to the hill; whereas the good farmer often grows on no better land
originally two pounds per hill of three stalks, and three pounds are
possible. We grow fourteen bushels of wheat per acre (this year but
twelve and a half), while on land no better naturally, and often not
so good, England grows thirty-two and Germany twenty-eight bushels. We
are now passing through a stage through which English farmers passed
when they grew but twelve and a half bushels of wheat per acre. The new
agriculture has lifted the English and the Danish farmer out of the rut.
It will lift us when we begin to use our brains. Before this Congress
adjourns we will have some illuminating discourses on this branch of the
subject, addresses by men of national reputation, who have devoted their
lives to some particular phase of the problem of conserving and restoring
soil fertility. I would not, even if I could, anticipate what they will
say and say so well.
The farmer complains that he cannot employ labor necessary to grow full
crops on his land, and therefore that he cannot now engage in intensive
farming. There is just ground for his complaint. The factory, the store,
the railroad, the trolley line outbid him for the labor, even that which
is farm born and farm bred. He cannot use the cheap labor of Southern
Europe, nor the hobo or tramp, nor the ne’er-do-well of the city, because
the farm with its improved machinery and its live stock requires skilled
labor, and a kind of skill that can be acquired only on the farm. He can
use Russian and the Japanese in the beet fields. He can use the emigrant
from Southern Europe in the vegetable garden, in digging ditches or
making roads; but he cannot use this labor in modern farming operations.
He dare not employ an unskilled man in milking, nor in feeding his
cattle, nor entrust to his care the management of either improved
machinery or team.
BOYS AND GIRLS AND THE FARM.
Therefore the very root and kernel of our modern farm problem is how to
retain on the farm all the boys and girls born there, who are fit to be
farmers or farmers’ wives. This can be done only by making farm life
worth living. Making money or owning a farm is not all of farm life. We
have but one life to live on this earth, and we should get out of it all
that is possible. In many sections in the country, with bad roads, poor
schools, poor churches and no social life, farm life is not worth living.
That proof of this is seen in the fact that farm boys and girls flee from
it, and the farmer himself, as soon as he thinks he is able to live in
town.
The farmer himself is to blame for much of this. He has played on the
roads under pretense of working them. He has hired the school teacher at
the lowest wage and starved the preacher. He has accepted the town ideal
of life, regarding himself as “only a farmer.” His school has not been a
rural school at all, but a poor kind of city school moved out into the
country; and its teacher gaining at his expense the years of experience,
while teaching farm children in terms of the town instead of the farm and
in the spirit of the farm, that will enable her to get a position in the
city. His preacher has been hoping he would get a call to a city church.
If the farmer has got on in the world, his wife, if she is very foolish
indeed, is inclined to boast that her society is not in the country, but
the town. He allows the politician in the city to fix up a slate and tell
him how he must vote.
All that is needed to convert the farmers of the West into peasants
is to continue this policy for another generation. Fortunately this
policy will not continue. All over the country there is the beginning
of a great social and industrial awakening. The farmer is beginning to
“magnify his office,” to cut loose from partisan bias, to do his own
thinking and act for himself. He is paying better salaries to his school
teachers, and insisting that the teaching have some relation to the
life of the farm. He is buying his own automobiles, and paying cash for
them. He is beginning to realize that farm life is essentially different
from the life of the town. The man who steps high because accustomed
to walking over clods and has the far away look of one who studies the
clouds, is a different type of man altogether from the man who glides
along the pavement and to whom the weather is a matter of little or no
immediate concern. The man who glances over the headlines of his daily
paper while he sips his coffee is a different character from the man who
reads and studies the editorial of his weekly paper. This farmer’s wife
is now organizing her own clubs and giving her town sisters lessons in
club work. The movement to organize life clubs is spreading. The boys
and girls are organizing for games. The country church is beginning to
realize its mission, and in several states country preachers are taking
short courses in agricultural colleges in order that they may teach
morals and religion to farmers in terms of their daily life.
The conservation of the life of the farmer, using the word in its
broadest sense, is essential to the conservation of the fertility of
the soil; and for that reason the executive committee of this Congress
has invited some of the leaders, men whose hearts are in this work, to
discuss before you its various phases. You have a real treat before you.
In conclusion, permit me to say that the ultimate prosperity of the
city, its ability to govern itself wisely and well, depend on the
development of rural manhood. More than that, the very permanence of our
republic will depend on the development of the manhood of the farm. Rome
ceased to be a republic shortly after the farmers moved to town and left
their lands to be tilled by mere hirelings and slaves.
We keep the best wine to the last always, and the last address of this
morning will be a response by Hon. J. B. White, of Kansas City, chairman
of the executive committee of the National Conservation Congress. Mr.
