ITS FINAL SESSION.
BEGINNING OF THE END FOH
PRESENT CONGRESS.
Gay Fccnrs at the Capitol on ths Open-
ins : Day-Outline of the Work It la
Intended to Accouiplibh IJeforo
I/Vlh i osigrcss Adjourns-
torrej-poiidcnce :
roa yomblfd Monday under
of unusual public interest.
The Kjinio congress six months ago de
clared war again Spain , and now , with
Uie war fonyltt aiul won. it came together
again , for ttif iirt Iog5sn ! < ivo consideration
of the questions developed by the event
ful months jus-t i-ust. The spirit of the
occasion was not , however , one of imrne-
difl r vxiieetam-y. for the few months
left to the t-xistfiico of the LVth Congress
gave promise of little more than a be
ginning on th i momentous policies and
problems growing out of the war.
As usual , .ill Washington turned its at-
tntion to the capitol for that gala event
which innrks the opeuim' day of a session.
JScw Members Sworn In.
The opening w.is without ceremony be
yond that whir-h marks the usual begin-
uiug of a session. Outside of the Presi
dent's message there was no reference
to the glorious history of the past sum
mer. Practically the entire work in both
the Senate and the House consisted in
giving the oath to now members and
reading the President's message.
In the Senate Joseph Simon , of Oregon ,
tool : the oath , completing the membership
of that body for the first time in several
years. The members were not all present.
But there are now somewhere ninety
Senators of the United States , the full
number authorized Hy the constitution.
In the House the oath was taken by
Charles A. Dick , of Akron , Ohio , who
represents the famous Nineteenth Dis
trict , the district once represented by the
lamented Garfield. Mr. Dick succeeds the
late Stephen A. Xorthway. Two new
Representatives from Mississippi also
took the oath. F. A. McLane , of Gloster ,
for the Sixth District in place of the late
Mr. Love , and Thomas Spight , of Ripley ,
for the Second District , in place of W. V.
Sullivan , appointed Senator.
Distinguished Visitors in the Senate.
There were some notable spectators on
the floor of the Senate. The Lord High
Chancellor of England , the Premier of
Canada , and other members of the joint
high coinmiss-ion were given seats with
the Senators as a mark of consideration.
In the diplomatic gallery were Sir Julian
Pauncefote , the British ambassador , and
his daughter , the minister from Siam and
his secretary , the minister from Corca
and his wife and secretary , Wu Ting
Fang , minister from China , and one of
the attaches f the Chinese legation , be
sides several diplomats of lesser promi
nence. Nearly all of them went out when
the -reading of the President's message
began , preferring to read the message at
their convenience. The reading of the
message occupied two hours and eighteen
minutes. Then the Senators drifted to
the cloakrooms and the committee-rooms
to peruse it at their pleasure.
Attendance in the House.
There were more than the usual number
of distinguished personages in the throng
ed galleries of the House , including many
representatives of foreign governments ,
high officials , and ladies and gentlemen
conspicuous in social and political life.
The greetings of the members were most
cordial , and there was no outcropping of
partisan rancor to mar the occasion. One
of the most striking incidents was the
cordial meeting between the floor leaders
of the respective sides. Messrs. Diugley
and Bailey.
Speaker Reed received a warm welcome
from both sides of the House when he
ascended the rostrum to call the House
to order , but perhaps the greatest person
al o.ation to any member was that given
to Major General Wheeler of Alabama ,
who has not been seen by many of his
old colleagues since he went to the front
at the head of the cavalry division of
Gt-neial Sliafter's army. . W. A. Stone , of
Pennsylvania : Benton "McMillin , of Ten
nessee , and Joseph D. Sayers , of Texas ,
who have boon elected Governors of their
respective States since Congress adjourn
ed , were also overwhelmed with congratu
lations. The fior.nl tributes were unusual
ly numerous.
Representative Cousins of Iowa has the
honor of introducing the first bill in the
House at this session of Congress.
legislation , to Be Enacted.
