; ^0V0tt«X gCptXXt,
11 kinds of fancy names, often embracing  sume much time in discussing thesorguin
The Indiana Cane Growers' Association.
Aoilress read bef re Ihe Indi Jiia Cane ('rowers' As-
sariattOD at its rerent ineetln-*- by W. F Leitzmm.
As we meet to-day in annual session at
the beginning of the year 18'Jl, it teems a
fitting time for meditation and retrospective, as well as prospective. The plaintive
solemn sounds borne upon the the winds,
in midnight's gloomy hour, proclaiming
the death of the old year and the birth of
the new, are st 11 echoing in our ears.
Like the wild and touching wail of the
winds of winter, they seem to sing a melancholy dirge over the year that is dead
and gone from earth forever. As we enter
upon the pleasant duties of this meeting I
trust the flrst emotion of every heart will
lie one of gratitude to the Giver of aU good
who has safely led us along the pathway
of life throngh the last year, and has
vouchsafed to us many choice blessings,
among which are health, prosperity and
the privilege we now - enjoy of greeting
one another again in this our ninth annual convention.
We meet not as competitors, full of
envy, jealousy and. animosity, but as
brothers, as co-workers in one common
field of labor, having like interests and all
. laboring for the same common end, the
promotion of the sorgum industry. I assure you, it affords me great pleasure to
see* the familiar faces of so many old
friends and co-workers of other days, who
have faithfully stood by our industry in its
darkest hours. While we rejoice to meet
our old friends, we are equally happy to
see so many whose presence is new to us,
and whose voices have |_not been heard in
our councils. To one and all we extend a
hearty greeting and ,welcome yon as representatives ot the sorgum industry, to all
the benefits and privileges of this meeting.
In reviewing the field of our labors, we
fi id the past season, though fairly prosperous, has not been one of universal
prosperity. Local drouths prevailed in
many parts of the State, including my
own, greatly reducing the crop.
In other localities, more favored with
local rains, the crop was unusually good.
The crop has fallen somewhat below an
average, yet when compared with other
farm crops, sorgum makes quite a good
showing, .being much nearer a normal
crop than either wheat or corn.
The demand for sorgum sirup has been
unusually good, though prices have ruled
-rather low, having been borne down by
competition with the mixed starch sirups
with which our markets are crowded. No
prime goods remain in lirst hands, a thing
quite unusual at this season and which
points to the increasing popularity of sorgum sirup.
The year 1890 was one of more than ordinary interest in political affairs. It has
added several notable events to our National history, none of which, however
will be likely to affect our industry except
it Is the new schedule of tariff on sugar.
Under the old law a duty was levied on all
sugar imported into this country, .ranging
from one and four-tenths to three and one-
half cents per pound according to grade,
and all molasses "paid a duty of four to
eight cents per gallon. Under the new
law all sugar above No. 16 Dutch Standard,
pays a duty of half a cent per pound and
- all sugar not over No. 16 and all molasses
are admitted free. Whether this measure
. will, or will not unfavorably affect our industry does not yet appear. Time alone
cm solve the problem.
A greater, and perhaps the greatest,
hinderance to the success of our industry
is the ruinous competition into which our
products are brought with the sirup made
from starch, known as glnecose. This
bright, clear sirup is used in vast quantities in compounding the various sirups of
commerce. These mysterious compounds
Are offered for sale in our markets  under
the "sorgu m," as Te nnessee sorgum sirups,
Virginia sorgum sirup, honey-dew sorgum sirup, ambiosia sirup, sweet clover
honey sirup and elysian nectar, the most
mythlcil name of all. These names are
the invention of- the men who mix
the compounds, and are intended to aid
them in selling their goods. Most of these
sirups have at least one commendable
feature, having a beautiful light amber
color quite pleasing to the eye; the efloct
upon the palate however is not always so
pleasing. Sometimes bringing to the
sensitive mind memories of cold pressed
oil. Aside from the sorgum sirups in our
local markets it would be hard to find a
sirup not largely composed of_gluecbse.
Even our much beloved sorgum does not
always escape, but sometimes falls into
the hands of the mixer, and is changed
beyond recognition. An ex employee of
one of tho leading wholesale groceries of
Indianapolis, told me that he had seensor-
gum sirup mixed in the proportion of one
barrel to four of glucose. Glucose may be
harmless and wholowme, and may have a
legitmate field of usefulness, but if it has
its boundaries should be circumscribed by
law.
