418 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



"In my judgment, the department of agriculture is the 

 most important of the government ; it represents greater 

 interests than any other single department ; yet, through 

 all the history of the agricultural department, it has been 

 characterized by timidity and lack of boldness in demanding 

 legislation and adequate appropriations to make it effective. 



" President Cleveland is correct in saying that the farmers 

 of the United States represent nearly one-half of our people, 

 and that the success of the farm is of direct interest to the 

 whole country. Yet the President congratulated his secre- 

 tary of agriculture, and the country at large, on the heavy 

 reduction in expenditures recommended for his depart- 

 ment. 



"This is a non-political organization, and I think very 

 properly so. Gentlemen will see at once the impropriety 

 of this body trying to settle great economic questions ; the 

 Congress of the United States have tried that, and have 

 failed. There is scarcely a question that may be raised in 

 this body, affecting our agricultural interests, but what will 

 have a political side to it, but let us discuss those questions 

 without reference to their influence upon any political party. 

 Let us take each other by the hand, and try to make common 

 cause for our great interest. 



"I do not mean by this that the farmer and agriculturist 

 should take no part in politics. We should not for a 

 moment lay aside or forget our duty to society and to 

 the government. At the risk of being called politicians, 

 it is our duty to see to it that the political atmosphere is 

 kept clear and that the vicious classes are held in check. 

 The good citizen will not remain behind the counter, 

 in the field and in the shop, and permit the political trickster 

 and common loafer to control the caucus and the convention 

 of the party to which he belongs. Under our flag and under 

 our constitution every citizen may exercise the right of suf- 

 frage, and he that fails is equally guilty with the dishonest 

 politician ; at the same time, we must be able to lay aside 

 our political differences, and meet on a common level. 



" Successful farming is a trade of national and inter- 

 national relationship to all other trades. There is no 