Though many questions may press for
solution , the brief space covered by this
session , which expires by limitation
March 4. precludes the probability of
much being accomplished beyond the
passage of the regular money budgets , the
legislation for the increase of the regular
army , which the administration deems
necessary to meet the obligations imposed
upon the country by the result of the war ,
and probably the enactment of a law to
give a permanent territorial government
To the Hawaiian islands. This covers all
the important legislation which the Con
gressional leaders expect to see enacted
at this sesion. It is almost the unani
mous sentiment of the members that no
attempt should be made to legislate con
cerning the possessions acquired by the
war with Spain at this session. There
are earnest advocates of the Nicaraguan
canal bill , who will strive to secure its
passage now , and they may possibly be
successful , but neither it nor the pooling
bill nor anti-scalpers' bill , eo.ch of which
has strong friends , will be allowed to in
terfere with the bills the passage of which
is deemed absolutely necessary to prevent
an extra session.
The leaders at both ends of the capitol
have put their heads together , and the
work of the session is to be entered upon
with the idea of avoiding an extra ses
sion. AVith this purpose in view the ap
propriation bills are to be given the road
at both ends of the capilol and pressed
through with all possible haste.
An American soldier and a native cab
man were killed by coming in contact witb
a fallen electric wire in Honolulu the
other day. An inquest developed the fact
that the interior of the wooden insulating
pin by which the wire was supported had
been eaten away by ants , and the thin
shell which remained had given way un
der the stress of a wind storm.
Attorney General Griggs has decidec
that a person may draw money on a chech
without a stamp , provided the check ii
payable to himself , from his own funds or
deposit in the bank in question.
\
WORK OF CONGRESS.
THE WEEK'S DOINGS IN SENATE
'
AND HOUSE.
A. Comprehensive Digest of the Pro
ceedings in the Legislative Cham
bers at Washington-Blatters that
Concern the People. ,
In the House on Tuesday Mr. Cannon ,
chairman of the Committee on Appropria
tions , reported the urgent deficiency bill
for the army and navy. The President
sent to the House the report of the Ha
waiian commission , and Mr. Ilitt , chair
man of the committee , introduced a bill in
connection with the consideration of it ,
the whole matter being referred to the
Committee on Territories. At 12:30 the
House adjourned out of respect to the late
T. .T. Xorthway of Ohio and W. F. Love
of Mississippi. In the Senate Mr. Hale
offered a bill for the erection of a monument
ment to the officers and sailors who lost
their lives by the explosion of the battleship - '
ship Maine in Havana harbor. Resolu
tions from the Legislature of Vermont
were read requesting that Roar Admiral
Dewey be made admiral and that Captain
Clark , commander of the Oregon , be given
such rank as his merits demand. Mr.
Vest offered a resolution objecting to. the
proposed colonial system and reciting that
the Government should acquire only coal
ing stations in the orient , unless it shall
% be the purpose of the United States to
organize the far-off possessions into terri
tories , and ultimately to bo admitted as
States. The President sent a large num
ber of nominations to the Senate , but
they were all recess appointments with
the exception of Powell Clayton of Ar
kansas , whose rank has been raised to
ambassador extraordinary and plenipoten
tiary to Mexico. Senor Romero having
announced that his Government had con
ferred that distinction upon him. Mr. Cul-
loui introduced a bill to provide for the
territory of Hawaii. A brief discussion
of the navigation laws was precipitated
by the consideration of a bill amending
'those laws by the addition of a provision
that foreign built vessels wrecked in the
United States purchased by citizens of
this country and repaired to the extent
of three-fourths of their value shall be
subject to forfeiture if they engage sub
sequently in the coastwise trade of the
United States. It was made a special
order for Monday.
In the House on Wednesday the nnti-
scalping bill passed by a vote of 119 to
101. In the Senate no business was trans
acted in open session. A few minutes af
ter the Senate convened it went into ex
ecutive session. At 2:15 business in open
session was resumed , the death of Rep
resentatives Northwny of Ohio and Love
of Mississippi was announced and the
Senate adjourned as a mark of respect to
their memory.
