494 
■Ghe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Rural New-Yorker 
TUE EVfSiyESS FATlMEn'S PAPER 
A National AVeelily Journal for toiintry anil Suburban lIomcH 
Established tszo 
I'nblbhrd nrrkly by (hr Raral riibliiibinii: Company, 333 West 30th Street, New York 
IlKitBERT W. CoixTXGwooD, Prpfiident anti Editor. 
.Ions’ .1. Dii.ixiN, Trf.'.surer ami General ManiiKer. 
Wm. E. Dii.los', Secretary. Mr-S. E. T. Koyi-e, Aasociate Editor. 
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“ A SQUAUE DEAL” 
NVe believe that every adr'ertisement in this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible [tcison. We use every possible precatition and atlmit the atlvertisiiiK of 
reliable houses only. But to make doubly sure, we will make pood any loss 
to i«ild subscribers .sustained by trustinp any deliberate swindler, irrespon¬ 
sible advertisers or misleading advertisements in our columns, and any 
such swindler will be publicly exposed. We are al.so often called upon 
to adjust differences or mi.stakes between our subscribers and honest, 
responsible houses, whether advertisers or not. SVewillinply use our good 
offices to this end, but such ca.ses should not be confused with dishonest 
transactions. We protect subscribers apainst ropues. but we will not be 
resimnsible 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 to identify it, you should mention The Rubal New- 
Yorker when writing the advertiser. 
particiilar.s this looks like a case of brutal ijrnor* 
ance on the part of someone. When the practice 
of dishorning cattle first .started those who advo¬ 
cated it were hounded and branded as cruel crim- 
inabs. It is now universally practiced. Pomace is 
just as useful a feed as silage, and all through the 
apple districts it is fed in large (juantities, and the 
cattle are fond of it. Its use is an economic neces- 
.sity in .saving a waste. In some cases it is even 
dried and .sold like beet pulp. It was in the ujijier 
Hudson Valley that Rip Van Winkle had his lung 
•sleep. The law, or some of its interpreters, seems 
to be in a similar slumber. 
* 
O H, but we wish some of the old-time farm lead¬ 
ers of half a century ago could have been at 
-Vlbany on March 20 at the “hearing” on the Wicks 
bill! Those old timers did their best for farming, 
but they never had a fair chance before the I^egis- 
lature because they had little backing. Thei’e 
would be perhaps half a dozen of them to speak on 
some important measure, but they made slow pro¬ 
gress because the working farmers could not under¬ 
stand that they must hoe the Legislature like a 
cornfield if they e.xjiect a fair chance. Then came 
the time when few if any ever came to a hearing 
except State emjiloyees or perfuntory “leaders.” (If 
cour.se no real progress could be made, for nothing 
of true justice comes out of the State capital until 
it is .squeezed out by main strength. Perhajis the 
spirit of one of those old pioneers lurked in the 
Senate Chamber on March 20. It saw the room 
Iiacked with peojile, more than half of them actual 
farmers. They did not .say “please” or take off 
their hats like .serfs before their lord, but they 
stood up straight and told their story, and they 
fairly .shook the building with their applause. No 
such scene was ever witnessed at Albany before, 
for at last the farmers of the State have pushed 
past their so-called “leaders” and taken their case 
into their own hands. It was a great occasion. 
The Wicks bill was at bat and it went out on strikes 
—not so much because of legal defects, but becau.se 
the farmers recognize the theory upon which it is 
built, and will have nothing to do with it. 
He 
T he U. S. Supreme Court has .settled the rail¬ 
road controversy by deciding that Congress 
has the power to make a standard for a day’s work 
and wages for railroad men. Last Summer the 
labor organizations repi’esenting railroad men de¬ 
manded Avhat is known as an eight-hour day. This 
meant that on all trains, except passenger, a run of 
100 miles or eight hours or le.ss shall constitute a 
day’s work. If the run is made in eight hours— 
it is a day. If this run requires more than eight 
hours the workman is entitled to payment for the 
overtime required to finish the run. These demands 
were made by the workmen and as C ey were not 
granted a general strike was ordered. To avert a 
strike President Wilson a.sked Congress to pa.ss a 
law fixing the eight-hour day and wages as a legal 
standard for railroad Avorkers. This was done hy 
('ongress in Avhat is known as the Adam.son law. It 
is this laAA" Avhich the Supreme Court has just pas.sed 
on. The law is declared constitutional, so that 
larger powers than ever are given to Congress. It 
is thought that this Avill prevent any future nation¬ 
wide .strike. Looking ahead into the future most 
people will ask Avhat effect this will have on the 
fuller control or even ownership of the railroads by 
the government. Personally Ave think it is a step 
in that direction hy giving these lai’ger poAvers to 
(kmgress. Twenty-four years ago popular opinion 
would never have sanctioned the idea of permitting 
Congress to make a standard for Avork and Avages. 
