N). 6, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 275 



mers, — of course, we are living in a small county. Our farmers have 

 cleared up tbeir farms and are farming scientifically since the farmers' 

 institutes started and put a little money in the bank besides. 



]N'ow I want to tell you that I was going to ask the Director to give 

 us a little more, but when 1 came to Harrisburg I was knocked out 

 because the appropriation was going to be cut down and we would 

 get less than we get now. What a wonderful thing that would be! 

 To curtail the business of the farmers of this State, to cut down the 

 appropriations that are used to teach the farmers that which they 

 want to know and what they must know if they succeed in arriving 

 at the top of the ladder. I heard last night a lecture on ''What is the 

 matter with the Pennsylvania Farmers." I say one thing wrong in 

 Pennsylvania in my estimation is that they don't stand shoulder to 

 shoulder and sav to their Legislature we want our share of the monev 

 appropriated in this State and we want it put to the greatest advan- 

 tage and best advantage that it can be put, the agricultural interests 

 of Pennsvlvania. Evervone knows it is a great interest. Whv we 

 boast in our county of our oil and gas and down here you have your 

 iron and coal, but there is none of them compare with the lessons in 

 agriculture, but still they go into the Legislature and get by some 

 plans or other larger appropriations for most anything along these 

 lines while the farmers get small amounts appropriated to agricul- 

 ture. Can that be remedied? Yes, it can be remedied by standing 

 shoulder to shoulder, by doing just as they do; give them to under- 

 stand we have to have that and are going to get it. Just yesterday 

 they appropriated and opened up a way where they can spend ten mil- 

 lion dollars to extend the Capitol by appropriating $250,000 now. 

 Yes, it is a good bit, and I want to tell you that men passing over the 

 afternoon of life will never live to see the end of it. That ten or fifteen 

 million dollars will be spent of the State's money to carry that out 

 and if there is no more monej' for agriculture they will spend that. I 

 say that ought to be broken up. 



Another thing, there are some appropriations ought to be made to 

 go to the counties to reduce the local taxation which we know 

 bothers us more than anything else. Now the Legislature in its 

 wisdom thought that we should not have the right to vote upon the 

 question or should not submit the question of local option. They say 

 you cannot have the privilege of voting upon it. Now sir I say if they 

 are to fasten that upon us, if they are bound to give the saloon, these 

 primary schools of the devil, full sway, that we should have the money 

 derived from them to be devoted to agricultural interests in the State 

 of Pennsylvania; every dollar of it. Now if we put our shoulders to 

 the wheel, T tell you if we pull together they will listen to you. I 

 have been there myself. 1 am a ]Missouri man thn( is. you think I am. 

 We can fetch it as .sure as we are here to day by working together and 

 in the right direction and make them appropriate enough money for 

 agricultural purposes. We can appreciate and increase the benefits 

 by experiment stations and State College and Farmers Institutes, 

 sending out bulletins and putting the information into use and there 

 should be enough money appropriated and sent to carry out all of 

 these things and I say we can do it. 



Now one thing more. I want to make a suggestion. I have no 

 criticism to make of the, county institutes. They are doing noble 