White. (Applause)
Mr. WHITE—Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of this Congress: It is not
necessary that I should reply to the address of welcome, the ground has
been so fully covered by the President of this Association. I feel like
endorsing from my heart everything he has said, but as a matter of form,
because it is expected that the chairman of the executive committee will
have something to say, I want to join as a private citizen of Kansas
City in welcoming the farmers and the conservationists of the entire
country here today, and as the chairman of the executive committee I want
to thank the good people of Kansas City for the admirable and perfect
preparation that they have made. I want to thank the board of local
managers. I want to thank the Secretary of the Commercial Club, Secretary
Clendening, personally, and the organization of which he is the main
worker. I want to thank him for the great work which they have done in
making this Conservation Congress possible. The Commercial Club of Kansas
City has been well spoken of as the eye and the ear of the people of
Kansas City, and it is truly so.
Now, this Conservation Congress was called here because it was thought
there ought to be special attention given to conservation of farms—to
the conservation of soil. And it was thought that Kansas City was in the
center of the greatest agricultural district in the world. I suppose,
going two hundred miles in either direction from Kansas City, another
piece of ground naturally so fertile is not to be found in the world.
It takes in a part of Iowa, and it takes in the State of Kansas, a
large part of it, and nowhere is there a better. If it were formed
into one state it would be the greatest state agriculturally in the
world. I am a farmer and a lumberman, and there was a time not long ago
when conservation was thought to apply only to forestry, and that the
lumberman was the great and ruthless destroyer of the forest. It was a
matter of sentiment that went all over the country, and they thought
conservation ought to begin by saving the trees. Now, we have passed
beyond that. The lumbermen of the State of Missouri paid thousands of
dollars to help endow a chair of Forestry in Yale College. I see before
me one gentleman here who paid $4,000 toward that cause, and my company
has paid a great deal of money towards a chair of Forestry, and we have
done everything that we could. We invited the students of forestry of
Yale College into our forests. One season I had forty for two or three
months, and thirty-five for another season in my forests. We built them
cabins and furnished them men and horses, and everything we could do to
help them study forest conditions was done. We began it in Missouri over
twenty years ago, and later, as lumbermen, we have taken the greatest
interest in practical forestry and the conservation of the forest, but
we found it true that conservation of the soil must come first, because
it is of the greater importance. There are substitutes for wood for the
purpose of shelter, but there are no substitutes for food, and he that
make two blades of grass grow where one grew before is doing his utmost
for this and future generations. I notice that my friend, Mr. Wallace,
touched on politics. Now, I am not certain whether it was politics,
because the line drawn is so fine. It is so hard to draw a line between
conservation economics and real good politics. I remember I got my foot
into it one time; I used to belong to the Grange—thirty-five years
ago. In order to organize a grange you have to have at least fifteen
members, and four of them must be women, because it was supposed that
in any like proportion, four women to eleven men, gives the women the
majority, and wherever four women, or of that proportion, get into a
convention they are always in the majority. I got up, under the good of
the order, addressed the master of the Grange, and began to tell how
I thought benefit might accrue to the members of the Grange. I stated
some of the benefits that we were then enjoying; that we had 6 cents a
pound protection on lumber, and 6 cents a pound protection on cheese,
$4.00 a ton on hay, and $1.50 protection on straw, and 15 cents a pound
protection on butter. And then I had a complaint, because just then they
had taken the tariff off of lumber, and I said, “I own a saw mill and
I don’t think it is fair to let in lumber free.” (They did it at that
time, back in 1878.) One sister got up and replied, “We can stand 6 cents
a pound on butter, and 6 cents a pound on cheese, and $4.00 a ton on
hay, and 15 cents a bushel on potatoes, but, Good Lord, we ought to have
something free, and I think it ought to be lumber.” And they ruled I was
talking politics and I could not go any farther. That was the situation.
It summed up a good deal like this, that we want protection on everything
we produce, and we want everything to come in free that we have to buy,
and I think that is good economics. That would not be politics.
Brother Wallace sees a great deal of good in everything, and he can
draw his lesson and illustration to prove conclusively any point he
entertains. I found that out. Why, I did not know that Samson was a saint
until I attended a church here in Kansas City four weeks ago yesterday,
and I listened to one of the best sermons I ever heard. It was shown
conclusively that Samson was a saint, and that it was so recorded in the
Scriptures. There were good reasons for his being a saint; the chief of
these reasons was that he was the best material they had at that time to
make saints of. My friend, Uncle Henry Wallace, delivered that sermon,
and it is the only sermon that I ever heard where politics and religion
were not touched upon at all. And I am sure that he will preside at this
Congress with that same justice; that there will be no complaint that
there has been any offensive politics entertained upon the floor. I want
to thank you again that you are here. And I want to say before I sit
down, that a session of the executive committee, of which I am chairman,
will meet at room 1111 Long Building tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock. We
will get here at 10 o’clock, having an hour to confer and pass some
important resolutions and make some suggestions as to matters that will
be presented to this Congress. (Applause)
President WALLACE—Please be seated just a moment. I wish to announce the
appointment of the following committee on credentials: Prof. George E.
