802 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal lor Country and Suburban Homca. 
Established 1860 . 
Published weekly by the Karol Pnblishlng Company, 409 Pearl Street, New York. 
Herbert W. Colltngwood, President and Editor, 
John J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. K. T. Koylk, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or marks, or lO'e francs. Remit in money order, 
express order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates 50 cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for time 
orders. References required for advertisers unknown to 
us; and cash must accompany transient orders. 
"A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement in this paper is hacked by a 
responsible person. But to make doubly sure we will make good any 
loss to paid subscribers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler 
advertisingin oureolumns, and any such swindler will be publicly ex¬ 
posed. We protect suberibers against rogues, but wo do not guarantee 
to adjust trilling differences between subscribers and honest, respon¬ 
sible advertisers. Neither will we be responsible for the debts of 
honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint 
must be sent to us within one month of the time of the transaction, 
and you must have mentioned The Rural New-Yorker when 
writing the advertiser. 
TEN WEEKS FOR 10 CENTS. 
In order to introduce The R. N.-Y. to progressive, 
intelligent farmers who do not now take it, we send it 
10 weeks for 10 cents for strictly introductory pur¬ 
poses. We depend on our old friends to make this 
known to neighbors and friends. 
* 
And now a big petition calling for an investigation 
of express rates has been filed with the Interstate 
Commerce Commission. This comes from 120 big 
commercial organizations like the Boston Chamber of 
Commerce, New York Merchants’ Association, etc. 
This petition tells how the express companies hold up 
and rob the public. One company organized with 
$100,000 capital and owning $71,000 worth of property, 
paid in 10 years $3,200,000 of dividends and accumu¬ 
lated $1,500,000 besides. Gentlemen, tell us something 
new! All this has been known and endured for years. 
If you want to stop the robbery demand a parcels 
post—do not wait for the Interstate Commerce Com¬ 
mission. 
* 
Since we described that “brown soil” of Colorado, 
in which nitrates are forming, many calls for informa¬ 
tion have come. It is suggested that this brown soil 
might be used to inoculate suitable spots on many 
farms where nitrogen is greatly needed. The work of 
investigation was done at the Experiment Station in 
Fort Collins. It is possible that this soil might start 
the nitrifying action on your farm, but there is noth¬ 
ing sure about it yet. The plan is worth trying as an 
experiment. That is all there is to it at present. 
While farmers in other States may see a blessing in 
this nitrate manufacturing, Colorado farmers regard 
it as more of a curse, since nothing will grow on or 
near these brown spots. 
* 
Alfalfa since its advent bas sold more Kansas land 
and at higher prices than any other one growth, com¬ 
modity or inlluenee. Lands with no sale and considered a 
burden at a tbrce-dollar valuation have been quick sales 
at $40 to $75 per acre when seeded to this wonderful for¬ 
age, while others, although not by any means the best, 
have paid their owners ten and twelve per cent on valua¬ 
tions of $200 or more per acre. The cultivation and feed¬ 
ing of Alfalfa mark the highest development of modern 
ngiiculture.—F. D. Coburn. 
This is not only true of Kansas but of every other 
place where Alfalfa thrives. It is so around Syracuse, 
N. Y., and in a much larger way in the country of 
Argentina. If you want to sell a farm and double the 
selling price, get Alfalfa to growing on it. 
* 
What is the real value of a course of instruction 
at a correspondence school? We can understand that 
some useful things may be taught through writing 
letters, provided the instructor takes interest enough 
in the pupil to understand something of his personal 
qualities. In any event it ought to be evident that 
there are many essential things about an education 
which demand personal contact and oversight on the 
part of a teacher. At the people’s University some 
stress is laid on a correspondence course in music. It 
seemed to us incredible that music can be taught by 
mail, and we have asked some of the leading musicians 
in this country about it. Here is a sample of the re¬ 
plies : 
In reply to your inquiry I would say that the teaching 
of music by correspondence is a farce and cannot possibly 
produce satisfactory results. The only branch of musical 
instruction which can be taught by correspondence is 
theory. FRANK DAMROSCH. 
Institute of Musical Art 
No one will dispute the ability of Mr. Damrosch to 
give an opinion on musical matters, or deny the fact 
that his opinion is genuine. This music by correspond¬ 
ence is no more a farce than most of the other theories 
sent forth from the People’s University. It is not half 
as much a farce as the “business meeting” at which 
the “Final Plan” was adopted. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
A POLITICAL CRISIS IN NEW YORK. 
