Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-26
PLAIN TALK FOR FARMERS
Henry Wallace Tells Them They Are
Robbing the Soil.
CONSERVATION CONGRESS OPENS
Delegates Are welcomed by Gov
ernOr HndIey, Who Says Pres
ent Methods Are WRsteful
TAFT Speaks Tonight.

KANSAS CITY, Sept. 25.-Plain words
were used by speakers at the opening
session Of the third annual conservation
congress here today in pointing out that
the continuation OF present day farming
methods viii result calamitousy for the
country. Not only a change in the treat
ment of the soil but of the country people
as we'll was urged. Only by bcttering
social conditions on the farm it was
declared could the young persons he kept
there. About $500 delegates attended the
opening session.
Governor Herbert 5 Hadley, Of Mis-
souri,, in welcoming the delegates to the
state urged advanced agricultural meth
ods. He asserted that fully forty per
cent of the land in this country is be-
inc farmed so that it's productive quail
ties are decreased.
Farmers Called Soil Robbers.
Henry Wallace of Des Moines, presi-
dent of the congress in replying to the
welcome assailed the farmer as a soil
robbcr and pleaded for more scientific
farming. He cited that land in the
United states produced crops but one
half the size of those grown on poorer
land in Europe. In his plea for a back
to the farm movement and betterment
of social conditions in the country, he
said the city uses up men and families
as it uses horses" The solution of the
high cost of living problem lies in better
farming methods, he said
]. &. White Of Rau-ts City charm an
~ 81, al "a.
of the responses to the welcoming
speeches Mr.. White will make his prin-
cipal address on Wednesday
The afternoon program included an ad-
dress by Judge Ben B. Lindsay OF Denver
on THE Country Child VS.. the City
Child"
Routine business occupied the greater
part Of the remainder Of the morning and
forenoon sessions.
Governor HndIey's Address.
The governor spoke in part as follows:
Up to the present time in this country
we have been peculiarly fortunate in that
our production has exceeded consumption
and the supply has always been greater
than the demand. The result has been
that the American people alone Of all
the people in the world have eaten the
same kind of food. And no stronger in
fluence could exist a. against the cres-
tion of classes and ca. in our popula-
ton than for all the leople to eat the
same kind of food.
But with the consumption increasing
more rapidly than production, and the
consequent increase in the cost of the
necessities of life there win come time
when many will not be able 10 secure
the same kind of food that is enjoyed by
others. Then will there come a disturb
ing and dangerous influence that will
threaten our society and our institutions.
statistics tell as of a constantly de-
creasing surplus of production II this
tendency continues in a few years we will
consume all the products Of our grain
and Of our live stock. And when this
condition is followed by a time when il
will be necessary TO import the necessi-
ties of life then will exist conditions that
will be the cause Of concern
There is no state in the union which
illustrates more completely both the ne
cessity and the value of a practical ap-
plication of the policy OF conservation
than Missouri. or the 100000 Of acres
which constitute the state little more
than one-half has ever been touched by
a plow and in its 100000 acres of un-
cultivated soil there are II, 10000 acres of