Agricultural Depression

Last week The Register was able to give but abrief outhne of what was said and done at t e farmers' meeting. In this issue a more full and complete ac" count is published. "Agricultural De" pression - lts Cause and Remedy," was the main topic of discussion. Geo. A. Peters, of Scio.opened the debate with the declaration that "Barring calamity, prices are controlled by law." In support of this he gave a synopsis of the wheat production of the worl'd and its consumption, by which it was seen that the surplus from year to year was nil; in fací the amount of this cereal raised would, if properly dUtributed, amount to only two bushels per capita the world over. If the currency was of sufficient volume and no restriction were put on trade, all commodities would, under the law of suDply and denaand, reach the consumer at prices he could afibrd to pay. Again, interest was abominably high, and the government, instead of lending irj a roundabout way tonational banks, had better loan direct to individuals at two per een t. C. M. Starks, of Webster, diil not agree with Mr. Peters on this subject. A close student ofour financial history, said he, must be aware that during ttie early stages of our civil war the government had to make the best terms possible with capitalista in order to secure the sinews of war with which te prosecute its ends. That great evils had crept in he would not deny, but the everlasting howl about legislation was, in his opinión, foolish. If farmers would pay more attention to their farm?, study their own capacity as specialists.and do less corner-grocery talk, possibly we would flnd when the year carne around, that the balance would be on the right side of the ledger. As farmers, said he, all we ask is a fair show and no favors. When oleomargarine in its different mixtures is sold, let it be branded with a distinctcolor other than butter, and if the consumer wants the inferior article, no one should say him nay. And so with all food producís. Finally, if we can see in the growing evil of the sale of intoxicante ïnueh of the pauperism and crime in our midst, and rise to the inanhood of meeting it, we may possibly be on the high road to a better era, not only for farmers but for all Michigan. Andrew Campbell recognized in recent events a distinct advance. Our efforts hitherto have been singlehanded and sometimes abortive. The hand of disease is upon us, but it is easier to diagnose the disease than to prescribe the remedy. Let us strike first what is fundamental. We have taken it for granted that there is a depression. Is this, really true, or is it a fact that we are getting back to hard pan after a trial trip of some years in fictitious values? "Our calling," said he, "has led to isolation, and that has led to selfishness. Let us magnify our calling. I don't think much of the man who is influenced in his action by mere ego." E. A. Nordman, of Lima, thought that Mr. Campbeü's point of selfishness was well taken. This nation, it has been said, is one million richer at every sunset than at sunrise. This would be a grand showiug if the distribution were universal. John Campbell, of Augusta, said that there was more than one disease. Of the two remedies one was in the man, the other might be in legislation. Asto a government two-per-cent loan, he asked would it not créate many officers? And if this loan is not universal, on all classes of property, real and personal, are we not demanding class legislatiouY H. 1). Platt read some extracts from the deliberations of the state grange, which he said expressed his views bet ter than he could expresa them, and John Hall, of Dexter, made a few remarks. Mr. Starks introduced the following resolution: "Resolved, That our executive committee be authorized to voice the sentimentsof this association by asking our legislature to pass an equitable food bilí, a fair morlgage tax law, and a law to restrain intern perance." E. A. Nordmau oífered the following: "Resolved, That we demand of the present legislature that they so revise the present tax law that every species of property, real, personal, mixed, lands, bonds, stocks, moneys and minerals, be made to bear its due proportion of the public purdens, iu order to relieve the owners of real estáte from the unjust taxation to which they are now subjected." Both resolutions were referred to the executive committee.