162 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
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and fit it for the abode of a higher type of mankind. Only a 
farmer—labor undignified—tilling the soil degrading! If the 
farmers of the United States were organized, as those engaged in 
other pursuits are, from the farmers’ club to a national organiza¬ 
tion, with sure and reliable information, each with the other, as I 
hope some day to see them; if they would read and think, ob¬ 
serve, discuss, experiment and combine, as men in other branches 
of business who are successful do ; if they would elevate to places 
of public trust men of integrity, ability, and of power; men who 
are competent to represent this great industrial constituency in the 
county office, or the state or national legislature ; men who know 
our wants, and knowing, dare to and have the ability to maintain 
them, we would hear no more talk or expressions of that kind, 
except from those troubled with a softening of the brain, or some 
other mental disease equally alarming. My brother farmers, our 
numbers—to say nothing of our high and noble calling—should 
command respect. What we want is that associated and combined 
effort which gives power. 
We want education, and right here let me say that had I the 
power, I would have every child in the land receive at least a 
common school education, if possessed of sufficient mental and 
physical capacity to attain it. I think no greater duty devolves 
upon society than to see that all have an education. The state, in 
the enactment of laws for the support of common schools, takes 
this ground, but it only goes half wav, by saying that Mr. A. shall 
pay, according to the valuation of his property, for the education 
of Mr. B.’s child ; but it stops there, and does not say that Mr. B. 
shall send his child to school to receive the benefit, as in my judg¬ 
ment it should do. We want unity of action and purpose ; we 
want to command the situation and not forever be “ hewers of 
wood and drawers of water” for others. We want by concentrated 
effort to say something about the price of what we sell and what 
we buy. Uow we do neither; but the signs of the times are 
hopeful. I see a growing feeling among the farmers and producers 
of the state to organize and combine so as to stimulate and promote 
their general welfare and the public good. Farmers’ clubs, county 
agricultural societies, and other industrial associations, are organ¬ 
izing all over the state. Some of the former are holding weekly 
