Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Better Live Stock and Its Importance.


The following Is an extract from the
address of Governor Frank o. Lowden
Of Illinois given at Indiana State Live
Stock Rally in indianapolis March 20:
1t always has been poor business to
use any sire upon the farm unless he
was pure-bred. II, before the war, 1t
was poor business to use scrub sire,
what should be said now when the
world 10 clamoring for meat and milkP
The live stock industry will not have
met It's full duty until It has placed up
on every farm In the land pure-bred sires
Of all farm live stock.
Men every here are beginning to real
ize that We must have better agricul-
ture If We are to meet the demands for
food which are already upon US. We at
last are learning that you cannot forever
subtract from the soil, adding nothing
to 1t, without having impoverished fields.
We used to feel that mans land was
bis own, to do with az he would. We
begin to see now that there are limita-
tions upon this right. Land does not
belong to one generation alone. 1t be-
longs to all the generations of men. We
have no right to go farm our own land as
to pauperize the generations to come.
No farmer can feel that bis life has been
rightly lived unless vt it's end he can feel
that the land be has held is the better
for his kindly care.
Any system of farm tenantry which
results in the depreciation OF the soil
will have to 60. In the future no form
Of farm tenure will be permitted unless
that form insures the largest possible
production of food. We are told that
the contending armies In Syria during
the war marched back and forth over
arid wastes that were once fruitful fields.
Great nations have sunk to decay be-
cause OF the neglect of their land. or
all forms Of conservation, conservation
Of the soil is the most important. A
permanent agriculture 90 planned as to
maintain indefinitely the fertility Of the
soil is demanded II the nation is to en-.
dure.
The surest and easiest way In which
we can maintain, and even improve,
the productlveness OF our lands Is by
turning more and more to live stock.
The breeder of good cattle, therefore,
helps to permanent agriculture, and is
among the most useful OF men. Go
wherever you will, the most prosperous
communities, with the best homes and
best farm improvements and the, largest
production OF the fields, are found where
live stock has received the greatest care.
Why is Il that Mexico, country which
approaches the United States in natural
resources, is q bankrupt nation, while
the United States Is the richest country
on the globeP 1t Is because the United
States has had stable government and
the people have been able to make order
ly progress. Travellers tell rs that there
are millions of acres of agricultural lands
in Siberia, the equal Of the best In
Indiana, Iowa or Illinois. These lands
can be bought for q song. Why is it9
Because, under the government of Amer.
ics, the people have been permitted to
develop their resources. Because great
transportation lines have been laid down
90 that the products Of our farms every
where can reach market. Because We
have q government under which life,
liberty, and property are secure.
Under the stimulus of war and through
the united and devoted efforts of our
farmers, with the economies We prac-
tioed at our own tables, We were able to
throw vast supplies Of food to the hun.
cry armies on the battle-fronts OF
Europe. 1t is not too much to say that
the war was won as much In the grain
fields and feed lots of America as upon
the battle.felds.
As we appreciated anew the i'm.
portance of agriculture during the war,
80 now In the problems Of readjustment.
we see what the farm and farmer mean.
The menace of Bolshevism is In the air.
Bolshevism would destroy all property.
It would destroy the home itself. 1t
would dethrone religion. 1t would
substitute anarchy for order. In
q word, II would reduce man to the level
of the beast, with none of the virtues of
the beast. Men and women read OF what
is transpiripg in Russia and shudder.
They fear that this mad rule of the mob
may extend to other countries of Europe.
When, however, we think OF our own
beloved land, we thank God for the
farms and farmers of America, and take
courage for the future. For the great
army of the farmers Of our land love
order, honor women, cling to the home,
and fear God. 1t is not now our much
Wanted industrialism OF which We boast
90 much, as IL is our farms and farmers
everywhere. They helped save civiliza-
tion from the mailed fist of military
despotism. They will save America
from the hordes of anarchy.