On Thursday the Senate held a short
session and adjourned until Monday , af
ter making the Niciraguan Canal bill the
unfinished business before that body. Mr.
Morgan called up the measure , whereup
on Mr. Peltigrew moved to adjourn. This
motion failed 13 yeas to 42 nays and
the bill was brought forward. Adjourn
ment was immediately taken. During the
session Mr. Vest stated his opposition to
the hurried manner of passing pension
bills in the Senate , and gave notice that
he would insist upon a quorum being pres
ent when pensioiv bills were being acted
upon. At the other end of the capitol the
eneral deficiency appropriation bill wag
passed , and the House adjourned until
Monday.
There are four Smiths in the present
Congress , and there will be five in the
next. Four of them are Republicans and
three come from the State of Michigan ,
The only Democratic Smith is David
Highbaugh Smith of Hodgensville , Larne
County , Ivy. , who represents the district
in which Abraham Lincoln was born.
.
" " *
Mrs. Domini * of Honolulu , formerly
queen of the Hawaiian Islands , arrived
in Washington from San Francisco. She
conies to present a claim to "Congress
through the Secretary of State for the
crown lands in the Hawaiian Islands ,
which are said to be valued at $4.000,000
and to produce an annual revenue of
$100,000.
* "
- -
Gen. Garcia and his Cuban associates
are pleased with the President's message ,
and declare that his references to Cuban
independence are in effect , if not in words ,
a recognition of the republic. It is doubt
ful , however , whether the President in
tended that such a construction should be
placed upon his words.
A communication received at the State
Department from the consuls general at
Berlin and Frankfort places the total
value of all exports from Germany to the
United States for the quarter ending Sept.
30 at $19,780,007. an increase over the
same period of 1897 of $3,110,093.
Bishop Hurst of the Methodist Church
returns to Washington from a tour of the
Pennsylvania cities , with assurances of
contributions of $1,000.000 from' the rich
Methodists of that State f6r the American
university in this cily.
v
- -
m m
The President did not offer a plan for a
government in the Philippines in his mes
sage , simply because he desires first to
ascertain how far the people are capable
of self-government.
Tiie Secretary of the Navy has added to
the ornaments of his office the figurehead
of the cruiser Cristobal Colon , which was
destroyed in the battle off Santiago.
_
* *
A canvass of the Republican Senators
discloses only two votes on that side
against the ratification of the Paris
treaty , those of Messrs. Hale and Morrill.
" * " " *
Mr. Simon , the new Senator from Oregon
gen , is the smallest man in Congress-
smaller than Gen. Wheeler and Senator
Wilson , who weighs only 96 pounds.
*
Senator Mason announces that he in
tends to devote his entire energies at this
session of Congress to the passage of the
postal savings bank bill.
ONLY A FEW PIECES OF GOLD LEFT.
AMERICAN Sf.VOSHCOLONIES
FARMERS IN SESSION.
National Congress Begins Delibera
tions at Fort Wayne.
The farmers' national congress of the
United States of America assembled at
Fort Worth , Texas , in its eighteenth an
nual session. Ex-
Gov. William D.
Hoard of Wisconsin
presided , and among
the delegates were
i representatives of all
31 the States and terri
tories of the Union
and of several of the
Canadian provinces.
1
After prayer by Rev.
Alexander C. Garrett
ot uallas , the visitors
w. i ) . iioAitn. listened to addresses
of welcome by Mayor 13. B. Paddock , Gov.
Charles A. Culborson , President W. E.
Skinner of the Fort Worth Live Stock
Exchange and others. Responses in be
half of the delegates were delivered by
Secretary John M. Stall ! of Illinois. Wil
liam Freeman of Maine and F. L. Max
well of Louisiana. After the roll call by
States President Hoard proceeded to de
liver his annual address.
A feature of the congress was the at
tendance from some of the States of large
numbers of associates to ro-enforce the
delegates. Iowa had sixty-three persons ,
including the delegates , and Colorado had
fifty-four. The annexation of the Philip
pines was one subject which engrossed the
attention of the delegates.
