ADVOCATE AND GUIDE. 119 



"Now, the representatives of the farmer, about 200 of them, all 

 from the various exchanges, the millers and bakers, appeared before 

 the Committee on Agriculture and stated that they proposed that the 

 wheat grower shall have the price fixed. Coupled with that they asked 

 that the poor millers who increase their operating profits 175 or 100 

 per cent on their capital stock ; they say that they should be protected 

 against loss ; and we have prepared a bill which is being introduced 

 and will come up in a few days, and it provides for a guarantee to the 

 miller against loss. It goes further than that it guarantees the baker 

 against loss. 



"I have served on the Committee on Agriculture a number of years. 

 I have observed that the representatives claiming to represent the 

 farmers are nine times out of ten members of or representatives of other 

 organizations such as the boards of trade or exchanges, the millers and 

 packers. They profess great friendship for the farmer, but, after all, 

 they are human and selfish and not infallible. Although appearing as 

 spokesmen for the farmer, we find them pleading with tears in their 

 eyes for legislation to further their own interests, even at the expense 

 of the farmer. 



"It has often occurred to me that the best interests of the farmer 

 might be better subserved if he appointed his own spDkesman, rather 

 than to depend upon these self-appointed representatives. I call at- 

 tention to the cotton futures act, the standardization act, the meat in- 

 spection act, the legislation giving authority to fix the price of wheat, 

 the oleomargarine act, and a number of others might be cited. It has 

 also occurred to me that with farmers' organizations and co-operation, 

 such as the National Dairy Union, of which your chairman, Mr. Creasy, 

 is secretary and I speak of it because I have come in more frequent 

 contact with its representative than any other if, with the proper, 

 active, efficient organization, equipped with headquarters in Washing- 

 ton, such as is suggested by your organization, the Temple of Agricul- 

 ture, and provided with the necessary funds to maintain it and the em- 

 ployment of the necessary number of industrious and capable repre- 

 sentatives, with a view of effectively impressing its viewpoints upon 

 our lawmakers and to look after its interests. If represented by them 

 instead of being represented by boards of trade, packers, millers, and 

 various other boards appearing before the committee suggesting and 

 framing legislation, might it not result in legislation different and more 

 conducive to the best interests, not only of the farmer but of the con- 

 sumer and of the people as a whole? It has often occurred to me that 

 with a complete system of checking up the legislation, with proper rep- 

 resentation in shaping legislation, it would bring beneficial results. 