Modern conditions have made it necessary. The 
I’ailroads are no longer con.sidered as .strictly pri¬ 
vate iiroperty, and Ave noAV expect to see public con¬ 
trol of these iiublic utilities grow stronger until 
finally it develops into partial or complete OAvner- 
ship. 
* 
I AM'.sending you a clipjiing from the Buffalo Ex¬ 
press of this date showing the average attitude of the 
newspapers toward the Crant-Wicks bill in this sec¬ 
tion. Don't they know an.v better, or are they wil¬ 
fully misrepresenting facts'/ All Senators and Repre¬ 
sentatives ought to be compelled to read The R. N.-Y. 
They Avould act differently. uobeht tcrxiiull. 
IIE Buffalo Express prints practically the same 
thing Avhich other papers are usiiyg. A group 
of men Avho are interested in this Wicks bill are 
sending out “literature” from Netv York and Al¬ 
bany to the country papers. Sometimes these papers 
lirint it Avord for Avord—again they change it some- 
Avhat, but leave the old meaning and meanness in. 
good share of the “news and opinion” found in 
the.se papers is provided in this Avay. It is just a 
:.:aiva 31, 1917. 
covert, underhand AA'ay of putting out the schemes 
of interested parties under the disguise of fair 
(qiinion 1 We have often mentioned this, and 
warned our readers not to believe all these plausible 
articles printed in the daily papers. Why do these 
papers do it? Sometimes they are paid for doing 
it. .Sometimes they Avant to cater to city interests 
and "big business.” Sometimes they do not knoAv 
any bettei'. There is only one cure for the prac¬ 
tice. That is education for the.‘<e papers. Farmers 
and country people are the only competent teachers. 
Whenever they see such things printed they .should 
go right in Avith a strong letter of jirotest to the 
editor. Do not bluff or threaten, hut make them 
understand they can haA’e .A’our friend.ship only at 
the jirice of fair treatment for the farmers! They 
may not print your letter, but there are very feAV 
jiajiers in the State that Avill continue such a cour.se 
in the face of a dozen strong letters! No doubt the 
lioliticians at Albany Avould yell “cla.ss legislation” 
if compelled to read The R. N.-Y. They all read 
it. hdAveA'er, and some of their comments Avould not 
look pretty here. Their thoughts are expressed on 
a jirinted card AA^e saAv the other day: “/ couhl he 
(irrested for tvhat I think about you!" 
J** 
T he coming historian Avill ask Avhat Avas the 
most u.seful development in NeAv York agricul¬ 
ture in the early jjart of the tAventieth century. 
We should ansAver at once the use of the farmer’s 
jaAvbone. By that Ave mean the groAA’ing poAver of 
farmers to express their needs by speech or by let¬ 
ter. One of our readers is interested in farm legis¬ 
lation. He Avas told of a certain laAvyer in Central 
NeAv York who had considerable influence Avith the 
agricultural committee. So he Avrote this laAA’yer 
and received the folloAving kindly reply. (No, it 
Avas not our genial friend .Tudge Ward.) 
You have evidently nii.staken your man. I am not 
in favor of any such crazj’ legislation as you propose. 
If it Avere possible to induce Senator Wicks or some 
one else to introduce a measure requiring the fanatics 
be muzzled, I AA’ould certainly favor that, because it 
AA’Ould prevent you from using the only weapon you 
know hoAv to use: The jaAvbone of an ass. 
We learn from .sacred history that great things 
AA-ere done Avith the jaAvbone of an ass! In this 
ca.se the bone seemed to hit a soft spot on a don¬ 
key’s head! It is a common thing for political 
leaders to call everyone Avh?) tries to do things a 
fanatic. Those aa’Iio try to put a muzzle on a gen¬ 
uine reformer Avill usually carry the scars of their 
encounter to their grave. Never before Avere so 
many earnest and persistent men in NeAv York 
Avorking this deadly “jaAvhone.” They talk and 
they Avrite and they think. For many years the 
farmer has Avorked double time Avith the plOAA% the 
spade and the hoe—noAV comes the jaAvbone as an 
effective farm implement. The Bible ^tells us how 
Samson Avas refreshed by Avater from the bone. 
Our farmers are dipping the bone into ink and re¬ 
freshing themselves in that Avay. 
* 
N O man should be permitted to prune an apple 
tree unless he is enough of a botanist to knoAv 
a frpit bud Avhen he .sees it. An ignorant primer 
may do great damage to these buds. He Avill smash 
them off in climbing through the tree or even clip 
them off Avith the Avater sprouts—not kuoAving that 
they carry the coming year’s fruit. A man Avith 
a good and orderly eye may soon get the idea of 
cutting so as to shape the tree properly, but he 
ought to knoAV a fruit hud AAdien he .sees it. And 
yet how many are sure about it? 
