The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
Wonders Have Been Ac-.
complished in Agricul-
ture and Dairying.
OBJECT LESSON
TO THIS STATE
Westmoreland Davis Makes
Study of Remarkable Develop
ment Among Farmers in
Northwest, and Draws Com
parison for Benefit of
Workers in Virginia.

"estnorciand Davis. of this State.
and one of the most active among
the grand army of twentieth century
agriculturists and Virginia boomers.
mas been up in Wisconsin lately, and
while there ne not only made a study !.
OF wisconsin agricultural development.
out Kept his eye right on Old Virginia.
From far away Wisconsin he has writ
ten to the editor OF The Times.Dis-
patch letter that seems to be Just
IN the right place if put in the In
dustrial Section. The letter speaks
for itself Here II is:
I have read with interest the COM
nunication OF the Hon. Martin VIII
Hams. the leader Of the House of Rem
resentat'ves In the last Legislatures
which appeared in your Issue of
April "a.
Judge Willlams's position as jurist
and legislator renders a pronounce- .
ment OF political doctrine from him OF
more than passing interest. and a fit
subject for discussion not in a spirfr
OF criticism. but in one of mutual helm
fulness.
II mistake not. Judge willams's
meaning, he dcplores the multiplicity
OF state administrative boards and
would by their coordination lessen
their number and Increase their eff
cheney. SO far his suggestions Will
ever. Is for economy. and he refers to
the amounts appropriated by the Leg
islature annually; chief among which
are the Items OF $4,000. for the y p.
J.. 100000 for the University Of Vir-
ginia, and $4,000 for the county sun
erintendents of our public schools.
These items arc, OF peculiar imnort
ance t0rthe farmers Of the State
II we are to administer public az
fa'rs successfully we must recognize
the similarity in their proper admins
tration between government and bust
ness; and that the same rules OF econo
my Of administration. as well rs OF
expansion apply to the one. as to the
other; save this. that government Is
the collective action OF self-con-
trolled people" who administer their
aHairs for the public veal
Cd Great Magnitude.
Let us also consider that the prob
iems OF State government are Of great
magnitude. for 1t has to do In our
case with more than two millions of
people. the protection Of their personal
rights. the conserva.ion of their re-
sources. and those Of the State. and
tho education OF their children.
economy Is no doubt II virtue. but
IN business penur!cus:tEs is Il crime;
and the same rule of economies ap-
plies to the development, of the re-
'Ses " we St',te rs to the better
managed affairs of the corporation
a State mus; look to tho future. and
nave an orSaniaation upon which to
build. The question vital to our peo-
pie Is not so much one OF economy as
II Is that efficient service shall be
secured in the States business. for
which the money appropriated is ex-
pended.
The educational system OF Virginia
lev
ability. II has gained the approval
or disinterested experts who hava
studied II from purely scientific
standpoint. and with an unbiased mind
1t Is cited by the authorities as
model of its kind, and can imagine
no reason wig the monay which has
already been expended should be icon
ardized by adopting innovations which
while they might crafty local politi
cal aspirations would ultimately prove
injurious 10 the system as n whole
The $4,000 paid to the " p l.. and
the 100000 which Is received by the
University OF Virginia are totally in
adequate. IL these institutions are sat
isfactorily to perform their functions
in our business and government. ths
development of our youth and peopIeI
and the material resources OF thn
State.
The legislator who would serve his
constituents best VIII ascertain wheth
er or not sums appropriated are beine
so wisely expended that they will
enure TO the benefit OF the State. Mod
ern statesmanship requires construc-
tive action rather than mere negation.
a dollar saved is not in the popular
acceptation OF the term dollar
gained. for VIC are concerned in our
state affairs in the final analysis OF
these questions with the net result
OF our venture. Tho amount Of the OK.
pcnditure is not to be judged alone
but is to be scrutinized tina! we may
find its Justification in the net gain
which accrues.
] rejoice with our friends In the
comfort to be had from our much
hernided agricultural prosperity. but
do not lose sight OF tho fact thar
though our State is chiefly engaged
in agricultural pursuits she does not
produce enough corn. wheat. oats, rye
mutton, hay, bacon and the dairy fac
tory products TO supply The needs OF
our population OF about two millions
of people, and that the high acreage.
value OF our crops is principally TO he
ascribcd 20 the small amount produced
by US for the local market which Is,
mainly supplied from without the
state. The pricSs received are indeed
high. but unfortunately as rule our
farmers arc the chief purchasers, and
therefore the chief sufferers from their
own so-called sprcsperity.'. we I'm.
port so per cent OF tho butter, cheese
and condensed milk that we consume.
Two states Compared.
virginia has until recently been per-
haps the most conservative state.
while Wisconsin. has been tho most pyo ]
gressivc and yet In many phases AZ
their material welfare they may rs