Tho sogum sirup industry is not waging a war against neighboring industries,
neither is it asking a protective tariff or
bounty from the government. But it
does ask to be delivered from the heavy
burden it is compelled" to carry which is
not its own. It only asks to be allowed a
fair chance with other industries. This
it can never have as long as these fraudulent sirups can be sold as products of sorgum and sugar cane.
This Association should speak out in
unison, as with the voice of one man and
demand of our Legislature the passage of
a law which would require all sirups to be
properly labeled and sold under their true
names. If the sirup is mixed it should be
plainly marked, showing the quality and
quantity of each component part, and if
straight goods, it should be marked as
such.
The eyes of the sorgum world are again
earnestly fixed upon Dr. Wiley, in th"
hope that he will yet prove a veritable
Joshua to lead the weary band of sorgum-
ites safely out of the wilderness. This
hope is inspired by the announcement of
some promising results obtained by the
Doctor in some experiments upon the
purification of sorgum sirup. These experiments show that most of the gummy
constituents of sorgum sirup may be removed by treatment with alcohol. This
method, if practical, may solve the sorgum
sugar problem; for the chief impediment
to successful sugar making heretofore,
has been the large proportion of these
gums present in the juice, preventing the
crystallization of the sugar. It is not likely
to prove a practical method for use sirup
making,
I wouldrespectfullycallyourattentionto
the antiquated method of electing our
officers, which has been in vogue since the
organization of the association.
In pursuance of this method the president
appoints a committee of three members
whose duty it is to select a set of officers
for the ensuing year, and report to the
meeting. The report being concurred in,
the secretary is instructed to cast the vote
of the association, no one objects, and
here the election ends. This antique custom should be substituted for one nearer
in harmony with modern ideas of free institutions. Each member ought to have
the privilege of casting a vote for the
man of his choice. I would recommend for
your consideration the propriety of defer*-
ring the election of officers until the last
session of the meeting, that we may thereby become better acquainted with one
another and be enabled to select the right
men for the right places.   I will not con-
sugar outlook. This matter I will leave
mainly to our worthy and efficient secretary, ex-president Chapman, who will
discuss tbe subject at length. Without
fear, however, of trespassing upon his
grounds I will venture to say, that notwithstanding the desirability of having a
great industry developed among us, it
would be suicidal to engage in the manufacture of sugar from sorgum cane in
Indiana. If the industry ever succeeds
inourStateit will through the improvement by selection and cross fertilization of
old varieties of cane, or the introduction of
new ones. But why should we want to
make sugar while sirup Is more profitable?
And a plant for making sugar would cost
ten times as much as sirup factory of same
capacity. Nearly every eorgum sugar
factory has gone down in financial ruin.
Most of the companies, however, have
been recognized and are trying It again:
not so with the sirup factories, there is
not a single one, which was built for sirup
alone, with brains and money enough to
run it, that has not been financially successful. We can well afford to wait and
watch results of experiments in Kansas.
Meantime we should employ every legitimate means wUhin our reach for the improvement and advancement of the sirup
industry. We should strive to improve
our cane, our factories, our mode of manufacture, and our sirup. Improvement
should be our watch-word and' excelsior
our motto.
Tills proudest motto of mankind.
Write it in lines of Bold,
Upon your hearts, and in your minds,
Tne inspiring words enfold;
And in misfortunes dreary hour,
•Or fortunes prosperous Kale,
It will have a cheering power
You'll know no such word as '-fail."
There is a disposition on the part of some
manufacturers to drop the "sorgum" from
the name of the products. Thoy manufacture cane Sirup, pure amber cane sirup and
northern cane sirup, but no sorgum sirup.
Now brethren this is cowardly! You are
not meeting tho foe face to face, but skulking around him. Call your sirup by its
legitimate name and if not popular under
that name, go to work to make it so. If in
your locality, sorgum has not been redeemed and purged from the ignominious
attributes ascribed to its name, acquired—
during its pot and kettle apprenticeship,—
go to work and redeem it. Make your
sirup of such excellent quality that all
other sirups will be enhanced in value by
calling them sorgum.
