The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1914-05-23

ceived only 1853 cars. Montana came
next with S07 cars and other states
follow with comparatively small
number of cars. However, the rec
ords for 1914 far surpass those OF
1913. During the first three months
Of this year about 1900 cars are reg
istered for Minnesota, a record which
far surpasses Canada and all the sur
rounding states put together. These
settlers came prepared to equip and
develop our farm lands and have con
tributed largely to our unprecedented
agricultural development. AS a re-
suit, the unusually large demand fo1
Minnesota lands has caused a great
increase in farm values and it is a
matter of common knowledge that
practically all the agricultural lands
Of this state have increased in value
within that time. The Importance OF
this work to the people of the state
cannot be over-estimated and it must
not be forgotten that the continuation
of this policy is an issue in this cam
paign.
Dairying and Stock Raising.
Some time ago l called a meeting of
several leading bankers of the state
and suggested to them the importance
of cooperating with the farmers in
securing at low rate of interest the
necessary funds for improving the
livestock of the state. This request
met with ready response and the
cooperation of the bankers and bust
ness men throughout the state with
the farmers through the county agri
cultural agent, has resulted in secur
ing for minnesota a very large amount
OF improved farm stock. In some
counties there have been shipped in
Tor distribution among the farmers
almost dozen carloads of graded and
thoroughbred stock This movement
has emphasized the Importance of Sc
curing county agricultural agent fol-
every county in the state, and 1 shall
urge the coming legislature to provide
the necessary aid therefor. Upon the
recommendation of the agricultural
agent the stock is purchased, distrib
uted to the farmers at actual cost, and
their notes drawing a low rate of in
terest taken for the amount. The
value of this method of cooperation
between the business men and the
farmers is inestimable. 1t has already
brought millions in value to the state
not only by improving the stock itself
but by adding great values to the
farms. Thus the question of rural
credits in this state has been at least
partly solved by the cooperation be-
tween the bankers, merchants and
farmers.
Hog Cholera.
Last year an epidemic of hog
cholera ragged throughout the state
which resulted in a loss to the farm.
ers OF this state, aggregating several
millions OF dollars. After consulting
with large number of farmers clubs
throughout the state, l concluded to
lnaugurate a statewide movement for
the purpose of Kidding the state of
this plague, and appointed the week of
April 18th to 25th as a special week
during which the numerous farmers
organizations held local meetings and
discussed this question, creating a
statewide interest therein. With the
aid OF the state experts, the agricul-
tural press, as we'll as the daily and
country press, l am satisfied we can
protect the farmers against future
losses. Our serum plant at the ex-
perimental station should be increased
the serum sold to the farmers at &C
tual cost and the treatment should be
administered by experts employed by
the state.
Strict Law Enforcement.
1t is entirely proper at this time to
express my sincere appreciation of the
cooperation l have received from the
various local officers throughout the
state in the enforcement of our laws
While violations of law have been
committed in the past, and always will
be committed in the future, it is a fact
as the records of this Office will show
that whenever such violation has been
called to my attention, l have imme
dlately taken the matter up with the
local law enforcing officer and have al
ways been accorded an earnest as we'll
as effective cooperation in the en-
forcement of the law. The attorney
general has always been ready to give
his assistance and Minnesota is one OF
the few states concerning which it
can be said that crime has been re-
duced and stricter observance OF
the law established. Since the abol.
ishment of capital punishment, there
has been no increase in crime, but the
records show that in cases of murder
the percentage of convictions has in
creased approximately fifty per cent.
I am in favor of strict law enforce.
ment. If law does not work out well
it should be repealed, but while it is
on the statute books it should be en-.
forced against all, without fear or
favor.
County Option.
When the state county option con.
vention was held in St. Paul four
years ago I was invited to go before it
and explain my views on that cues
ton. My position at that time was,
and still is, that when the people of
this state, in the selection of a legis.
lature or otherwise, have acted upon
any question, such action should and
would be binding upon me, because ]
believe in the authority of the people
and that any instructions coming di
rectly from them should be supreme
If in the selection of a legislature
county option prevailed and the law