Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 133 



in, the world. I want her taken out of the narrow environment 

 into which she has been forced and brought into a larger, broader 

 life. I want her to dress in the style of the day. I don't care 

 whether her skirts be hobbled or hooped, if she gets pleasure out 

 of having them so. And I want the farmer girl when she marries 

 to feel that it is not necessary to leave the farm in order to have 

 and enjoy the things she most desires. I do not want her to feel 

 that she must wear her wedding dress for nice until it is out of 

 style and in again before she can have another. I want her to 

 mingle with those of her kind and feel herself their equal in ap- 

 pearance, in culture and attainments, and to enjoy associations 

 and participate in activities that will bring her into a broad, full 

 life. 



What are some of the causes that contribute to these con- 

 ditions in our country today? Why these conditions? What are 

 the forces that have brought about this state of affairs, and how 

 are we to reach and correct them? 



All the great men in the world of education — all thinking men 

 — are concerned today about the trusts and combinations, organi- 

 zations that rob thousands of the soil workers for the benefit of 

 the few. Do you know, my farmer friends, that you pay a greater 

 tribute to the steel trust every year than you pay to your state 

 government. Possibly you may say that you are not interested in 

 steel, that you do not buy much steel. But I say to you that you 

 are interested. You buy all the steel that is used in this country — 

 that is, the soil pays for it. You pay for all the great steel rail- 

 road bridges, all the steel rails, all the great skyscrapers of the 

 cities, all the steel that goes into the great battle ships. You are 

 interested in the price of steel. If you pay more than it is worth, 

 that much is taken from the share you are justly entitled to that 

 the soil produces, and that you ought to have to provide for your- 

 self, your boys and girls those opportunities and that enjoyment 

 the Creator intended you should have. The steel trust is one of 

 the great causes for this woefully unbalanced condition in this 

 country. 



One man dominates and controls this great industry, as he 

 dominates and controls many other important industries. And he 

 controls them not as agencies to serve the people, but as instru- 

 ments with which to take from the people tribute to which he and 

 those he does serve are not justly entitled. He rules the business 

 of this country with an iron — I should say — steel hand. And I 



