NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



Nevertheless, the fact of occasional success, without adequate 

 education and preparation, should not lead us to overlook the 

 fact that real, substantial success, whether it benefits the com- 

 munity or the nation, must depend upon thorough preparation. 



My friend to my right could tell us of how much we have lost 

 in this nation of ours by an inadequate understanding of the ex- 

 tent of our resources, by an insufficient realization of the great 

 treasures of the land put before us, by the possibilities of greater 

 wealth, greater comfort, and happiness from the better cultiva- 

 tion of the soil. 



We have been going ahead and enjoying privileges unex- 

 ampled in the history of the world, until we are coming to the 

 point where, instead of abundance, we are threatened with 

 scarcity. To meet the situation this government and every gov- 

 ernment must bring to its aid scientific men ..like yourselves. 



I rejoice to see that great Agricultural Department in a meas- 

 ure a great university. I am glad to see a different disposition on 

 the part of legislators in recent years, which leads them to bring 

 to their aid men of the highest preparation and of the best intel- 

 ligence and knowledge in every branch of science. Sometimes 

 it may seem to you that men who are lacking in qualifications are 

 placed in positions of responsibility where only those who have 

 had the training you have had should be called. But I am satis- 

 fied there is an improvement in this regard; and in this time of 

 indifference to the state, when every man seems to be occupied 

 with his profession or occupation, I call upon you to give your 

 very best thought to the welfare of your country. 



We are having a time now of seething discontent; we are hav- 

 ing a time when those who prepare themselves best for their 

 duties sometimes think that it is useless. The remedy for all this 

 is the intelligent consideration of problems of government by 

 every one of you and I feel that I can assure you that while there 

 have been defects in the past we have not gone altogether wrong; 

 but we have not taken advantage of the intelligence we possess. 

 There will be an improvement, under which this association and 

 all associations of similar scope and similar ability will be called 



