The RURAL NEW.YORKER 
!0I3 
Replies From Candidates for Governor 
Few of the men who have been suggested so far by 
farmers ns farm candidates for Governor of New 
York State have taken the suggestion seriously. 
Some have voted themselves out. as a personal prefer¬ 
ence. We append a batch of replies: 
FROM PR. L. II. BAILEY 
Your letter of the 5th produces three reactions in my 
mind. 
First. T am in no way a candidate, either permissively 
or receptively. 
Second. I think the prevailing practice of asking can¬ 
didates to state their advance “position” on special 
measures and detail problems is one of the most mis¬ 
taken tendencies in current political procedure, and I am 
glad you have given me an opportunity to say so, wholly 
independently of the present case. This practice be¬ 
comes a means of committing a candidate, or a prospec¬ 
tive public servant, for or against a set of policies that 
may be promoted by a coterie or an organization, and 
may easily tie his hands to policies that will not eventu¬ 
ate in the public interest. Moreover, a man cannot pro¬ 
nounce on many of these governmental problems until he 
has met them. It is not the scientific way to solve any 
question. The solutions do not. lie in opinions expressed 
in advance, but. in investigation and good judgment 
when the situations arise. If there is disease in the 
herd, the farmer does not want an opinion in general: 
he wants examination of his herd and advice as the re¬ 
sult of it. The question is this: Is the man qualified; 
if yes. we leave the treatment with him. In a prospec- 
t ; ve public officer, the questions are these: Is the man 
honest? What is his philosophy of public service? How 
does he react to situations? Is he qualified and com¬ 
petent? If the man is qualified, he take up the prob¬ 
lems when he comes to them, and he does not give an 
opinion until he has gone into the case and understands 
it. It is a common feeling that if a candidate declines 
to state his opinion on a set of questions thrust at him, 
he is afraid of them or tries to straddle; whereas it may 
be the honest caution of a man who wants to know be¬ 
fore he speaks. 
Third, the 12 questions in this case do not appeal to 
me as criteria for the choice of a Governor. The answer¬ 
ing of the questions one way or another by a candidate 
would not determine my vote on his name. As I am not 
in the political field, the problems do not apply to me, 
and the public would not be benefited by my response to 
them at the present juncture. I should not want to 
commit myself to the form of statement of some of the 
questions, wholly aside from expressing my position on 
them. On some of them I should have no hesitation at 
once, except that. I do not care to contribute to the pub¬ 
lic discussion on choice of candidates for nomination. I 
am sure you will appreciate my necessary attitude in 
this situation. l. n. bailey. 
FROM FRANK M. BRADLEY 
I note what you say as to having a farmer for Gov¬ 
ernor. IIow can that be when, as you know, we did not 
have a farmer that was qualified to be chairman of the 
Farms and Markets Council? At least that was the 
ruling of Governor Whitman. If we cannot have a 
farmer for Governor, we perhaps can show the voters of 
this State that it is to their interest to have a man there 
who thoroughly understands the agricultural conditions 
in the State. 
To me the conditions look serious. Farmers are un¬ 
able to get tractors that they bought last Fall. We have 
only one, and also have only one man, besides my son. 
By changing they are able to make a 14-hour day. 
Same conditions apply to most farmers in this section. 
Spray materials are short; we have a carload of lead 
that was shipped out of Jersey City March 31 up to now 
has not been received, and it is the same with all other 
material that the farmers need to do their work with. I 
understand that the coal miners are leaving the mines by 
the hundreds every week. 
It seems to me that it will be impossible under these 
conditions for the farmers to keep up their usual food 
supply, and if the coal and food both are produced in 
less quantity, what are we as consumers to do, with 
strikes and embargoes holding up the shipping of goods, 
housing propositions drawing the farm workers from 
the farms and miners from the mines, and the farmers 
unable to compete with the manufacturers as to wages, 
they being unable to increase prices of their products, 
to take care of the increased cost of production, as the 
manufacturers can? It is necessary for the farmer to 
pay the cost of operation of his plant for six months to 
a year before any of his produce is ready for market, 
with the exception of dairy products, and the manu¬ 
facturer can sell his products day by day or in advance 
of production. 
