Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-10-18

eilect or this handicap is in
ulcated not only in the present
breadth OF our domestic and interna-
'ional commerce, but to great en-
| TENT IN the promise of its more won
uerful commercial conquests vet to
come The nation is barely on the
threshold of its destiny. That fact
should not mislead us as to the diff
flculties in the way of making the
destiny real, and not merely a boast
ful prophecy.
IN the process of transmitting our
possibilities in'o assets. what is the
dominant factor? The American
farmer. challenge any of my dis
lihguished audience to mention a sin
gle phase of commerce. one feature
Oh trade, the smallest detail of actual
subsistence that does not, eventually
trace back to the man plodding out
there on the acres.
Napoleon said an army travelled on
It's belly. He could have said with
equal truth that civilization travels
on its belly. And the farmer is the
FACTOR that fills the great American
stomach, and that keeps full every
dinner pail, regarding which we have
heard so much during political cam
palgns, More than that he also
clothes the armies of development.
Nor must we forget that with the
Souths cotton as the lever. he keeps
the international trade balance on
the American side of the ledger. You
tell me the manufacturer plays
large part in our current and our
probable development. This is true.
You tell me also that what might be
called trade-sti ategy, pure and sim
ple-the proverbial Yankee shrewd-
ness lis going to win for America
the bulk of the worlds business.
do not dispute these assertions.
But | answer: That back of manu-
featuring. back of trade-strategy and
| of dollar-diplomacy is the American
farmer Without him. all would be
in vain. Without him, all of those
resources we agree ought to be cou-
served would melt into impalpable
air
Let us admit, then. that the farm
er is the keystone in the arch, not
only of national advance, but of sheer
national existence. His problems
then, are the nations problems and
his welfare the nations welfare. No
nation is stronger than it's farmers.
If the farmer is poorly nourished, if
the government is negligent of his
rights, Indifferent to his mental de-
velopment and moral soundness. the
way will be surely blocked to our
national forward march.
1t is to the vital interest of
America to cultivate intensively. not
only the farm but, what is more i'm
portant, to cultivate intensively the
farmer. What use to conserve our
4CooulNco, uhicSS we COnScINc Jnc
man behind the resources? The sta
bility of national progress and of
government itself is dependent on
conserving the farmer?
All of you within hearing of my
voice may say: I'VE concede these
facts. Are We not, right now, trying
to aid the farmer, to conserve him.
to intensively cultivate his possibili-
ties and safeguard his rights?" And
can not help, you can not conserve.
| you can not cultivate the farmer un-
| less you mix and mingle with him in
the first person--not for "a hours,
but more likely for "a months or "a
years
] give full credit to the splendid
intentions of the men who have
tried and who now are trying to AID
the farmer. But you can not ade
quately grasp his problems by using
glasses from the convention hall or
interviewing him over long dis
lance telephone, so to speak.
The scientists who are searching
for secrets; the missionaries who
are looking for converts, use neither
of these methods. They go straigh
to the scene of battle. And so must
all persons do, my friends, if they
expect intelligently to conserve, to
cultivate that American element
which is the pivot of all other ele-
ments in this country. Study him at
first hand, then your sympathies will
be practical. not theoretical; your
suggestions based on conditions, no
on conjecture. Fight with him, side
by by side, in the ranks, day by day.
That is the only way you can learn
of the fOes-not the last of which
is his own eakness-which he has
Ito combat, and what his victory
meaIs to the veal or woe of this
common country of aurc