The report oC Prof. Henry of Wiscon
sin on the President's address was adopt
ed. It recommended instruction in the
principles of agriculture in rural public
schools ; that commercial representatives
for American agricultural products in for
eign markets be provided ; that the best
possible moans for the operation of steam
ship lines direct to South America should
be secured , and that laws against food
adulteration be adopted. The report also
urged farmers to uphold agricultural col
leges and experiment stations and recom
mended strong taxation laws for securing
equity in taxation. Resolutions were
adopted and ordered to be sent to Con
gress favoring government aid in the con
struction of the Nicaragua canal and gov
ernment control of same , and for the de
velopment of the beet sugar industry.
PERILS AS TO CHINA.
England and Russia Unable to Reach
an Agreement.
Right lion. Joseph Chamberlain. Brit
ish colonial secretary , made now disclos
ures the other night in n speech at Wake-
field , Yorkshire. ! ! virtually stated the
British Government had found it impossi
ble to roach an agreement with Russia
tout-hing China , and that France's plan
of exasperation had prevented a settled
policy as to Egypt.
It was made evident , however , that an
entente has boon reached with Germany
that may make for peace and for extend
ed trade ; but the significant fact was
brought out lluit unless an agreement is
effected with Russia there are dangers of
grave complications. lie. however , left
room to hope for a settlement.
Mr. Chamberlain again referred with
fooling to the cordial Anglo-American re
lations. He quoted from the President's
message to show that there is hope that
England is not to stand alone for the
' 'open door" in the East , and again declar
ed that an alliance between the two na
tions would make them invincible.
HOBSON REFUSES $50,000.
Mcrriniac Hero Declines an Oflfer to
Lecture ,
An offer of $50.000 for a number of lec
tures has been refused by Naval Construc
tor Richmond P. Ilobson. This offer was
made by a New York lecture bureau , and
the reason for his refusal was stated by
Hobson to a friend.
"Before the sinking of the Merrimac , "
he said , "my lectures would probably have
not been worth HO cents. The sinking of
the Merrimac seems to have made them
worth $50,000. The work that so sud
denly raised my stock in literary trade
was done in simple execution of my duty
as an American naval officer. I did not
feel that 1 had a riaht to use the perform
ance of that duty for my financial better
ment. I therefore declined the offer of
$50,000. "
Gold from Maria Teresa.
The safe of the Spanish cruiser Maria
Teresa , which has lain for some time in
the Norfolk navy yard , has been opened ,
and found to contain bags of Spanish and
American gold and silver coin. It is esti
mated that the value of the treasure will
reach $75,000. The money will be turned
over to the proper officials , and the safe
will be sent to the National Museum at
Washington.
Japan is preparing to drive the Russian
troops from Corca , having landed large
detachments of troops for that purpose.
JAPAN MAY BUY PHILIPPINES.
Offer of J20OOOOOOO for Group Made
to President McKinley.
Japan has offered this Government
$200,000,000 for the Philippines. This
information came through a Washington
correspondent from a high source and is
asserted to be official. It was further
stated that this overture of Japan was
met by the reply from the President that
no negotiations affecting the disposition
or control of the Philippines could be en
tered into until after the conclusion of the
treaty of peace at Paris.
In direct connection with this story it is
known that an influential Senator recently
had a long talk with the President , at
which the disposition of the Philippines
was the main topic of conversation. The
argument of the Senator was that , while
he was opposed to the holding of the Phil
ippines , he had now become convinced it
would be necessary to hold the island of
Luzon. lie told the President it would be
to the advantage of the Government to
dispose of all of the group except Luzon
and that it would be the better plan to
have several purchasers for the group. In
other words , he would avoid all possible
complications by letting Germany. Eng
land , France , Japan and Russia into the
gigantic auction sale.
