Newark post., 1912-06-26

cies.' as applied to governmental
affairs: we are hearing much of It
today and are likely to hear much
more in the future. This is not the
time nor the occasion for me to eX.
press any view or make any argl.
ment concerning progressive poll
cies a. applied to political affairs
but It IS meet and proper that on
this day when So many Of our sub
stantiul citizens have gathered to-
gether on the grounds Of this small
but yreat experimental farm, we
discuss with each other progres-
siye policies as they apply or
ShoUlI apply to the farmer.
"" have always given ful,ome
praise to the statesman who sue
ceS>fully directs the destinies Of Il
nation: we make a hero Of him
who wins on the battle field: we
honor and respect the wise and
faithful .jurist as he impartially
administers the law among us; we
have the tcndereSt affection for
him who. by his special knowledge
and skill Of our physical body. re
lieve> ollr suffering and prolongs
our life; We love and adore the
gojly minister who directs on" at
tcntion from the earthly to the
heavenly things; we erlogize the
inventor for the wonderful thing
h. has accomplished: but in the
excitement Of it all we nave for
gotten that there is a mother
eartn. or that anybody. day by
day. tolls theTein: We forget the
men who blaze the way through
the forests and turn over the sod
Of the earth; we forget how much
we have to depend upon them for
food and how much they in turn
depend upon nature itself. How
ever mTrh W. may praise and eulo-
&ize deserved and honorcd men il
other walks OF lite. it is apparent
II those who will carefully analyze
the real condition. that the farmer
j. the most Important and the first
citizen in the civilized world. One
has hut t. turn t. the pages Of his
tory t. ..cHli=" tins truth. The
FARMER. as an individual. has but
little opportunity to become a part
If the history Of the world and
have his own name written there
il. Gut Mt the same time il will be
iul0 -aa, It l., upon the work Of
the Iarmcr& as "a class thar the
Ioun@at.Du &ur all true progressive
pol.eie, is being built.
There has been danger iM the
past in that the tiiliug Of the soil
was being left to him who had no
profession or trade and could find
little or nothing else to do. Fortu-
nate. indeed. is this generation in
finding a rapid change in this re-
surct. and it would not be entire
ly without profit to consider for a
moment what has brought and is
BRINGING about this new condition.
Among the many things which
might be mentioned. those which
occur to me at the moment as be-
Ing Of the most Importance are the
experimental Iarma. tn" good
roads. modern couyrniences on the
farm and beneficial legislation.
All Of us know that farming is
not an occupation out Of which
alone man accumulates great
wealth in single lifetime. In
other words, the business of farm
ing is no rich mans business; the
pleasure Of farming may be a rich
man 5 pleasure. III good farmers
are nevertheless business men. en-
gagged il All important, though
perhaps a small business. There
is a great difference in the compe,
tition Of this business from that OF
any other. The average business
man has many competitors, en-
gagged as he is engaged. and ht
must be wide awake. pushing for
ward always. if he hopes to sue
cced. Not 50 with the farmer. He
is not in competition with hi:
neighbour The farmer in thi'
countyxis not in competition with
him who lives in another, nor is h
in competition with he who live
in another State. There are mil
lions of consumers ready to tax,
all he can supply in order to salts
fy their own bodily needs.
But while the farmers are not j,
competition with each other 50 fa
as disposing Of their products i
concerned. it must not be forgot
ten that they are in fact in keel
competition with nature itself
Ever since Adam ate the forbidde
fruit nature has been in contiic