1 uder these conditions, it would seem that we should 
Lave a Legislature and State officers who know condi¬ 
tions on the farms, or at least men who would take ad¬ 
vice from those who do know those conditions. The 
only other way that I know of would be to have Con¬ 
gress fix a minimum price on all farm products, that 
price high enough so that the farmers may compete with 
all comers as to costs, and thereby assure the consumer 
II 1 a , n adequate supply of food, but that I believe should 
ne the last resort. I believe that the law of supply and 
demand should prevail on all commodities. 
As to the questions, would say that I approve of them 
all down to No. 10. and that Nos. 2 and 3. if properly 
worked out. would give an opportunity to work out Nos. 
W.11 and 12. 
. * am opposed to the State going into business except 
H' an advisory way. I do not know very much about 
ie milk business, but should think that some of the 
armors could co-operate and deliver their own milk, 
nis is being done in Loekport. Their only trouble 
• corns to be that the consumer does not seem to want to 
'V th the farmers, and prefers to buy of the 
r,f a iwi 1 , ia f )s in time it may work out to the benefit 
noth producer and consumer. f. m. bhadley. 
FROM SILAS L. STRIVINGS 
I have 
now,™ y°ur series of printed questions sent out to 
ons supposed to be candidates for Governor, though 
tb/.n<li l ,r s, e ni,) ^, on 11 flattery to me. as I have not 
e«t« * ° f *. nc] ? a< ‘fi° u : yet my sincere love for the inter- 
ftuan i ) i KI 1011 *ure and desire to see its best interests 
' ■ anyone who may come to the honor you pro- 
i ■ J’ 1 on 'Pts me to reply to the inquiries. 
• *Lv attitude on daylight saving at the public hear¬ 
ing at Albany, when we asked that the Legislature re¬ 
peal this useless and silly legislation, is ample proof of 
my belief that this law was unnecessary and menaces 
the best interest of farmers as well as others. 
2. It would be presumptuous for me to assume a com¬ 
plete knowledge of the agricultural laws of the State, 
but that clear and fair legislation and codification of 
such laws would be wise, appears plain. 
3. It is and has been my belief that all power should 
be kept as close as possible to the people, and it may be 
that the election of the heads of the two divisions of the 
Department of Farms and Markets would be more wise¬ 
ly placed with the people directly, though upon my own 
part I am inclined to favor one head and subordinates 
for the positions, rather than the present arrangement 
of a co-ordinate responsibility. 
4. Without doubt this proposes one of the live topics 
for consideration, and its solution fairly demands action 
upon the part of farmers, city men. sportsmen, and all 
lovers of wild life. It is an apparent, injustice to ask 
a farmer to post his farm to keep off non-owners who 
trespass for shooting, as much as it would be to ask the 
merchant to post his store. 
5. In an address at Cornell University during Farm¬ 
ers’ Week I recommended the formation of a Committee 
of Twenty-one to study and propose a constructive plan 
for our rural schools. This committee met the past week 
in Syracuse and elected as chairman, Prof. Geo. A. 
Works of the Department of Rural Hdueation. of Ithaca, 
and will enter upon a thorough study of the needs of the 
system. It is one of our crying needs, and I favor a bet¬ 
ter support of schools from State and local funds. 
0. The food situation is so acute that with the help 
shortage we must make plans for more truck use. To do 
this the feeders to the market roads must be built before 
more money is spent upon pleasure roads. 
7. The right of collective bargaining is as fundamen¬ 
tally right for the.farmers and laborers as for industry. 
Big business uses it and has for years. 
S. Last year I wrote for the National Grange Month- 
lit’ Springfield, Mass., an article, “Can Agriculture Live 
as an Industry?” which will give fully my views upon 
this matter. 
9. Some constructive program seems possible for the 
Foods ami Markets Division along the lines of a closer 
co-operation and touch between our producing areas and 
the city consumers. Certain it is that the interests of 
all our people warrant a most careful study of the 
whole question and an earnest attempt to solve a prob¬ 
lem growing more and more acute. 