AVhen the peace protocol was negotiated
by Cambon and the President the adminis
tration's idea involved nothing more than
the acquisition of Luzon. Since then the
expansionist sentiment has grown rapidly
in popular favor. The President may be
only testing public opinion by giving cer
tain gentlemen the impression that he
favors the sale of till the islands except
Luzon , or he may actually favor this dis
position of the Philippine question. If
seriously advocated the proposition will
be hotly opposed by many Republicans
and Democrats of influence.
UNCLE SAM AND JOHN BULL.
Demand for Joint Control of Nicara
gua Canal Causes Irritation.
The Nicaraguan canal question prom
ises to be one of the leading questions in
Congress this winter. The anxiety of the
British to get in on the ground floor , as
expressed by the London press , causes
some irritation in Washington , ns Eng
land's friendship for this country during
the recent war is shoved under our noses
as an argument for joint control of the
proposed canal.
England's claims for a share in the
canal are based on the Bulwer-Claytou
treaty , an agreement entered into before
any one dreamed of a canal across that
part of the isthmus. It is understood that
Sir Julian Pauncefote has recently had a
conference with Secretary of State Hay
and has intimated that our exclusive con
trol of the waterway violates the conven
tion of ISoO.
In administration circles the feeling is
strong that no one shall interfere with this
Government's declared intention to build
the canal , and Secretary Hay probably
told this to Sir Julian in a friendly but
firm way. Later the United States may
declare the canal neutral in war times ,
but the Government will do this in its own
way and certainly not under pressure.
.As to the Claytoji-Bulwer treaty , which
England threatens to drag forth , the
United States has two strong defenses
against it. First , the United States can
immediately annul the treaty. Second ,
under the treaty the United States can do
anything she proposes to do without violating
lating any of its terms , although the
treaty has been abrogated by Great Brit
ain's own acts.
FOR MANILA VIA THE SUEZ.
Expedition of Three Regiments "Will
Soon Leave New York.
The next regiments to start for Manila
will embark at New York about the end
of this month , and will go through the
Suez canal , unless present plans fail. This
expedition will consist of three regiments
of regular infantry , distributed between
two of the largest converted transports
owned by the Government , with perhaps
a convoy of two warships.
The decision to ue New York as the
point of embarkation instead of San Fran
cisco was reached after a careful review
of a number of considerations , chief
among which was the urgency for haste.
At the present time the Government is
wholly without available transports in the
Pacific ocean to meet the emergency.
Albert Ham , a farmer of West Dres
den , Me. , has an apple tree in his orchard
which measures 9 feet 10 inches in cir
cumference , 1 foot from the ground , and
at the height of G feet the trunk branches
into four limbs almost as large. The tree
is over a century old , and has borne well
each year for the forty-seven it has been
in Mr. Ham's possession.
Col. Hanna. at San Juan. Porto Rico
says that codfish is the principal food ar
ticle imported into that island , and that
Nova Scotia dealers in codfish consider
Porto Rico their best market.
MONEY OP THE NATION
ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRE
TARY GAGE.
Chief of the Treasury Department Dis
cusses the Need of Banking Reform
and the Necessity of Meeting : New
Conditions.
Secretary of the Treasury Gap has
made public his report on the condition of
the finances of the country and the work
accomplished by his department during
the year. It is an interesting document.
Upon the subject of currency and banking
reform he says :
The arguments against government issues
of paper money as a medium for commer
cial exchanges have been fully made and
need not bo repeated in detail. The pro
posal to substitute bank issues for govern
ment notes is opposed with many honest
prejudices and assailed by bitter denuncia
tions. The lirst arise from a failure to com
prehend the true philosophy of a paper cur
rency and must be patiently considered.
The latter obscure the question by reckless
statements , charging that all propositions
for currency reform are bank conspiracies.
If it be conceded that the legal-tender
money issued by government does not pos
sess the qualifications to make it a proper
factor in the country's exchanges of prod
ucts and manufactures , if the fact also be
admitted that it Is a deranging and disturb
ing factor in Its relation to industry and
commerce , then the time has come to sub
stitute for it a currency which will ade
quately , economically and safely meet with
the ever-growing needs of the country , rap
idly developing , as it is , in the power ol
production , in the number of its people ami
the importance of its domestic and foreign
trade.
