No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 279 



I do say that any ix'nnaiiL'iit relief must begin right at our homes. 

 Can we ask for Jegislation or invoke the powei' of an organization 

 that we may continue our indolent, slipshod manner of farming. 

 The one occupation by nature, the noblest, most independent of 

 them all, but allowed to be subservient to all! Fellow farmers, 

 ought such things to be? After all is our position in life as bad as 

 we imagine? Have the occupations of others immunity from ills? 

 Are there not failures in the financial and commercial world as well? 

 Do we magnify our calling and make it honorable as by holy writ 

 we are commanded to do? 



In the varied soil productions of this great nation, it appears al- 

 most impossible for the great agricultural interests to unite or agree 

 on a policy beneficial to all. Probably, selfishness is the real cause. 

 The sugar producer demands subsidy and protection for his interests. 

 The same desire is found in producers of cotton, tobacco and wool. 

 Others ask protection for all raw production. Then comes the 

 manufacturer demanding free raw material and almost prohibitive 

 protection on the finished material. For these reasons we cannot 

 expect soon to obtain relief by legislation. Bringing all these varied 

 interests to a common view for the common weal of all the people 

 have practically failed. To "live and let live" is relegated to future 

 generations. 



Then the farmer is called to face present conditions. The pros- 

 perity of the nation depends on the farmer. The world must be fed 

 and clothed. Some time conditions will change then wbo will profit 

 most? The man w'ho has neglected his farm and stock or the one 

 who in face of every diflSculty has labored to preserve the fertility of 

 his soil and has intelligently bred his stock in the line of farming 

 best suited to his locality. Many of us are having free mail de- 

 livery. Think you that this is the free gift of a fostering nation! 

 By no means, directly or indirectly, we must and ought to pay for it. 

 It will be the same with the telephones, and contemplated trolley 

 lines, a great convenience, but to enjoy them we will have to pay for 

 the privilege. Is it not devolving on us then that this time saved 

 may be devoted to our farms, to the improving of our minds, to the 

 mastering of business methods in conducting the business of our 

 farms and greater care not only in increasing the production but in 

 caring for it when produced. 



I do not wish to appear before you as one that has attained the 

 high pinnacle of success and thereby have the right to criticize and 

 instruct others. On the other hand, I stand here in full conscious- 

 ness of failure in the past in many ways. The experiences of mature 

 years in farm life teaches me of grievious mistakes in judgment, in. 

 methods in the business of my calling. It is because of these that I 

 dare to lift the warning voice. If the experiences of a life journey of 