Brevities 
The man now most prejudiced against you will be 
your best backer if you can convert him, for he Avill 
carry his strong prejudice to your .side. 
Yeli.oav is not the color of coAvardice but the color 
of butter and every dairyman should be strong enough 
to stand for it. One evidence of doing so is to refu.se 
to buy oleo. 
A BILL before the Ncav York Legislature Avould coin 
pel cat owners to license tjieir pets. It is alluded to 
by farmers as the “tomcat bill” and is not likely to 
pass. / 
Some farmers Avrite that they do not object to a 
high tax for most dogs, but that the useful farm dog 
ought to have a lighter tax. But AA'hat rule would 
they suggest for drawing the line? 
On- page 382 Ave spoke of lime which has been ex¬ 
posed over Winter. Here is a suggestion; “Why did 
you not add a post.script and say ‘use your manure 
spreader, Avith a hood over the beater and drive againHt 
the Avind.’ That knocks the lumps apart and puts the 
lime on evenly, and keeps the driver and horses clean.” 
All Trades! — The Dancing Master 
I N the ranks of The R. N.-Y. family may be found 
men and women of all trades and jirofes.sions. 
Here comes a man of skill on the “light fantastic 
toe”: 
* 
Enclosed find one dollar for renewal, a dollar well 
silent. 1 am a dancing teacher, not a farmer, so it may 
•seem strange for me to sub.scribe. But I enjoy all the 
good things in the paper. Some day 1 .shall change 
(lancing slippers into clogs and go back to nature, .so 
I am getting a few points now from The R. N.-Y. I 
have spent 28 years in a crowded ballroom and long to 
get some fresh aii*. prof, aveiss. 
Buffalo, N. Y. 
A dancing master ought to make a good “kicker” 
at least, and that is a needed reiiuirement for a 
farmer. Prof. Weiss will find the clogs a little 
heavier than the .slipiier.s—but may he succeed in 
yaltzing Avith Nature Avithout stepping on her toes! 
* 
S OME of you can no doubt help us on the fol- 
loAving. Many readers Avant to knoAv of a 
good three-hor.se hitch for Avorking three houses on 
farm Avagons, ploAvs, cultivators and other imple- 
ment.s. We find that a number of farmers Avith a 
mechanical turn of mind have Avorked out this 
problem Avell. Will they describe such hitches for 
us, so we can pass the knoAvledge along? Co¬ 
operative Avisdom is Avhat Ave Avant. 
♦ 
W E have a letter from an old farmer Avho says 
that no man should .seiwe on an agricultural 
committee or make laAvs for farmers unless he 
knoAvs hoAV to run a farm. This farmer says the 
members of the Wicks Committee should each be 
put out on a farm of average size Avith average 
credit and compelled to make a living before they 
undertake to reorganize agriculture! Our sugges¬ 
tion is that the.se gentlemen disguise themselA'es as 
hired men and go out and get a farm job this 
Summer—just on their .shape and strength. Then 
let them come hack and Avork out a bill to benefit 
agriculture after learning their true farm value. 
Such a bill Avould he a wonder, and if it did not 
outdo anything the radicals luiA'e started in North 
Dakota, there is less educational iioAver in a pair 
of OA’eralls than Ave imagine! Our friend Avh'o, on 
the first page this Aveek. says that no one should 
inspect dairy barns unless he has farmed for fiA'e 
years is on the right track. I,ook at it a moment. 
Suppose a body of farmers Avho have had nn prac¬ 
tical experience Avhatever in hiAA', banking or medi¬ 
cine, undertook to make hiAvs to regulate the bu.si- 
ness of laAvyers, bankers and doctors! What a 
hoAvl there Avould be, from Niagara Falls to Mon- 
tauk Point. Yet Avhy should not an intelligent far¬ 
mer be as competent to regulate hiAvyers as an 
average laAvyer is to regulate farmers? But there 
are not enough farmers in the Legislature to make 
up a committee, you say. Well, sir, you have us 
there—or nearly so, and it is the fault of the far¬ 
mers themselves. 
* 
M r. N. W. shores of Catskill. N. Y., is in 
jail under circumstances Avhich should move 
every dairyman in the country to help him. As we 
understand it, Mr. Shores Avas .sentenced to three 
months in jail and a fine of .$50 for cruelty to ani¬ 
mals, the chief count being that he fed apple 
pomace. We take a personal interest in this, be¬ 
cause Ave have advised feeding the pomace, and have 
printed scientific and practical testimony in favor 
of doing so. At the trial the justice admitted tes¬ 
timony to shoAV that pomace Avas fed, but refused 
to admit a letter, telegram and printed testimony to 
shoAv that pomace is a .suitable food. Mr. Shores 
will stay in jail and appeal the case. Without full 
