them matters on which all were
agreed, but other topics which would
have provoked bitter controversies,
the most notable of the latter being
the question of state or federal con-
troll. BY excluding every foreign
topic this was eliminated without
leaving any soreness or hard feelings
on either side, and with a clearly de-
fined object and an interested cor
stituency there is every promise that
the congress has entered upon long
career of usefulness.
Of all the parties which attended
the sessions it is doubtful! if any
derived either more profit or pleas
ure from the trip than the one taken
out by the Northern Pacific under the
leadership of Thomas Cooper. The
train had ample facilities for sleep
ing, eating, working and for social
enjoyment, none of. which features
we're neglected or carried to excess,