FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 121 



Toa.stmaster : We have here with us a geutleman from New York — 

 he needs no recommendation to you this evening — Mr. Bush, who will 

 speak on the topic, "Michigan and New York— sisters in horticulture." 



Mr. Bush: Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is not a 

 part of the bargain that I made with Mr. Smythe. I have been (luite 

 sick all day, and I felt so bad this forenoon that I did not leave my 

 room. This evening I was unable to eat anything, but I did not want 

 to seem ungracious, and I do not want you to think that I am unmind- 

 ful of your very kind hospitality. I have enjoyed my visit in Michigan, 

 to Grand Kapids and to the Michigan State Horticultural Society ex- 

 tremely. 



And now I want to make one more effort to drive home to every man 

 here who is interested in the agriculture and horticulture of the great 

 State of Michigan the importance to the farmer and fruit grower of 

 standing together. There is a bond of common necessity for uniting 

 the farmers of New England and the farmers of Michigan. Our inter- 

 ests are common interests. And unless we realize this thing, and 

 wake up from the Rip Van Winkle slumber into which we have fallen, 

 there is surely trouble ahead. 



The value of the products of the farms and orchards of this. country 

 means ten billion dollars, the greatest business in America, a business 

 to command the interest and respect and the ambition of those who 

 are engaged in it. I said something to you at the meeting this after- 

 noon about co-operation. There never was a time in the history of this 

 country when the decent people of this country, the men who love their 

 State and their country and their flag, ought to co-operate, ought to 

 stand together and stand behind the man who is at the head of this 

 great nation, guiding the ship of state through these times fraught with 

 so much possibilities. We want to forget that our fathers were Demo- 

 cratic or Republican. We want to remember that we are Americans, 

 first, last and all the time. (Applause.) We want to get a grasp on 

 the possibilities of our business. You know there was a bill introduced 

 into Congress to raise |45,000,000 for a merchant marine. It was voted 

 down. The people would not stand for it — didn't want it. Since then, 

 freight rates have increased 60%, and the farmers have contributed 

 to the shipping trust, when it might all have been saved, but they 

 didn't know it. It is time that we woke up to a consideration of the 

 situation. It is time that this country had a merchant marine. It 

 is a disgrace to every man, woman and child in the United States that 

 there are lying in the sea-port cities hundreds of thousands of tons 

 of foreign shipments simply because there are no ships to put them in. 

 It would be different if we had a merchant marine. 



I came here to Michigan to speak about peaches. There are different 

 kinds of peaches— I love them all. (Laughter.) I want to say that 

 since I have been here in Grand Kapids I have seen several — and if 

 I were a bachelor, I am sure I would come again when I could stay 

 longer and perhaps get better acquainted. 



I know you have others to follow — New York and Michigan — they 

 have much in common. We are of the same country of the same race, 

 same flag, same climate and soil conditions. And while New York is 