10. This question seems to me to be rather intimately 
associated with No. 9 and to form a part of a State-wide 
program in the interest of all the people without regard 
to intrenched interests which rob the people by too 
costly a system of intermediary exchange. Such a pro¬ 
gram would at once challenge the co-operation of real 
friends of honest dealing and clear, fair methods of doing 
business. 
11. In carrying out the program suggested in the two 
foregoing questions, warehouses and city terminals and 
distributing facilities would probably be required, and it 
seems might well be regarded as coming within the scope 
of any comprehensive plan to give service. The methods 
by which this might be accomplished are a matter of de¬ 
tail, but would probably come by co-operation between 
city and State. 
12. The distribution of a food necessity upon the part 
of the State as such would be unique even in an experi¬ 
mental form, though it might have merit. It is agreed 
that the cost of distribution is altogether too much. It 
may be that this is not enriching anyone unduly, but 
that does not correct the evil. You are absolutely right 
that some better and more equitable method must be 
found. To find that it costs more to distribute a manu¬ 
factured article after it is made than the original cost of 
manufacture, especially when such manufacturing is 
costly and complex, is unthinkable. 
I sincerely hope that our State may find among our 
citizenship a true friend of the commonwealth whose vis¬ 
ion is broad enough and whose justice is sufficient to see 
that agriculture is our first and fundamental industry, 
and that its preservation in prosperity is essential to 
the safety of the State. s. L. strivings. 
The Shepherd of Karakul Sheep 
The following item is from the Syracuse Journal: 
The American Karakul Fur Sheep Company. Inc., of 
Syracuse, which was recently forced into bankruptcy by 
creditors, filed its schedules today, showing liabilities of 
more than $106,509 and assets of $55,696. The sched¬ 
ules were signed by Frank B. Dawley, president and 
treasurer, aud filed through Attorney Thomas K. 
Smith. Unsecured claims are $95,46S. Liabilities do 
not include a suit brought by James Forsythe of Oswego 
for $S4.700, disputed by the bankrupt. The principal 
items of assets are real estate, $24,000, aud sheep aud 
other animals, $23,629. 
The compauy has a claim against the State for $16,- 
0S5. for sheep killed by dogs which the State offers to 
settle for $1,621. The Rome Savings Bank is secured 
by mortgage for $3.000; Levi S. Chapman for $2,000, 
and Mary Cahill for $2,000. both <>f Syracuse. Other 
Syracuse creditors include Thomas K. Smith, $5,000. 
F. E. Dawley. president, claims $70,552 for feed and 
moneys advanced, and Helen Dawley $500 for care of 
silver foxes. Other Fayetteville creditors include F. I*. 
Erkenbeck. $5,000; Wilbur Jones, $2,000; M. II. Lewie 
& Co.. $4,463. 
This company was launched a few years ago, as 
one correspondent puts it, to make millionaires of 
everyone who invested in its stock. The Rural New- 
Yorker was criticized at the time for failure to boost 
the enterprise and encourage farmers to subscribe 
for the stock. 
For some time back F. E. Dawley. who promoted 
this scheme, and who was forced some years back to 
resign a position in the Agricultural Department 
after lie was e\ pel led from the American Jersey Cat¬ 
tle ('lub on charges of having sold grade cattle under 
bogus certificates of registration, has again been 
taken back into the department, where he passes on 
sheep claims, lie succeeded in having one claim for 
Karakul sheep losses passed in the department and 
paid by the State. This was for grade sheep at about 
$250 each. It was passed and paid without the 
knowledge of Commissioner Wilson. The precedent 
for grade Karakul sheep established at $250, the ar¬ 
gument was made that the new claim for $16,085 for 
damages and death of registered sheep was about 
right. When Charles 8. Wieting was Commissioner 
of Agriculture Frank E. Dawley was Director of 
- Farm Institutes. His resignation was demanded by 
Charles E. Hughes after the exposure of his transac¬ 
tions by the Jersey Cattle Club. When Charles A. 
