664 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



livery, at the earliest possible time. We should continue our requests, 

 however, until our wishes are fully realized, so that the farmer, on his 

 return from the fields, will find his letters and daily paper awaiting him, 

 and his outgoing mail far on its way to destination. 



NO HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS LICENSE IN THE COUNTRY. 



In connection with the work of encouraging and securing all possible 

 conveniences to country people, special attention is here called to an 

 existing law, certain portions of which are strongely antagonistic to the 

 best interests and desires of country people, and should be repealed. Ref- 

 erence is made to the law regulating and licensing the hawking and ped- 

 dling of goods in rural districts, and which demands the payment of a 

 license by local store keepers and others for the privileges of carrying 

 groceries and other wares in horse wagons to farmers' houses and there 

 sold or exchanged for butter and eggs as the case may be. The license 

 is so high as to be prohibitive and is wholly wrong. It is in the interest 

 of stores in the larger towns, and is calculated to force farmers to go to 

 the towns to transact this business. We repeat that there should be no 

 barriers in the way of all these conveniences coming to us in the country, 

 and it is the duty we owe our homes to use our strongest influence against 

 such obstructions to our natural rights. It is a great saving of time dur- 

 ing the busy seasons of the year to have the small necessities brought 

 to the farmers' door, and in the older parts of the state, where farmers 

 have had these conveniences, the business has proven satisfactory, both 

 as to prices and quality of goods. The farmers enjoy going to town, and 

 will go when they desire, but a law which operates to compel them to go 

 when it is to their profit to cultivate and harvest crops, is too ancient 

 for this progressive age, and should be repealed. The attention of this 

 body is called to the matter with the view of possible action to the end 

 that the next legislature may be memorialized asking repeal of this tres- 

 pass upon the natural rights of farm people. 



FARMERS MUST BE SELF-RELIANT. 



In support of work along the line of farmers helping themselves, I wish 

 to emphasize the ideas already suggested. I would have the farmer con- 

 sider himself and so prepare himself that he is the peer of any man, and 

 to so broaden his ideas that he will assert his independence of old-fash- 

 ioned notions that, bind him here, and obligate him there. 



Throw mere sentiment to the winds and in the strength and freedom 

 of full manhood, look out over the world of benefits and opportunities 

 and say, "These are for me, the same as for other men. My country 

 home is my palace, and there I live from choice, and from there will I 

 reach out to near and far and I will labor to bring all attainable benefits, 

 and place them close to my door." Such ideas should govern the acts 

 of every farmer in the land. If such can be, what is there that the farmer 

 cannot have? He would not then act hesitatingly, as if asking, "Please 

 sir, may I do this?" but instead, he would act with confidence and that 

 which he willed, in the line of justice and reason, would be his. 