The farmers of New York have for years kept the 
Republican party alive by providing the votes and the 
moral power which it needed. President Taft re¬ 
ceived 870,070 votes in New York. Of this number 
(52 per cent were cast outside of the cities of New 
York, Buffalo and Rochester. The country people 
have been steadfast in their support. Had they not 
been so the Republican party would, years ago, have 
disappeared like the old Whigs. The R. N.-Y. cares 
for no party or man except as they stand for the com¬ 
mon rights of plain people, and especially farmers, but 
the facts justify us in telling the cold truth about the 
present situation of the Republican party in New York. 
During the past few years this party has fallen under 
control of the most contemptible gang of third-class 
politicians that ever disgraced any State. Men like 
Timothy L. Woodruff, of New York; Wm. Barnes, 
Jr., of Albanj-, and James W. Wadsworth, Jr., of 
Livingston County, make up a gang of bosslets at 
once malignant, feeble and cowardly. Lacking the 
brains of Platt or the rough courage of Croker, by 
taking advantage of a peculiar set of conditions they 
have brought their party to the meanest position it has 
ever occupied. These men know a fair direct nomina¬ 
tions plan, honestly enforced, would drive them out of 
power. That is why they opposed Gov. Hughes at 
every turn, ridiculed his reform measures, lied about 
him and played every dirty game of the nasty politics 
they know so well. Two years ago public opinion 
forced, them to renominate the Governor. They then 
tried to defeat him, and would have done so had it 
not been a presidential year. They then renewed their 
attacks. Then came the disgrace of the Allds scandal. 
Knowing the record of this political vulture, the gang 
actually selected him as “leader.” The disgrace was 
so rank and foul that President Taft called for the 
retirement of Woodruff as party chairman, and for the 
passage of the Hughes reforms. 
Many voters wondered how this contemptible gang 
was able to upset this programme. They planned one 
of the boldest and at the same time most cowardly 
tricks known to politics. This was no less than an 
attempt to array ex-President Roosevelt against Presi¬ 
dent Taft. They mistook their man, for Mr. Roose¬ 
velt also endorsed the Hughes reforms. Then like 
doomed men who rush out to do all possible deviltry 
before their execution, they concocted a yet more 
cowardly scheme. To his shame be it said the Vice- 
President of the United States made himself one with 
this dishonorable gang. 
It was the general desire that Roosevelt should pre¬ 
side at the State convention. Woodruff and his gang 
knew that the people wanted this because Roosevelt 
as no other Republican could put in clear, fighting 
language the contempt which honest men feel. Rather 
than face what was coming to them the gang whispered 
about that President Taft did not want Roosevelt, 
hut did want Vice-President Sherman. On the 
strength of this lying statement the State committee 
selected Mr. Sherman and defeated Roosevelt as tem¬ 
porary chairman. To understand the dastardly char¬ 
acter of this act we must also realize the motive which 
induced these hyenas, to carry it through. They knew 
the President wanted Roosevelt and that they had 
tricked him with Sherman. Reasoning from their own 
putrid sense of honor they expected that the President 
would not dare repudiate the Vice-President hut 
would endure the disgrace and humiliation in 
silence rather than antagonize the “machine.” They 
misjudged an honorable gentleman and loyal friend. 
The President came out at once with the facts, giving 
the lie direct to the political skunks who tried to put 
him in their own class. They did, however, safely put 
their tag on Vice-President Sherman, who is a fit com¬ 
panion in their rotten politics. Why should men with 
money and education and ability, with opportunity for 
honorable public service, act in this way? It is the 
legitimate outcome of our present political system. It 
is the evil fruit of a crop of once hopeful young men 
debauched and trained by Platt, Odell, Depew and a 
host of others into cynical grafters and leeches. They 
hold their places through packing caucuses, stuffing 
conventions and working crooked schemes in the dark. 
They believe there is no such thing as open honesty 
in politics. They know that with a fair primary 
where the individual voter could get at them, they 
would be pitchforked out. Thus they fight like men 
who know they are facing political death, unrepentant 
and with hearts bitter with evil designs. 
We think they are now meditating a last desperate 
step. It is likely that they will finally work for the 
nomination of Roosevelt for Governor and then throw 
all their strength to knife him at the polls. That is 
their one chance in a thousand, for could they nomi¬ 
nate Roosevelt and then defeat him they reason that 
they would then control the party. They will split 
the party and ruin it if they can rather than permit 
it to win with a decent man and a clean, moral issue. 