Wieting and Charles H. Betts again came in virtual 
control of the Agricultural Department, under the 
Council of Farms and Markets, Mr. Dawley returned, 
and has now developed this scandal in the Agricul¬ 
tural Department of the State. 
June Prices for Milk 
The price of milk for June has not been made as 
we go to press, but every indication is that it will be 
more than the April and May prices. The supply is 
fully 10 per cent less than this time last year. 
Dealers are beginning to look for new supplies. 
Butter prices are high and firm. The same is true 
of cheese, and foreign demand for condensed milk is 
stronger and prices are increased. The demand for 
cream is good and growing. The low price for the 
past two months has led to reduced production. 
Many dairymen stopped heavy feeding and others 
sold cows. The result is already apparent in a 10- 
per-cent reduction below last year’s city supplies. 
The situation is right for a good June price. The 
dealers admitted that the April and May prices did 
not cover cost of production, but insisted that mar¬ 
ket conditions justified it. If so, the rule should 
work both ways, and" on that basis present market 
conditions would justify a price above the cost of 
production for June. 
Save Farm Loan System 
The fact that the Supreme Court failed to decide the 
tax-exemption of Federal Farm Loan bond case, will 
mean a death blow to thousands of farmers and a hard¬ 
ship to many more, who depended upon the Farm Loan 
system for money to do business this season. It is abso¬ 
lutely essential that an emergency bill be passed by Con¬ 
gress, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to pur¬ 
chase $200,000,000 worth of Farm Loan Bonds this sea¬ 
son ; that this bill be rushed through in time for use thi 9 
season in meeting obligations. Everyone interested in 
the welfare of agriculture should write his Senator and 
Congressman immediately about this; every farm organ¬ 
ization should take action—otherwise a blighting blow 
that will take years to overcome may be struck our 
farmers. 
Congress has been fiddling for months about ancient 
history and permitting the farmer to saw wood as he 
might—or not. It has brought up and considered half- 
baked ideas about helping our ex-service men to own 
farms (down in the sloppy, swampy, desolate South), 
while the ex-soldiers have been selecting for themselves 
productive farms, and seeking loans through the Land 
Banks with which to purchase these. Hundreds of these 
ex-service men will lose their farms unless help is given, 
along with the thousands of farmers. Here is a typical 
letter from a service man : 
“The loan which we applied for should be granted be- 
tore the first of July this year or we are liable to lose 
our place, together with all of our improvements and 
crops. An additional 4.62 acres was purchased this 
Spring with the anticipation that we would secure the 
loan applied for. If this is not secured our strawberry 
and onion crop will hardly suffice to carry us through 
the year and make the payments ou the purchase price 
of the laud. I am an overseas man and was twice 
wounded in action, with the result that I am fit only for 
farm work. My parents are too old to undertake a new 
start in life, so that the crisis we are facing is very se¬ 
rious to us.” 
An ex-service man seeks a loan through our Farm 
Loan Association with which to purchase a tractor with 
which to replace the hired men who cannot be secured, 
and thus use to advantage the training he received in the 
army to aid his father in carrying on the food produc¬ 
tion campaign. Unless this ex-service man is granted 
his loan quickly his notes will mature on the tractor and 
he will be up against it. 
These are only two instances of ’hundreds that could 
be mentioned. Can Congressmen and Senators continue 
to talk about politics and pass $245.000,(XX) appropria¬ 
tions to improve (?) harbors aud rivers, build post- 
offices for Bingville, aud provide pork for peanut poli¬ 
ticians, when they know that the men who willingly 
went to the front to save this nation face a severe crisis? 
Can they continue their tommyrot in the knowledge that 
thousands of struggling farmers of this country face 
bankruptcy because they enacted an act that was liable 
to misconception and Supreme Court cases holding the 
entire Farm Loan system up for months? Yes. Congress 
its just about equal to doing these things, but it is for you 
and me to sling some ink onto paper aud fire it at Wash¬ 
ington. and stop this nonsense while our essential indus¬ 
try is facing ruin. Write now. EARLE w. GAGE. 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 
