Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1903 — FARMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS.

Twenty - Third Aanad Meeting la Held at Niagara Falls. The farmeis* national congress assembled at Niagara Falls in twenty-third annual session, being called to order by President Flanders of Albany. Gov. Odell delivered an address of welcome. About 300 delegates representing thir-ty-eight States Were present. Reciprocity treaties, good roads, labor questions and the ownership of public utilities were among the subjects discussed. Major D. G. Purse of Savannah, Ga.,“ gave an address on “The Sugar Supply of the United Stater.” Major Purse declared that sugar is the only product of the soil which is largely used that makes the United States debtor to foreign lands for supply. He believed this big deficiency could be made up by fostering both cane and beet sugar growing. At present the United States uses 2,275,746 long tons of sugar yearly, of which but 500,000 tons sre In the general discussion which followed all the delegates agreed that the United States would ultimately produce all the sugar it uses. Timothy L. Woodruff addressed the afternoon session of the congress on agricultural conditions in the insular possessions of the United States. Secretary Cortelyou of the Department Of Labor and Commerce explained the purposes of the new department to the farmers. At the evening session O. P. Austin, chief of the .bureau of statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor, gave an address on “Farm Products in the Markets of the World.” Mr. Austin stated that from 1870 to 1900 the population has increased 100 per cent, and agricultural that the increase in the number of people engaged in agricultural work has been only 75 per cent. Of wheat, the United States produced 49 per cent of the world’s production, against 37.9 per cent in 1875. The United States also produces three-fourths of the world’s corn, threefourths of the world’s cotton and 40 per cent of the provisions used in international commerce. The farmers’ congress passed mild resolutions on the question of trusts. The congress adopted this resolution and others as follows: Favoring an agricultural census every five years instead of ten. Favoring the admission of Oklahoma on the ground that its agricultural interests are of sufficient importance to demand admission. Asking Congress to 'establish postal savings banks aud parcels posts. Requesting the States to pay the expenses of delegates to the meetings of the' congress hereafter. Recommending farmers to give more attention to the Referendum movement, but goes no further. Requesting Congress to submit an amendment to the Constitution for a graduated income tax. The congress accepted*an invitation from the National Civic Federation to send Representatives to the industrial conference to be held in Chicago Oct. 15 to 17.