558 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



In the afternoon the members of the Congress enjoyed a 

 rough riding and roping contest at the Fort Worth base ball 

 grounds, and in the evening a genuine negro cake walk. 

 These entertainments were generously provided by the citi- 

 zens of Fort Worth. 



December 8 the Congress was called to order by the pres- 

 ident, and the following resolutions were presented : favoring 

 liberal appropriations for the improvement of rivers and har- 

 bors ; favoring an American mail service to foreign coun- 

 tries in American steamships ; for more stringent laws 

 against food adulteration ; in favor of the beet sugar indus- 

 try ; for reclamation of Mississippi River lands ; relative to 

 farmers' institute work ; to restrict adulteration of farm and 

 food products ; asking Congress to pass more stringent laws 

 against Texas fever ; favoring rural free mail delivery ; favor- 

 ing the establishment of textile schools ; thanks of the Con- 

 gress to Governor Culberson and others ; for free homes in 

 Oklahoma and the Cherokee strip ; that the president appoint 

 a committee to present the resolutions adopted to the Presi- 

 dent, Congress, etc. 



An amendment of the constitution was adopted, as fol- 

 lows : "But no question which in any sense is before the 

 country as a partisan issue, and has been incorporated in the 

 platform of the leading political parties, shall be proposed or 

 debated in the meetings of the Farmers' National Congress." 

 This was added to section 12. 



Prof. W. A. Henry, dean of the Wisconsin College of 

 Agriculture, presented an able paper on "Stock feeding," 

 which was discussed by many members. Senors Pablo Mar- 

 tinez del Rio and Ramon Alcazar, delegates from the Repub- 

 lic of Mexico, were introduced to the Congress. 



At the afternoon session, reports from the committee on 

 resolutions were adopted. The committee on finance made 

 a partial report. The committee on location reported the 

 recommendation that the next meeting be held in Boston ; 

 action on the report postponed until evening. 



Hon. E. S. Peters of Texas, president of the Cotton 

 Growers' Association, read a paper on "The cotton inter- 

 ests." 