In answer to the question whether a
bank note currency can be established
which will be economical , adequate ant
safe and serve the public needs in a bet
ter way than is now served , the Secre
tary points to the system in force in
Canada.
The facts set forth by the Comptroller re
late exclusively to the proposition that the
notes of a failed bank shall be a paramount
Hen upon the assets for their full value be
fore any rights accrue to other creditors.
The issue of notes upon the general assets
of natiofial banks may be made perfectly se
cure without the requirement that the notes
be a first lien upon their assets. It would
only be neces ° nry to award to the notehold
er the same ratable proportion of the assets
which went to other creditors , and to pro
vide that the amount required to pay the
difference be obtained by an assessment up
on all the national banks , collected ratably
In proportion to their share in the circula
tion of this character. The vital question is ,
What percentage of assessment upon this
circulation would be required iu order to
cover the losses to noteholders in the case
of failed hanks ? The experience of the na
tional banking system demonstrates that the
assessment would be insignificant.
The total circulation of failed banks out
standing at the time of failure up to Oct.
31. 1897 , was ? : > 0,893Si7. The loss upon
these notes , if the security for them had
been .Impaired in the same degree as the
security for other liabilities , would have
been $ r , r > 79lG3 , or an annual average of
about $16 ,000. This loss would have been
made good by a tax of about one-twelfth
of 1 per cent , per year upon the circulation
of the solvent banks. A tax of one-fifth of
1 per cent , upon the average circulation of
the national banks since the foundation of
the systo-n would have paid such losses up
to Oct. , .1. 1897 , and left a surplus of about
? 9,000,000 in the guaranty fund.
Urges Former Measures.
In ijy last report I ventured upon specific
recommendations. These recommendations ,
If adopted and formulated into lav. * , would
In my opinion be curative of the evils herein
pointed out. In house bills Xos. 10,289 and
10,30. } are embodied a series of measures In
some respects more meritorious. The meas
ures herein proposed are the result of care
ful study by expert and experienced men.
"With some modifications the reasonable
fruit of full discussion they would , I be
lieve , meet the country's needs. I com
mend the subject to the early and earnes'
attention of Congress.
On the point of fractional silver the re
port contains this paragraph :
The amount of fractional silver coin held
by the treasury July 1 , 1S97 , was $16,201-
960 ; July 1 , 1898 , $12,070,690. This stock
has tit present , Nov. 18 , been reduced to $7-
122,506 , much of which is so worn as to be
unfit for circulation. The amount available ,
distributed among the several sub-treasuries ,
gives but small stock to each , and some da-
uominations are exhausted. The Secretary
of the Treasury should be authorized to re-
coin this nncniTcnt stock and any such coin
which may hereafter accumulate In the
treasury , the difference between Its face
value and the new coin It will make to be
paid out of any moneys in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated. Further provision
should be made to add to the stock of frac
tional coin , and to that end it is suggested
that tit" Secretary of the Treasury be au
thorized 10 u. > e any .silver bullion now In the
treasury for the coinage of such denomina
tions as may be required from time to time
to meet the demand from the different sec
tions of the country. With an ever-increas
ing population , whir-h will be added to in
the near future by the acquisition of addi
tional territory , the demand for fractional
silver coin will be such as to make It essen
tially necessary that the stock should be In
creased.
It is suggested that , at the proper time ,
action be taken by Congress to assimilate
the currency of Porto Rico to that of the
United States , so far and so rapidly aa
this can be done without unduly disturb
ing existing conditions and contract rela
tions in Porto Rico. This , it is believed ,
can be accomplished by making customs
dues in the island payable in American
money , yet receiving the silver pesos and
centavos at a fixed relation to our dollar.
