34 



reason, if economic conditions wore properly adjusted, why the farming business 

 should not fairly compete in obtaining labor with the manufacturer, whose busi- 

 ness it is to prepare for consumption the products which the farmer raises ; and 

 yet if the farmer were to pay the same rehitive rate of wages and grant to 

 labor the same number of hours that are maintained in the mills he would not 

 be able to earn living wages for himself, nmch less secure the profit which the 

 manufacturers demand. John INIitchell, the celebrated labor leader, stated in 

 the public prints a few weeks ago that " labor was the only commodity which 

 permitted the person using it to fix the price fur it, and that he proposed in the 

 new arrangements that were to be made that the laborer should fix the price of 

 his labor, just as the manufacturer fixed the price of his manufactured product." 

 This would seem a reasonable demand, yet John Mitchell ignored the fact that 

 these men, occupying more than 5.(i(i<).(K)0 of farms, were doing exactly what 

 he claimed was being done only in the case of labor. The farmer seldom fixes 

 the price of his produce ; never in the case of many perishable products. It is 

 fixed by the purchaser, and presumably based upon the conditions of demand 

 and supply. If this were actually the case, no legitimate criticism could be 

 made, but the facts are that in too many instances prices are fixed by those 

 possessing superior advantages in the way of capital or intelligence, and without 

 special reference to supply and demand. The producers on these millions of 

 farms should have a share in these adjustments in proportion to their interests, 

 and would be able to exercise a proper and legitimate influence if made familiar 

 with the principles that are involved. 



In the matter of transportation, too, it would seem that if economic condi- 

 tions were properly adjusted more equitable terms for the distribution of the 

 products of the farm would be provided. Transportation companies depend for 

 their income to a greater degree upon the products of the farm, in both the 

 raw and manufactured state, than upon the products of any other industry. 

 The tonnage of corn, wheat, hay, and cotton greatly exceeds that of iron, coal, 

 or oil ; yet there are no rebates or cut rates offered the farmer. He is chai-ged 

 all the traffic will bear. One of the chief causes of the depression of agriculture 

 in many sections of our country, and especially In our Eastern States, which are 

 within "a short distance of our large cities, is the cost of transportation. It is 

 not possible to have perishable products transported in such a way as to enable 

 them to reach the consumer at a cost and in a condition that would allow the 

 producer to compete with products that are raised upon lands located at greater 

 distances from points of consumption. Concrete examples of the influence of 

 deflnite knowledge in changing conditions in many of these respects, I have no 

 doubt, are familiar to all, as they are to be found in any State, and only illus- 

 trate the beneficent results of its broader dissemination. 



The social conditions existing in many, if not all, farming communities also 

 need to be improved. The advantages to be derived from education accrue only 

 when the social nature of man is properly provided for. The farmer now is, in 

 many instances, content to make money on the farm, but is not content with 

 it as a home for his family. In fact, many use it as a means of securing a 

 competence that would enable them to live elsewhere. 



All of these problems, which affect, both directly and indirectly, the true 

 progress of agriculture, and in a sense the stability of our Government, can be 

 solved and will be solved in a satisfactory manner only when the essential 

 principles which are involved are understood by the masses engaged in the 

 work. 



The agricultural colleges must recognize the gravity of these problems and 

 give their moral support, not only, but should be the leaders in solving them. 

 They must be in such close touch with the educational facilities of the various 

 States as to make it possible for the l)oy on the farm to ol)tain an elementary 

 knowledge of his business and likewise of its relation to all the other, in a sense, 

 subordinate industries. I do not wish to be understood as saying that the col- 

 leges should interfere with things that do not concern them, but rather that 

 they should take such an interest in all these i)roblems as shall promote the 

 proper education of the large number of men engaged in the work. In order 

 that this may be partly met, many institutions have established short courses 

 in agriculture, where it is possible for students to obtain a certain amount of 

 knowledge, good as far as it goes and deserving of encouragement. The col- 

 lege should not be content with this, however, as it can not be regarded as the 

 best and only thing they can do outside of their regular work ; first, because 

 it is not possible thus to reach all the farmers; second, because it is not time 



