i908 GOV. HOKE SMITH'S ADDRESS 165 



vade the right of a State or the right We know that each year which shps 



of an individual, but where it is ap- by jeopardizes the cause we are urg- 



pealed to in order to serve the wel- ing. We know that if you delay, you 



fare of the people of the whole coun- wreck, with unspeakable damage, the 



try, I would be willing to plant my- cause for which we plead; that the 



self upon it and say it means some- woodsman's axe is destroying that 



thing. which we would save ; and we beg you, 



Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, we gentlemen, do not postpone it. You 



thank you for this hearing. We come have heard us early in the session, in 



to you not only from all these States, time to present this bill at the present 



but we come to you from perhaps more Congress. It is not the next Congress 



organizations of people who are dis- we want to do it; it is this Congress, 



interested, except as moved by the de- ^^- Chairman. 



sire to serve their country, than any It is not a committee of men to 

 gathering that has ever appeared be- think about it, that we are begging 

 fore a Congressional Committee. Bus- for ; it is for authority for somebody to 

 iness organizations, woman's organi- go and begin buying the ground, buy- 

 zations, patriotic organizations all ing the stuff, and doing the work, that 

 over your land are represented here, we are asking you to report favorably 

 They are not here to sell any land; upon. Gentlemen, we leave it with 

 not a man before you has a foot of you. We believe that we represent 

 land to sell ; not a man before you has the interests of the whole section of 

 a thing to put off on the Nation as a people east of the Mississippi. We 

 job; not a dollar is to be made by believe that every day it is presented 

 anybody who is here. They come as to them it will grow stronger and 

 volunteers, moved by the love they stronger. We believe there will be- 

 have of their States and their country, come one swelling throb of thanks 

 because they feel that their section and from every voice — except from some 

 their States and their Nation have who have some constitutional doubts, 

 come in to lay the case before you. and we do not think there are very 



Two years ago this cause was many of them. We believe that you 



strong. I ask you, Mr. Chairman, if will render a service to your country, 



it is not ten times as strong to-day? and we plead with you to do it now. 



A HICKORY TREE ON ARBOR DAY 



I am going to plant a hickory tree, 

 And then, when I'm a man, 



My boys and girls may come and eat 

 Just all the nuts they can! 



And I shall say "My children dear, 



This tree that you enjoy 

 I set for you one Arbor Day, 



When I was but a boy." 



And they will answer, "Oh, how kind 



To plant for us this tree!" 

 And then they'll crack the fattest nuts 



And give them all to me! 



