244 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



some goods as pure butter. The price of butter was materi- 

 ally lowered. The fraud was growing fast, and threatened 

 still greater injury. Individual farmers throughout the land 

 raved and protested, with about the same effect as would 

 have been produced had their ire been directed against the 

 keen blasts of winter. It was taken up, however, by an 

 organized body of farmers, who were trained to think and 

 act in harmony, who, after many trials and defeats in both 

 State and National legislatures, saw the entire trade placed 

 under the control of the law, with the effect of restoring the 

 price of butter, and restricting its imitation. Did not that 

 organization attend to the business side of farming? That 

 battle has been fought and the enemy routed ; but they are 

 gathering again, and another trial of strength will take place. 

 Organization must be made now to meet it. 



Mr. Chairman, it would take too long to tell the history 

 of. the railroad interests of this country. How, originally 

 constructed by the will of the people, to be the servant of 

 the people, they gained strength, and finally declared them- 

 selves to be the masters of the people, and in many ways 

 robbed and burdened the very ones whose vote created 

 them. The fraud and trickery and disgraceful acts of the 

 majority of these corporations should lodge each director in 

 the penitentiary. A large part of the burden fell upon the 

 farmers ; and repeatedly have I heard them cry out against 

 it, but without avail. They acted as individuals without or- 

 ganization. But the same body of farmers that fought bogus 

 butter, fought the railroads, and placed over them the power 

 of the Inter-State Commerce Commission, the best act that 

 Congress has done in many years. But here again the battle,, 

 though fought and won, still requires organization to main- 

 tain it. Individual farmer ! who think organization un- 

 necessary, how do you propose to do your share? 



The influence of forests upon agriculture is well known. 

 To a certain extent they must be preserved, or agriculture 

 suffers or perhaps perishes. This is especially true in our 

 hot, dry climate. Organized effort of the farmers of the 

 whole country is needed to check the waste and destruction 

 that is going on. Who else beside farmers are interested in 

 this vital question ? Statesmen who love their country and 



