The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-06-01

better trained than their fathers and
mothers were, and that that training
will enable them, not only to catch
the advantages, excellence, and indo-
pendence of farm life and remove The
drudgery that was it's stamp in the
past, but also it will enable them ~
the least expenditure of energy and
effort to get from the soil greater
results, and therefore sell to the con-
suming population at less price. We
therefore are not in favor of reci.
procity, not the reciprocity at least
embodied in this pact.
Pioneer Hardships.
This conviction is a profound one
in the west. Our farmers are law
abiding; today they are calm, silent,
patient, waiting the action of this
committee in the United States sen.
ate We will of necessity 30 on in
North Dakota, if you force this upon
us; We will struggle and battle on
and endure under it's adverse condi.
tions, and because they fight for home
| want to say to you, gentlemen Of
the committee, that some day some
one will write the story of the pioneer
of North Dakota. When and how he
came to that state, opened up his
farm, battled with adverse conditions,
lived in sod house, faced the sweep Of
the blizzard of its winters, chilly pre-
pared to keep out the cold, paid two
per cent a month, together with the
bonus, for the money he borrowed, if
he could borrow, in order to keep
going, feed and cloth his little ones.
I remember from 1885 to 1892, in the
section in which l lived, it was a stern
battle, and hundreds of them were
forced to leave their prairie home.
These people came from almost every
state west of the Ohio river They
were sturdy brave, optimistic people
with plenty of backbone, energy, and
brains. It is the sons of Ohio, New
York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, together
with the sturdy emm1grants from
Norway and Sweden. that make up
the population of our $4,000 people.
Today they are happy, progressive,
prosp people, not by reason OF
the price Of the product which they
have produced, but by reason of the
| increase in the value of their lands.
That condition will continue If we
can keep the equilibrium that now
exists between the present normal
production of agricultural products
and that of the normal consumption
within our own country. hear much
as to the high cost of living, and
believe one of the great arguments
on the part of those who favor this
treaty or agreement, is that if it be-
comes a law it will lessen the cost of
| living throughout the country, and
especially in the cities and manufac-
turing sections of our country. l
want to say that if there is such a
condition as to make living high,
then the remedy is not through the
lowering Of the price that the farmer
has been and is now getting for the
things he has to sell. Some other
conditions, some other cog is out Of
line, and the senate of the United
States must look somewheoe elso to
find the cause which has produced it.
The farmer of the west or of the east,
north, or south can not produce for
less than he now does and not be
materially injured in his effort to live
and secure very modest income
above cost OF production from year
to year. The farmer is beginning to
believe, and act upon it, that his
home shall be good one, his chill
dren clothed comfortably and we'll,
and secure the advantages Of and ed
ucation that will enable them to meet
successfully the responsibilities Of
our twentieth century life. He is not
going to submit peacefully, bow his
head to the yoke that this agreement
will place upon him, as slave. I
warn you that If you pass it you win
start a prairie fire IN the west, and
that fire will not stop until II touches
every farm throughout this country.
fHontio nod an naOn ~