Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1891 — FARMERS IN COUNCIL. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

ELEVENTH NATIONAL CONGRESS AT SEOALIA. / Thirty State* Represented—Agriculturist* Need Cheaper Transportation Water Courses and Country Roads Should Be Extensively Improved. Welcomed to Sedalla. The eleventh annual version of the National Farmers’ Congress met in Sedalia, Mo. There could be no mistake in the character of the assembly. Woods’ Opera House, the place of meeting, was handsomely decorated with various agricultural products, shcavesof grain, immense stalks of corn, pumpkins like barrels, and cars of corn as big as one’s atm There were 200 delegates present, representing thirty different States. On the platform, says a Sedalia dispatch, were seated Governor Francis, of Missouri; Vice President A. VV. Smith, of Kansas; Secretary B. F. Clayton, of Iowa; the Hon. Frank B. Meyer, President of the Commerc'al Club of Sedalia; Col. Daniel Iseedham, of Boston, President of the New England Agricultural Society; Senator. John 1 atterson and W. D. Kent of Iowa; the Hon. A. Pope Yeaman, of Missouri, and others. Secretary Clayton cal ed tho congress to order, and stated that he had received word from President Kalb, of Montgomery, Ala., that it would be impossible for him to attend. In his absence Vice President A. W. Smith, of Kansas, presided. He was presented with a phenomenally large ear of corn, to be used as a gavel. After prayer, Gov. Francis delivered the address of welcome in behalf of the State. After bidding the delegates welcome hr said it was eminently proper that the men who represented the greater interest in the nation should meet and discuss the best methods to promote their interests. Farmers had grievances. There was no doubt of that, and it was proper that they should meet and devise means to correct them. Class legislation, he continued, had been one potent cause of the depression Of agricultural interests. This depression has been of long continuance, and it was time now that the farmer was given recognition in the councils of the nation. There wore two great questions, the proper solution of which would tend to ameliorate the farmers’ condition. Ouo was the improvement of the great water courses, which wou'd iurnish cheap transportation for farm products. The Missouri River could be improved at a cost of $20,000,000. The .other question was the improvement of the country toads, which would furnish good transportation for the small farmers to their nearest markets. Vice President A. W, Smith responded to the address of welcome. He agreed with the Governor that the great water courses of the country should be improved both in tne interests of the farmer, the manufacturer and the merchant. Twenty million dollars was a small enough amount to be devoted to the improvement of a big river. The agricultural Interest was the greatest interest of the nation, and legislation. Tho affairs of the nation could and should be administered without any clashing of the interests of the fa mer and of the manufacturer.