The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-10-24
HAS ! I J. F|.l | ] IN : !.
! !. WEST VIRGINIA
# {. Williams, Candidate for
Commissioner Of Agriculture.
IS: 4 SCIENTIFIC FARMER
Expresses Views On Questions Hav-
ING to Do With Development Of
Lands and other Matters Of Vita,
Interest to People OF the state. -.

In my primary election campaign
stated that, in my judgment, it is not
only the, duty, but the privilege, OF
every candidate for Office where the
public interests are affected to ex-
press his views on questions in which
the people are interested, SO that they
may know his position and, with rea.
ronable certainty, anticipate his &C
ton. / did 80 in my primary election
In what might be termed my plat
form. 1t is therefore q matter OF
pleasure for me to again express my
views to the people Of West Virginia
ca some Of these important questions.
In my Judgment the office of CON-
missioner of agriculture is one of the
most important In the gift Of the poo
PIE OF the state, because of the great
responsibility and 1ar-reaching inlu-
ence which has been placed upon this
commissioners by the legislature, and
Of the possibilities for agricultural de-
velopments, which lie within our state.
Possibilities which are limited only
by two things, the appropriations from
the legislature and the mans ability
and Willingness to serve the people.
I%belieye that agriculture ia the
fundamental and perhaps the. most
Important Of any OF the Industrial
pursuits, The consumption OF food
products In West Virginia ts far great
err than the supply. We have much
waste and worthless land In West
10 ruh t o1, ~
Q good return, Much Of the land now
under cultivation IL not sufficiently
productive. We ought, therefore, to
exert every effort to develop our
lands, conserve our soils along prac-
tcal lines and make them productive
OF the things most profitable, whether
they be apples or blue grass, or some
thing else. ...'.-
:, l believe in the development Of our
natural resources, such as coal, oil
and gas land, but under such q sys-
tenn az will prevent all unnecessary
waste, and will conserve for future
generations as much of that product
ss may be- In keeping with our present
needs.
We ought to develop our timber
lands, but under such conditions. as
Will best protect from destruction
that part OF the forests not now Of
sufficient size to be Of market value.
The. average timber owner or lumber
man; ts helpless under our conditions
In West Virginia. IN my Judgment
the state should in some way encour-
age and help In the protection. and
conservation OF our forests.
favor the best System of public
schloois possible under, our conditions.
-, THE standard set for our teachers
Should be the highest and their com
pensation in just proportion.
ID. I believe that the farmer shou ld
nave legal protection from the i'm
portation Of filthy and polluted agri-
cultural seeds, and that the feeders
should be protected from the importa-
ton OF mixed and untrue to name"
feeding stufTs.
favor the creation of public utiI-
lilies commission to assess values on
public utilities, and to so regulate
their services that neither the corpo.
ration nor the public shall be imposed
upon. a just compensation for SER
vice rendered Is certainly the moral
and legal right Of both capital and
labor.
l. FAVOR primary election law
whereby all political parties may have
nominations made at state expense
on the same day, on the same ballot,
and in such manner that the choice
IN ~
tanned.
There are many things along this
line which might be mentioned, such
as pure food law, properly enforced.
The collection Of agricultural sta
tsstics at such time and In such man.
ner as may be OF value to the state
and the nation In estimating the GUAM
tity of the product, and thus being en-
abfed to anticipate prices. .---------..-
favor cooperation with the real
estate agents of the state, to the end
that our farms may be repopulated
and that new people and new blood
may be scattered throughout our
state for the production of those
things OF which we are 80 sadly in
need Last, but by no means least,
J FAVOR the construction of good sys-
tenn OF public roads by national, state
and local cooperation.
The cost Of food products will con
tinue TO be governed by the supply
and demand. Under our conditions
local competition ia entirely removed
for many months of the year on ac-
count of the condition OF our roads.
our country churches and country
SCHOOLS can not prosper az they
should under such conditions.
These questions have been study.
ing for years. l know the farm from
the practical, hard work" side. and
my work In school and in college has
been OF the same character
l do not offer solution for all
those problems, but whether elected
or not shall continue to work az best
I may for the best solution, because
they must be solved, and solved right
Respectfully,