Condra, of Nebraska; Dr. H. E. Barnard, of Indiana; Mr. Ralph H. Faxon,
of Kansas; Mr. E. T. Allen, of Oregon, and Mr. W. E. Barnes, of Missouri.
Col. John I. Martin, of St. Louis, representing the City of St. Louis,
Lakes-to-the-Gulf-Deepwaterway Association, and the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress, has been selected as the sergeant-at-arms for this
Conservation Congress. He has accepted the office and is now in charge
of its affairs, and you will do just what he says, and do it with great
pleasure, and with great profit to yourselves.
The secretary has some announcements to make. Before he makes them let me
say that the meeting this afternoon will be at 2 o’clock, which is sixty
minutes past one and sixty minutes before three. This afternoon’s meeting
will be a conference of governors of states and their representatives,
and the presiding officer will be Honorable Herbert S. Hadley, and
tonight we shall hear the President of the United States. (Applause)
Secretary SHIPP—All delegates or committees that have any announcements
to make are requested to send them in writing to the secretary, so that
they can be read from the platform, and posted at the information bureau.
The delegates from each state are requested to meet immediately upon the
adjournment of the morning session, and organize by selecting from each
state delegation a chairman and secretary, and a member of the committee
on resolutions, and a vice-president to represent the state at the next
Conservation Congress. The names of those selected should be handed
in writing to the secretary at registration headquarters at the south
entrance of the hall, or on the platform.
All state conservation commissions, and other state conservation
organizations that have reports to make to the Congress, are requested
to be ready to report this afternoon. The reports will be made as the
roll of the states is called. In view of the number of reports to be
presented, it is suggested that no report be more than ten minutes in
length.
The delegates from all national organizations represented at the Congress
are requested to assemble at some time during the day and organize by the
selection of a chairman and a secretary, and choose a representative for
membership on the proposed advisatory board of the Congress. If only one
representative of a national organization is present, that representative
should send in his name to the secretary.
Reports from national organizations are to be the first order of business
Tuesday forenoon. In order that proper provision may be made for these
reports all national organizations that have reports are requested to
notify the secretary, either at registration headquarters, or on the
platform, giving the name and address of the representative who is to
make the report.
All delegates or committees that have announcements to make are requested
to send them in writing to the secretary so that they may be made from
the platform, and posted on the bulletin board at the information bureau.
President WALLACE—I forgot to mention one of the greatest features of
this afternoon will be an address by the Honorable Ben B. Lindsay, of
Denver, Colorado, on the “Country Child versus the City Child.”
Recording Secretary GIPE—The chapters of the Daughters of the American
Revolution of Kansas City will give a reception in honor of Mrs. Matthew
T. Scott, president general and the vice-president, from four to six this
afternoon at the Coates House. All visiting and resident Daughters of the
American Revolution are invited.
The club women of Kansas City have established a rest room within the
convention building, to which all women delegates and visitors are
cordially invited.
Delegate J. T. BAUMGARTNER (of California)—In addition to the
announcements that have been made, I wish to ask the California delegates
to meet at the Standard immediately upon adjournment.
President WALLACE—The Congress is now adjourned to meet at this place at
2 o’clock this afternoon.
_SECOND SESSION._
At 2 o’clock in the afternoon President Wallace called the Congress to
order.
President WALLACE—The Congress will come to order, and the Divine
blessing will be invoked by Rev. Dr. R. M. Kerr, pastor First United
Presbyterian church of Kansas City.
INVOCATION.
