annual report—Convention. 
83 
to the control of its industries, we are at once brought face to face 
with various questions of political economy and of social and gov¬ 
ernmental science. How far may legislation wisely go in its efforts 
to solve the difficult and ever-present problem of the transporta¬ 
tion of produce at fair and equal rates? What shall be the limit 
of class legislation, or shall it be indulged in at all ? To what 
degree would industrial legislation be improved by increas¬ 
ing the number of farmers in our legislative bodies, and how 
far would it be wise for farmers to work together to this 
end ? These are all questions as to the value of associated 
effort in the interests of agriculture, but to decide them aright 
would require more study and more philosophy than I have been 
able to bring to bear upon them. The problem is not demon¬ 
strated to the entire satisfaction of all, whether the order known 
as the “ Patrons of Husbandrv ” has its foundation in a true social 
1/ 
philosophy. Its existence, however, is evidence of the fact that 
the great farming community of the United States feel the need 
of understanding each other better, and of co-opcratingto secure a 
more rapid improvement of their condition as an industrial class. 
It is a hopeful sign, that farmers are beginning to realize that their 
condition, absolute and relative, is not what it should be, and in 
attempting to cure the evils which are felt to exist, many worth¬ 
less and some vicious remedies will no doubt be at times applied. 
Of one thing bearing upon this general subject I am perfectly cer¬ 
tain, that no plan for making the great body of the farmers of 
Wisconsin, and of the whole country, practically wise and influ¬ 
ential, can compare with the great scheme of popular, industrial 
education. Knowledge is power. 
The true method, then, is to augment the man, and not the cir- 
cumstahces that surround him. Education develops the power to 
control circumstances, and “ when you secure causes, you secure . 
effects also.” Education develops men and trains them. The 
development and training of the whole man then, is the greatest 
boon that can be conferred upon us, and farmers must become 
more intelligent if they would realize their dreams of social re¬ 
sponsibility, much more if they would aspire to social and politi¬ 
cal supremacy. To this end there is little danger of bringing to 
bear too much of associated effort Let it be borne in mind that 
