The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-15
TELLS OF FARM PROGRESS
Thompson in Address Before State
Agricultural Convention.

i opening address to the Kansas agri-
cultural convention at Memorial hall
last night, following speeches of well
come on behalf of the state and the
city, told of the progress made by the
farmers of Kansas. recognized all over
J the country. he said, for the quantity
and quality of their products. His adj
! dress, in part, follows:
The Golden Rule may be practised in the
! conduct OF the private business of mea,
I but it must have a place, and prominent
| place. in the building of state Kansas
1 is for the square deal" and we congratu-
Late Governor Allen in his efforts along
Approximately one-third of the popula-
tion of the United States is engaged in
| agriculture. More than one-third Of the
| national wealth is invested in farm enter
| larger representation than has been ac-
corded in the past in such public offices
as have to do with shaping policies as well
as in those which deal directly with agri-
culture. Adequate representation should
be insisted upon. The farmers oppose the
terests by men who neither rightly under
stand nor justly estimate American farm
ing and American farmers
The board Of agriculture has expressed
| itself quite clearly along these lines In
| the year just passed, and We believe with
good effect. in bringing about a more ade~
quate recognition of agriculture and its
Importance in postwar reimbursement In
fact 1910 was memorable In the history
| of the board, as a year that witnessed its
and Increasing its usefulness and the iegis--
| lature of 1919 broadened the scope of it's
| work The 1919 session of the legislature
placed~a state chronological commission
| under the supervision of the board. Its
| and other dangerous insects, pests and
| diseases. The legislature also created
division of irrigation, under the control OF
a commissioner of irrigation, and placed
| the appointment and supervision of this
work In control of this board All the
| of 10 off
responsibility viii show how well our work
| has been done.
aDce of agriculture in this state, provided
that this board should select one member
Of the school textbook commission To
fill that place, Dr. O. o: Wolf, who had
occupied a distinguished place on that
commission heretofore, was elected.
| In accordance with the appointment of
this board, the president and secretary at
tended the meeting of the National Asso-
citation of Commissioners of Agriculture
in Chicago last December. Secretary
Moher had an important place on the
program and won applause and credit for
himself and his state.
| The State Fair Board attended the meet
ing of the National Association of Fair
Managers during the week of the Interna-
tional Livestock Exposition, and our sec
of attending the exposition and to make
addresses at meetings of various national
4 ciety of America, the American Duroc Jer-
sey association and the American Aberdeen
|
sas was favorably recognized, we clipped
the following from one of the big Chi
cago dailies: kansas. demands its full
share of attention of Chicagoans and
others who attend the International Live
Stock Exposition this week Officials of
the state have prepared an exhibit which
tho day and evening. This is a map
showing graphically the full resources Of
employed to tell the Visitor at a glance
what every county amounts to in the
states agricultural total-how many trac-
tors are in each county, how many silos
different grains and the taxable value OF
. the land. The exhibit has been prepared
in connection with the hay and grain show
1t Is O: great educational value"
The Agricultural Council is a new organ
ization proposed by this board. Its pur
pose Is to bring together in annual council
representatives from all the organizations
of this state which are interviewed in tbs
welfare and business of those living upoT
should have our collective and individual
support
it has steadfastly stood by the policy
adopted at its origin, Of publishing prac
na farm experiences, felpfui SUGGESTIONS
among the various states. This year til,
distributed over 5000 copies of the TWEEN
ty-first Biennial report and the carefully
prepared book of hogs-their breeding
~
Alphabetically the year 1919 was tbs
most productive in the way of aggregate
values in the history of the state. For the
and in fact exceeded. the billion dollar
s7ooooooo THIS is SIS ooo more 20 thar
in 1918. the best prior year.
' Increased productions of the states
, principal crops and prices that have ruled
high are responsible for the record smash
ing aggregate values atho prices received
= by the farmers for their products are al
most invariably lower than for the yeai
< preceding, but average yields per acre
. have in the main been considerably higher
with the exception of wheat. While field
tcrops bulked larger in 1910 than in thu
Iyear preceding and were worth more thar
lever before. no such encouraging report
lean be made with respect to some phasei
tof live stock production, particularly bee
Icattle and swine. Heavy losses were sus
the sharp fluctuation in the market price
of swine demoralized the hog industry ant
brought heavy. losses to many producers
The reports of the board show that bee
cattle and swine have decreased and tina
the swine industry especially is at its low
est ebb in years. Kansas breeders repor
the spring pig crop of 1920 than for man,
: years. The one ray of hope that is seel
Gates that our farmers are turning NOR
Extensively to dairying an importaD
adjunct of their business.
| In spite of discouraging conditions TO
| meat producing. it is Undoubtedly tn
twise thing for breeders to put forth ever
effort to maintain their breeding herd
in order to profit by the better days tina
| surely must be just ahead.
The country has been unusually disturb
ed. great questions affecting the bushes
of farming and stock raising have arise
during their period of reconstruction, afte
the gigantic loss and incompatible vast
of the World War. During all this perio
OF waste and loss from war, strikes an
discontent, the farmers have stuck TO thei
farms in unremitting toll, the stockme
by their herds and flocks with typica
nerve and care, and the women by thei
| work: proving that Kansas is performin
~ ita fuII ~ ri fur uT.f. no