The revenues of the Government from
all sources for the fiscal year ended June
30 , 1S9S , were $494,333,953.75 , while the
expenditures for the same period were
$532,381.201.35. showing a deficit of $38-
047,247.150. As compared with the fiscal
year of 1S97. the receipts for 1898 in
creased $ G3.94G,785..SG. There was an in
crease of $77.594.423.23 in the ordinary
expenditures. The revenues for the cur
rent fiscal year are estimated at $577-
374,047.37. while the expenditures for the
same period are $689,874,047.37 , leaving a
deficit of $112,000,000. For the fiscal
year 1900 the revenues are estimated at
$ G10,958.112 and the estimates of appro
priations for the same period aggregate ,
exclusive of sinking fund , $ G41OOG,490.64 ,
or an estimated deficit of $30,048,387.G4.
"The first proceeds of the popular loan
of $200.000.000 , " the- report reads , "were
received June 14. and from that date for
ward ( ho inflow of money from this source
iias been rapid and constant. The total
amount received tip to Nov. 1 was $195-
444.1S7.GL' . "
Mint Receipts and Deposits.
The receipts and deposits of bullion at
mints and assay offices , including redepos-
its aggregated $215.5GG.2G1.54. of which
S1D8.740.492.2 : ; was gold and $16,825-
7G9.31 silver. The deposits of gold were
greater than in any previous year of our
liistory. Foreign coins to the amount of
$47.210,078 were deposited during the
year. It was recommended that an appro
priation of $50.000 be made lor the erec
tion of a building for the assay office at
Stattle ,
Posterity Our dtstaut relation. : ? .
ADDEESSTOFAKMERS
TO NA *
W. D. HOARD TALKS
TIONAL CONGRESS.
Wisconsin's Ex-Governor , in Hig An
nual Address , Dwells 011 the Intel
lectual and Business Sides of Agri
culture Farm Education a Necessity.
Ex-Gov. Hoard of Wisconsin , president
of the Farmers' National Congress , in hia
annual address to that body at Fort
Worth , said :
Our agriculture is becoming nationalistic.
This farmers' congress Is one of the proofs
of this assertion. We are n longer a loosely
Joined band of States , "discordant , bellig
erent. " "Thank God , we are coming to see
each other "face to face. " We are becoming
cemented by railroads , navigable rivers , In
terchangeable products , ami a more general
commingling of our people. National legis
lation Is taking on thought of this kind In '
the establishing of experiment stations , the
enactment of laws for the better protection
of agricultural products against the dishon
est greed of men who would adulterate and
counterfeit.
We are just beginning to feel na a people .
that agriculture Is an Intellectual us well as
a manual pursuit ; that from the humblest
tenant to the lordliest ranchman progress
and profit depend on mental comprehen
sion of the principles Involved , and an ener
getic obedience to that knou ledge. Compre
hension means Intellect , obedience means
business. Some men are all Intellect and no
\vork ; others all work and no Intellect. The
true farmer unites both. He Is both a stu
dent and a "doer of the word. "
Some of the questions for this farmers'
congress to ask Itself are : What can we
do In an organized" way to get the farmers
of this continent to see the necessity of
more Intellect on the farm'In other words ,
what can we do to promote farm education ?
What can this congress do to promote wise
legislation In the State and national legis
latures to this end' ; What can this congress
do as a great force to arrest the tendency
of the American farmer to destroy the natu
ral fertility of his farm ? What can we do to
arouse public opinion and the great educa
tional forces of the country to the Import
ance of teaching the elements of agricul
ture in the primary schools of the laud ?
Our present system of agricultural educa
tion is an image with a head of brass , a
body of Iron and feet of clay. We are di
recting all our energies to the head and not
the feet. Our common schools recruit the
academy , the college and the university ,
and they , in turn , recruit every profession
but farming. Our young men llee to the
towns and cities because we have educated
them to do so. Nearly ever } * European
country Is putting forth strenuous efforts
to stop this tendency by teaching the ele
ments of scientific agriculture in the public
schools. It can be done as easily as the
teaching of the elements of scientific arith
metic , or chemistry , or philosophy. A great
host of farmers who were deprived of such
teaching now find themselves barred from
an understanding of much agricultural liter
ature. As a consequence they turn from
the agricultural college , the bulletin of the
experiment station and the farm paper ,
which Is really worth everything to them.