_Our Father and our God, we pause at the opening of this
meeting this afternoon to ask Thy blessing upon the National
Conservation Congress in this and its other sessions, in all
of its undertakings. We are asking of Thee the wisdom that
is beyond the mind of man, and we come only to Thee. We are
dealing with affairs of national interest and import, and we
dare not come to any one but Thee, because we believe that
in Thy power this land has been made, and in Thy Providence
it has been discovered. And that our forefathers in Thy fear
have established a nation which has often realized Thy signal
blessing. We would recognize Thee as the God, and the giver
of every good and perfect gift. Thou hast locked up in the
mountains, hidden away in the soil of this country those
elements that have made possible our material welfare and
prosperity. We ask Thee this afternoon that Thou wilt grant
unto the officers of this Congress, unto these its delegates
and all of the people in this land interested in these problems
the wisdom that will rightly enable us to appreciate Thy gifts,
and rightly conserve them, to use them for the greatest good of
the greatest number concerned. And we ask for Thy blessing to
be upon our President, and his cabinet; upon the legislative
bodies, state and national, upon all the courts of this land,
that as the people of this country through these officers are
striving to enact and execute just laws, they may do so in Thy
fear, and that the righteousness of a Christian civilization
may become more and more a reality. We would pray today that
Thy material blessings to us have chief value in relation to
human life and human deeds, and human development, and may the
conservation movement that is on foot in this country always
be broad enough and high enough to include the conservation of
human life, the integrity of manhood, the virtue of womanhood,
and the beauty and the innocence and the true worth of child
life. We believe that these blessings will mean the highest
good to our beloved country, and mean the advancement of Thy
kingdom here in this earth, and we ask these favors through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen._
President WALLACE—I take great pleasure, Ladies and Gentlemen, in
announcing Governor Hadley of Missouri as the presiding officer this
afternoon. Governor Hadley. (Applause)
Governor HADLEY—Mr. Chairman and Members Of the Congress: I was selected
to preside this afternoon in the expectation that this afternoon would
be distinguished by a conference of governors. I say distinguished
advisedly, because nowadays when governors confer there is distinction
to be passed around on all present, and some for others. However,
there were a number of governors here yesterday who were unexpectedly
called out of the city, but who will return during the sessions of the
Congress. There are some who will be present who have not yet arrived,
and consequently it has been decided by the officers in charge of this
Congress that upon this afternoon prior to the address of Judge Lindsay,
there will be a call of the states, upon which call the representatives
of the various states who are here, other than the governors, will speak
for a few moments in reference to the general question of conservation
in their respective states, and the conference of the governors will be
held later. After this call of the states you will have the pleasure,
I understand, of listening to the address by Judge Lindsay. In calling
for the representatives of the several states, those who are here
representing the governor, or those who may have been selected by the
delegates from any one of the states to speak in reference to the
situation in their state relating to the general policy of conservation
will arise, and either speak from the floor, or come forward to the
platform. The representatives of the press, whose requests are always
entitled to consideration, if not to be followed, request that the
representatives come forward so that their names and their remarks can
both be heard and preserved. I will now ask the secretary to proceed with
the call of the roll.
Recording Secretary GIPE—Alabama. Is there a representative from Alabama
present? (No response) Arizona. (No response) Arkansas. (No response)
California.
Chairman HADLEY—Mr. J. C. Baumgartner of the State of California will
speak for that state.
[Mr. Baumgartner’s speech will be found in the supplementary proceedings
at back of book.]
Chairman HADLEY—I am certain we are all glad to know that though
California may be a little short upon water, it is not short on good
society, the possibility of good development. The secretary will proceed
with the call of the states. The secretary calls my attention to the
fact that the number of the states makes it necessary to somewhat limit
the statements from each, and they will be limited to five minutes. The
chairman, however, has a slow watch, so govern yourselves accordingly.
Recording Secretary GIPE—The next state on the roll is Colorado.
Chairman HADLEY—Is the State of Colorado represented here?
Recording Secretary GIPE—Connecticut. (No response) Delaware. (No
response) District of Columbia. (No response) Florida.
Chairman HADLEY—Is the representative of the State of Florida in the
hall? Go ahead.
Recording Secretary GIPE—Georgia.
Professor E. L. WORSHAM, of Georgia—I am not the speaking representative
from Georgia, but I will make a brief report as to what conservation is
doing in that section of the United States, or what we are doing along
conservation lines. I regret very much indeed to see so many vacant
seats in the audience from the states to the far south. This is a very
busy time with the people in the south, as most of you know, and there
are a great many conservationists who would like very much indeed to be
present at this meeting, and I think it is safe to say that the fact
that they are not here does not mean that the South is not interested in
conservation, and that they are not doing something along those lines.
Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, it is true, however, that the people of the
southern states are not quite as active in the conservation movement as
the people of the North and West, and why, I cannot see, because there
is no doubt but that in the beginning God smiled more sweetly on this
section than on any other section of the American continent. He did more
for those people than all the rest. He endowed us with resources more
wonderful than those of any of the other sections of the United States.
Those good people have gone on from time to time not realizing what these
resources meant, until they are gradually passing out of their hands. I
cannot speak for other states, but for Georgia, Mr. President, I want to
say that we have enough water to supply California, and a good many other
Western states. That is the least of all of our troubles. As to water
power, we have water power enough running waste to run every spindle in
the southern states. It is simply awaiting the hand of the developer, and
we want to see it properly developed, and not gobbled up as it has been
done in many of the western states. This is one of the big problems that
the State of Georgia has on its hands today. It is a natural section for
manufacturing interests of all kinds, and you can get the cheapest power
on earth on account of this wonderful water power that is stored up in
its mountains.