The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-23
FORWARD TO THE SOIL
Pollard
in Keokuk

houses at the outposts of civilization
and the boys and girls they have sent
forth have become great in the coun-
| ellis of our land.
Farmers Future Progress
| The primitive battles OF the farmer
have been fought and won. The rich
soil of the corn belt yields its plen-
teous harvest, the cotton blossoms
whiten the plains OF the southland.
out across the great divide the noun
tain streams have been diverted and
the desert Is clothing in verdure, and
still the torch of progress beckons the
husbandnian onward,
The progress or the farmer is now
in the direction of getting the full re-
turns due him. from Mother Earth,
and we know the possibilities in that
direction are vast and the limit of
production not even approached.
Like every other progressive bust
ness man the farmer is turning to the
higher branches of his chosen voca-
tion. He is sending his sons to the
agricultural colleges, he is himself
taking a post graduate course when
ever the opportunity offers through
Institutes and shortcourse meetings
TO learn from those who have made
scientific production a life study. As
our colleges and experimental fields
and institutes are multiplying, the re.
suits are everywhere apparent In new.
/, er and better methods and vastly
more profitable results are being
achieved at less cost. / have seen it
stated that land which had been in
cultivation for fifty years is produc-
ling more and better crops without arti-
fetal fertilization on account of thing
and better care
The Soil Capable Of Vast Capabilities.
The foundations of our national
wealth, the fertile soil and the treas
ures hidden in the hills are still CAP,
able of vast expansion. That fact is
the bes- evidence of the real prosper
] ity of our country in season and out.
Through the ;nteliigently applied in
| dustry and economy of farmer and
/ miner they may be made the basis
for vastly increased legitimate COM
i mercial activity, and with scientifi.
/ eally planned banking and currency
system which would answer The legi-
innate requirements of trade ana
commerce, and would not answer
the demands Of speculation and stock
| gambling there appears to be no
good reason why we might not enjoy
! permanent and increasing prosperity.
/ think you realize that time would
prevent my going into the astonishing
maze OF false theories and naturally
reluctant misconception of the func-
lions of banking and currency, even
were competent to discuss that
question.
Agriculture in the abstract, how
! ever, is easier to understand, for the
cultivation Of the soil is strictly in
/ dependent vocation and in this coun-
! try unhampered by law SO far as pro
] duction is concerned. The farmeF is
! neither trus. nor combination.
He owes his prosperity to his Gown
Industry and the laws of supply and
i demand and is under no obligations
| to any set Of lawmakers He obtains
his returns in the sweat OF his brow
in competition with the whole world.
He asks no favors and he bars no
competitors in his business.
-. -e
and want to know every detail Of his
!! affairs. He is being investigated
three hundred and sixty-five days in
the year, and instead of bowling
about 1t, the farmer likes it. Nov
/ the farmer has the same right to
know the true inward value of every
Industrial, railroad and banking cor
peration as they have to know about
I his business, and when we have that
mutual understanding and knowledge
there wont be any more trouble.
/ think we can speak of the farmer
strictly In the scientific and economic
sense, without commercial malice or
political guile, and we have to recog.
i nize the fact that his prosperity Is
essential to the prosperity OF the
country.
/ We all depend upon the farmer and
4 when he does not prosper the rest
Of us cannot possibly do so. think
we are beginning to realize that more
and more, that the farmer, merchant
manufacturer and banker are all in.
ter-dependent and their interests III
4 the prosperity of the country a com
mon one.
Prejudice Of the Farmer.
You know we used to hear that the
farmer had his prejudices- particular
ly against thu banker, SO we banker
commenced to look into that and We
exposed the farmer. He hasn't word
to say now days against the banker
The poor farmer! He owns so pei
, cent of the stock and large proper
ton OF the deposits of all the banks
in Iowa. He Is richer than the bank
! ers, manufacturers and merchants al