If the Republican party in this crisis cannot rise to 
September 10, 
the occasion and present such a man and such an 
issue, publicly cursing such characters as Allds and 
the present gang of “leaders,” it deserves to be not 
only beaten but destroyed. There is no use any 
longer in this country for public men or political par¬ 
ties in whom the soul is dead. Gov. Hughes failed in 
part of his programme because he could not or would 
not get out and fight straight at the foes of honest 
government. There are times when cold-blooded logic 
or plausible reasoning are best. This is not such a 
time. We need now hard, strong fighters to give ex¬ 
pression to the hot anger of the American people. The 
leaders in this campaign must be of that class and 
they must stand openly for decent politics. It must 
now be evident to any thoughtful Republican that the 
only way to get permanently rid of the present gang 
is to adopt a fair primary law and make use of it. 
Every Republican voter should get squarely against 
the “gang” and save their party before its glorious 
memories are obscured by political filth ! 
* 
President Taft has declared himself in favor of a 
form of tariff commission for changing our present 
tariff laws. We have for years advocated taking the 
tariff out of politics and treating it in a businesslike 
way. The President’s suggestion is that the commis¬ 
sion which he has appointed collect statistics of cost 
and prices and their effect upon commerce and report 
to Congress. With this data Congress can take up 
the tariff item by item and adjust it fairly. This is 
the most sensible plan yet suggested and we believe 
it will he carried out, because the people are tired of 
the old discussions. 
* 
In 1909 130,000 persons left Hungary for the United 
States. This yearly exodus of bread winners from a 
country with 20,000,000 total population is a serious 
matter. The Hungarians in America sent home $28,- 
000,000 in money last year, but this does not make up 
for population loss. It might do so in Italy where the 
birth rate is higher. In most countries no amount of 
cash can in the end compensate for the loss of small 
freeholders or productive farmers. The Hungarian 
Government is trying to check emigration. One 
point of the new law is that young men are compelled 
to deposit a sum of money as a guarantee that they 
will return and serve their term in the army. We are 
told that many Russian Jews each year send money 
hack to Russia to make up for their failure to return 
and serve in the Russian army. This constant drain 
of cash from this country to the old world amounts 
to immense sums in the course of a few years. • One 
great argument for a postal savings bank is that part 
of this money, now handled by private bankers, will 
be deposited in the postal banks and kept here. 
* 
It simply guts us back to the relation between sufficient 
capital and success. I have long thought that there would 
be much more prosperity among farmers if they had a 
decent working capital. Without it they are sadly handi¬ 
capped. 
This is from a letter commenting on the success of 
Mr. Quinion as given on page 803. Capital is needed 
in farming as well as in manufacturing. We are told 
of the great importance of farm machinery, chemicals, 
strong horses or pure seed, but how can a farmer take 
advantage of them unless he have cash? The Cana¬ 
dian Government recognizes this by making loans to 
farmers who use the money for drainage. Russia 
established a land bank to assist nobles to hold land 
and also peasants to buy land. In Australia direct 
loans of public funds to farmers arc regularly made. 
All these governments recognize the great importance 
of farming as a business. The farm feeds the nation 
and also produces blood and brawn and spirit. There¬ 
fore it is a good investment for public money. In 
this country we have 'fought shy of the plan of di¬ 
rect loans to farmers, or. of making farm land the 
basis for public credit or money, and we are behind 
other nations in this respect. The policy should be 
changed and some plan provided for supplying capital 
as is done in Ontario. 
BREVITIES. 
Y\ hen in doubt about a get-rich scheme—use common 
sense. 
Do not try to kill sucking insects with poison. Work 
in through their hide. 
Are you after a job? Well, sir, the Government wants a 
xylotomist. Better qualify and apply. 
Ground limestone will not set free ammonia rapidly 
while burnt lime will. There you have the chief difference. 
Personally we would not drill lime in with wheat. 
We would rather make two jobs, using the lime a week 
or so before wheat seeding if possible. 
If any one sends you a proposition to buy stock in a 
scheme for making rubber from a Colorado rubber plant 
let us have it at once. We have a particular dose for this 
fiaud. 
"Vote a straight ticket by scratching off the crooked 
names,’ says Farm and Ranche. That is good advice, 
hut why not go further and keep the crooked names off 
the ticket through a fair primary? Once graft them on a 
ticket and it is next to impossible to scratch them off. 
