The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-14
Worst's Tree Planting Plan Is
Keynote Of the 1913 Meeting
Of the Tri-State Grain Growers

address called attention to the scheme
proposed by President Worst some
time ago. which, after his conclusion,
drew forth from the president his
splendid impromptu speech, which
proved the keynote of the convention
and which is given above.
Mayor Sweet Talks.
II might we'll confne myself to the
subject of your welcome again to our
ctty-becanse on that subject my sentf-
ments, and those of our people are
warmest," said Mayor Sweet. "But
your honored president has given me
the opportunity of contributing some
thought that might add to the aggre-
gate or wisdom which will eyolye in
the deliberations of this conventions. /
say he has given me the opportunity;
and 1 guess lit must end with that be-
cause, indeed. what can a mere bust
ness man say on the subject of agri-
culture that will instruct past masters
IN the art, experts in the science and
the offsprings of actual experience
nothing 1 fear.
IL. therefore, you lend me your at
tentton at all, | realize that it must
be from curiosity, to discover what
may be the impressions and views of
one who knows SO little of the subject.
But my friends, there may be things
outside of the immediate question OF
agriculture which are yet related to it
and which exercise potent Influences
upon 1T They are the subjects OF
manufacture. Of commerce, of trans
~portation, OF distribution; and finally
the greatest of the fiscal questions,
viz that of finance.
IT is with these that men Of the
commercial world are concerned and
through them that the man If business
comes into relation with the domain
OF agriculture-the fundamental in
dustfy and source of wealth for the
nation at large. The business world
Is OF secondary Importance to agricul-
ture, and it may be felt by some that
the men of business are an Incubus
that might be dispensed with-and
therefore, / want in ~apologizfng for his
sIlstence. to suggest some reasons
why they do constitute an indispensi-
bic cog wheel in the great productive
machinery of the world.
The man of the commercial world
ls 9 composite factor represented in
As a manufacturer, he in 4 large de-
gree provides the implements, the con-
Venienees, the comforts and the luxur-
res OF the human race; and without
when ~clylilzatton would hardly exist,
ana mankind would dig roots and
gnaW like an animal. In this relation
TO commerce he finds or makes the
markets. of the world-he engineers
Ine mighty problem Of distribution,
ana he operates the great machine of
transportation. and bridges the chasm
the producer and the consum-
er, Ind finally he ooncefves and exeA
eutes thai most delicate, intricate, diff
fcult and Indispensable of ali the az
ialrs OF men-the financial problem.
II any of these things are neces-
sary to the development of agricuI-
lure; then the man of business may be
admitted to your conferences RuY
again ! realize that you are not here
70 deliberate on the entire domain OF
human affairs, but rather the imme-
ulale questions In closest relation to
agriculture.
In the next few days Won will hear
volumes Of experiences, OF experiment
tations, of scientific analysis-you will
near or p~hosphates in the soil, Of smut
IN ~ Wneat or deep blowing, of soil
~cfeatlon, and irrigation-of dry farm
ing and drainage, and a multitude OF
Things that would be Greek to many of
the commercial worId-but ii all sug-
gests to my mind the possibilities OF
the future, when we consider the ele-
ments and forces at work for the adj
vance of agriculture &
Conventions like this-rne better
q associations, the wonderfully
framed FORCES of the agricultural COL
lege work, and the bureaus of gov
ernment-the extraordinary dement's Of
these forces are as yet barely touched
2 "a viii evolve guide to com
pietlon IN time, a condition ~that-stirs
the imagination to contemplate.
Auamantine roadways will cover
the country like a wafhe-they will be
the tranways of commerce, adding
mliilons to the value Of lands. The
processes OF fertilization
climatic control through forestration:
uniformity of conditions through frri-
cation and drainage, and a multitude
oI methods and ideas now being re-
9uced TO q science will multiply pro-
On the one hand and divide the
cost of it on the other.
Ihe interchange Of social and com
mefcial relations will be like the cit
les OF today-postal and phone COM
munications, and social centers Will
abound n naturally solves the prob-
lem or back to the farm. When we
can pc that some of the schemes
we discuss today for agricultural adj
yancement have been though out ON
scientific lines and the methods Of ex-
ecution made harmonious and efficient.
u will matter little how many millions
may be expended to Accomplish them:
the returns Will repay.
There exists in this convention to-
DAY the energy and quality of brain-
If developed. Concentrated. and
applied, to transform this empire of
the into q garden Of pro-
equalIing the standards OF
ancient Babylon, u with a distribu-
ton of wealth, and a universal con-
dltion or prosperity and happiness 10
which they and no other period since
nave attained or dreamed off,
TtSSluSnG rage nSard.
Col. Morton Page. president OF the.
Fargo Commercial club, was the next,
speaker introduced by President Worst
Colonel Page immediately Won 4 warm
spot in the hearts of his audience
when he told of the efforts of the COM
mercial interests of the city In proyid-
Ing for the grain owe an auditori-
I'M in which to hold their annual ses-
sions hereafter.
Z business men of Fargo said
Colonei Page take suel an interest In
the welfare Of this organization, which
Mayor Sweet has said lis probably the
largest Of its kind In the United States.
thai by poptlar subscription among
ourselves we are collecting SUFFICIENT.
funds with which to construct an audi
forum that will be ample enough in
its seating capacity so that no matter
how large or small your ~assemblage
may be from year to year, your con-
Nentt0n VIII always be accommodated.
After all, while the business mon Of
this city are actively engaged ia sew
erai other pursuits, they are largely
agriculturalists and know the value of.
this asgemblage and are frequent at
tendants at your sessions, where they
gain much in learning how to operate
their own farms. And we hope soon
to welcome 0 in another year In the
big auditorium which we propose to
erect Tor your accommodation and bene-
fit.
Country life Commission.
The last feature oil the mornings
programme was the trading OF the re-
of the commission on country life
by President Worst a year
ago at the 1912 session of the grain
growers. w G Palmer. chairman of
the commission, read the report, which