Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-12
x.SECRErARY OF AGRICULTURE
DELIVERS ADDRESS TO LARGE
CROWD At COUNTY FAIR.
ExTRAVAGANT LIVING
BLAMED FOR CONDITIONS
Treats on General Agricultural Topics,
and Tolls Farmers How to Maintain
Good Pasturage-Refers to Recent
Trip Abroad to Study Farming Con.
diticns.
diticns.

Hon. James Wilson. exsecretary %
agriculture. and one Of the best all :
thorites on agriculture in the World
delivered an address az the county fair
his morning. Mr.. Wilson'S subjec was
agriculture" The address was to
have been delivered Thursday. but Nv
ing to the Indictment weather The APP
pearance Of Mr. Wilson was pos Dyneu
until today, and was m.de feature
+ the days program.
Mr.. Wilson did not deliver / set aa-
lress, but made a heact-ro- heart talk
20 the citizens of central Iowa IN gem
eral subjects pertainine. 10 .hc better
ment Of agricultural III and condi-
titns. High prices, their cause. an:
the way to escape from continuation
OF such conditions, forlnc one Of the
main topics discussed by the speaker.
The High Cost Of Living.
Mr.. Wilson discussed the high cost
of living without references 20 political
conditions. He attributed the prevail
ing high prices primary 20 TAG extraN-
asant present day mode of living. and
TO the high wages received for all
classes of labor, skilled and unsille6.
Many things ina% lie blamed for this
condition, he declared. The high price
of labor, resulting in the idle looking
for easy jobs with fat salaries. and the
tendency TO cause idleness. by reason
of big pay for small duties, was at
tributed as the principal cause.
.,.:, ,t,, Is,g. DO IA
caused a tendency to live high, said Mr..
Wilson, and there was little effort
made 10 lay aside fund for less ia
vorable times. From this condition
housekeeperS grew negligent and eX-
travagant. The advent Of the HAT as
a dwelling place in smaller citl=s ana
towns. with no cellars. resulted III
housewives neglecting the old custom
of putting up fruits and pantry stores
for the winter. and in the neglect or
providing vegeta bles for the winter
season, when prices are higher. This
state of unpreparedness, the outgroWt n
of neglect and eXtravaSant living. Gre
ated bigger winter demand and
helped 10 maintain high prices thru
out the year.
Telephone a Factor.
The telephone is named by Mr.. Will
son as factor in the high cost Of liv-
ing. This useful contrivance has made
il possible for the housewife to order
her daily needs from the butcher the
grocer, and the baker. and everything
is sent to the door without the pur-
chaser knowing what she is buying or
the price she pays. She becomes care
tNtll
or the meat bill, assumes greater pro-
portions month after month 1t leaves
too much to the dealer. and only the
honesty of the merchant is a safeguard
against fraud and overcharges.
In this connection the credit custom
becomes a factor in the situation. The
telephone order is usually credit bust
mes: credit trading lea i,s to less accom- :
mediation on the part Of the merchant
and less care as 10 what is purchased.
as to price. by the buyer.
The quickest way to defeat the high
cost of living. it was asserted. was to
return TO a saner method of living, and
give more attention TO what You buy.
how you buy it. and little attention
To the future.
Pastures and Pasturage.
Mr.. Wilson then turned his attenti IN
to strictly agricultural topics. He
spoke briefly on Iowa pastures and how
they could be maintained. Neglect OF
pastura ges had its influences on high
prices He called attention to practica'
means of maintaining pastures anG
keeping them in condition in all seas
0ns. and under all conditions. good and
bad
Mr. Wilson referred briefly to his re
cent trip abroad to study agricultural
conditions in Europe and the system Of
farm credits in practice there.
In closing he complimented the PEG.
pie Of Marshall county highly on the
excellence of their county fair. which
he says is unexcelled in any iocaiit y
the country over.
The speech was delivered in the rest
tent at ii O'Clock before a large audi
ence.