In conclusion I would say to you all, be
free to enjoy the full benefits of this meeting; ask, that you may receive, seek, that
you may find,—and if you receive freely,
you should also give freely; that the meeting may be one of mutual benefit. I wish
you all a most profitable meeting and now
may the blessings of a benign and ever
beneficent providence attend you and give
peace, prosperity and happiness to all.
Executive Committee, A. K. Warren,
J. II. Lee and Ben Myers.
We will give a list of premiums next
week.
POULTBY BBEEDEBS
The fourth annual meetingof the Indiana
Poultry Breeders, convened in the State
Agricultural rooms on Friday evening the
23d inst., and was called to order by l'res,
Griffin. After roll-call and reading of the
minutes of last meeting, several papers
were read. One by William Tobin, on
the State Fair Exhibit, and one by I. N.
Barker on Private judging.
Poultry breeding is one of our wide
awake industries, and the Association
meetings always bring out a good attendance. The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year.
President, B. T. Pace, Salem.
Vice Presidents, Major Griffin, Mauzy;
W. J. Owsley, E. A. Pierce, Mrs. W. P.
Binford, I. N. Barker, James Servies,
Daniei;christian and D. M. Mcfasliu.
Secretary, F. R. Hale, Sheibyville.
* Treasurer, Wm. Tobin, Indianapolis.
Pending* Agricultural Legislation.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
The following bills, among others, are
now pending or will soon be introduced,
in the State Legislature:
1. On apportionment of the school fund.
2. Relating to Farmers' Institutes.
3. Revising the"dog law," to encour&ge
sheep husbandry.
4. Ft e and salary bill.
5. To tax sequestered property.
6. To tax corporations holding valuable
franchises.
The object of the proposed legislation is
twofold:
1st. To increase the intelligence and
material prosperity of the agricultural
classes.
2d. To lighten the burdens of taxation
on farm property; (1.) by reducing salaries of public officials, (2.) by imposing on
capitalists and corporations a fair proportion of taxes.
A joint committee representing the Alliance, Grange and F. M. B. A., is endeavoring to secure such legislation as the
farmers de&ire. Although the Farmers'
Institute Associations have no committee
on legislation they can do much to secure
desired legislation by forwarding to their
representatives in the General Assembly
copies of resolutions passed;
Farmers' Institutes, under the Act of 1889,
have been held in 78 counties, in all of
which said Act has been approved with
striking unanimity. In 77 of these counties a further appropriation for Farmers'
Institutes has been asked for. In many
of these Institutes, resolutions have been
passed, favoricg a just apportionment of
the school funds, a strong dog law, reduction of fees and salaries, equalization of
the burdens of taxation and suppression
of trusts and combines that are inimical
alike to producer and consumer.
To merely pass such resolutions is not
enough. Farmers should see to it that
their resolutions are sent to the Legislators. Personal correspondence, if prompt
and to the point can accomplish much.
There is an active lobby to defeat much of
the legislation in the interest of the farming classes. The farmers and the friends
of agriculture throughout the State
should hold up the hands of their representatives in the General Assembly. To
each farmer who desires legislation promotive of the interests of agriculture I
would say: If your ^representatives are
honestly endeavoring to further your cause
give them^words of encouragement, If they
are disposed to forget your interest give
them a timely and _earnest reminder. If
they are opposed to measures generally
desired by the agricultural classes, warn
them in. unmistakable terms. Every
legislator who is the true friend of the
farmer will welcome your words of encouragement and advice, as it will strengthen and back his efforts in behalf of-agriculture. That the legislation indicated would
promote the intelligence and prosperity
of the agricultural classes and work no injustice to other classes, is evident to all reflecting persons, and It should have the
prompt unanimous endorsement.of farmers and farmers' organizations throughout
the.State. W. C. Latta.
Lafayette.
Bdltora Indiana Farmer:
Cannot our Legislature do something
for the poor sheep? One hnndred and
sixty-five sheep were killed or wounded
in our county last year, and the dogs are
protected. One of my neighbors killed a
dog among his sheop last week and had to
pay $12.50 for him: and he had lost two
sheep the night before. So much for the
"good dogs" and "poor sheep".
Allen Vo. A. M. Taylob.
-U*