Like all other lines of human thought and
action , the American farmer and his farm
are going through a process of evolution.
The manufacturer feels It , and his capital
and enterprise can hardly keep pace with
coming changes ; statesmanship feels it , for
new and difficult problems of government
constantly present themselves , and how to
keep center and circumference in harmon
izing growth is the problem of the day. The
railroad magnate feels it and must bow to
It. What is the subtle power that Is so
mysteriously Jeavonn > S the whole lump ? It
Is growth of knowledge among the people.
Heretofore our vision has been directed al
most wholly to the price we were to receive
for our products. The present tide of evolu
tion bears us In another direction. We can
not control prices ; the market end of the
question Is beyond the Individual reach or
modification of any farmer. What can he
do , what must he do , to increase his profit ,
for on that hangs his prosperity ? This must
he do : He must realize that he Is no longer
a crude producer ; he is a manufacturer. He
must Invoke science , Invention , better sys
tem , more thorough organization among his
fellow farmers , more exhaustive study of
the underlying principles of his business ,
improved methods , everything he can lay
hold of , to contribute to a reduction of the
cost of production.
He is subject to the same economic laws
as Is every other manufacturer. The world
declares it will have cheap food and cloth-
lug , for this Is the humane order of our civ
ilization. The American farmer Is In the
forefront of a merciless competition , for
from the soil must come primarily all the
food and clothing. He must furnish as good -
as the best or he will lose the market. He
must do this at a living cost and keep up
the fertility of the soli , or he and his farm
will both perish by the way. The demands
of modern civilization are expensive. It
costs more to live , educate his children and
be a man among men than it d'd his father
fifty years ago. There is but one road out -
of the iliiiiculty n .I can see. He must put
more thought into this question of the cost
of production. Heretofore the cry has been
more land , until the farm has become bigger
than the farmer. This makes expensive
farming. The necessities of the hour say
m.-Vie the farmer bigger than the farm.
The Farmers' National Congress Is needed
as an organized body of opinion to promote
as best It can national legislation In support
of the Department of Agriculture. Our
present Secretary of Agriculture Is doing
what he can to introduce American food
products into foreign markets and promote
their consumption. That department should
have the authority and means to employ ,
under its own direction , commercial agents
in every food market In the world. Den
mark sends its agents to England to receive ,
guard and look after Its shipments of butter
and becon. Canada is doing the same.
There is no reason better than traditional
abstraction why the United States should
not show the same good business sense. Be
sides , there is a great trade awaiting us at
our very doors in the sister republics of the
southern part of this continent. Can we say
or do anything here which will move our
national legislature into work of a practical
character , In the way of mall subsidies to a
line of American ships sailing direct from
southern ports to South American ports ? I
hope we can. It Is a reproach to the practi
cal statesmanship of the American people"
that something lias not bc-en done of this
haracter. -
This congress can do something ia the
way of aiding the greater efficiency of the
State experimental stations , some of which
are hardly more than lodging-houses for
politicians. It can stand up and rebuke , in
no measured tones , the prostitution of agri
cultural necessities and progress to political
favoritism. It can and should demand of
the national government the taxation to
extinction of all counterfeit food products.
An imitation is a counterfeit , and a counter
feit Is a fraud , and should have no rights
before the law as against an honest product-
of the farm. No matter how many hired
chemists assert to the contrary , counterfeit
food products are a menace to the health oC
the public and the prosperity of the farme
and the nation.
Mat Luby. a fanner * who resided ateu/
two miles northeast of Olathe , Kaii. , had
his house , with th < j furniture , also ? .large
barn and contents , including four horses ,
grain , hay and implements , < x > mplotely
destroyed by fire , the occr.pants of the
house , 'Mr. Luby. wife and daughter , barely - -
ly escaping with their Uves. L - *
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