Live Stock Breeders' Association. 283 



work are made possible only by a condition of prosperity. Con- 

 sequently the farmer should feel and take an active interest in the 

 development of the educational institutions of the State, and the 

 educational institutions should feel the necessity of the prosperity 

 of the farm and field. 



But all this is preliminary. Every Missourian should feel 

 proud of Missouri State University, Every Missourian should be 

 loyal to Missouri State University. It was not my good fortune, 

 or, rather, it was my misfortune not to be a student or graduate of 

 this University. It is sometimes said that one's loss is another's 

 gain. I don't know whether that principle would apply in this 

 case, and that my misfortune in not being a student here would 

 be a gain to this institution. 



But I do not purpose that this misfortune shall go further 

 than the first generation, for I purpose that my two sons, both 

 bom on Missouri soil, shall be students of the Missouri University. 

 And I think the most appropriate and expressive manner in which 

 any Missouri citizen can express his interest in her chief educa- 

 tional institution is to see that that institution is appropriately 

 and fittingly endowed. Now, I do not mean in any way to speak 

 in criticism of what has occurred in the past, and what I shall say 

 shall be free of even a suggestion of political significance. But 

 there has been in this State too much of a disposition to laud econ- 

 omy for the mere sake of economy — it is not so much a disposition 

 to laud economy as it is the mere fact of not spending money. We 

 see its expression not only in our educational system, but also in 

 other departments of this great State of ours. Does any citizen of 

 this State who feels any pride in its prosperity have a feeling of 

 satisfaction in the thought that we have a State capitol which is in- 

 ferior to the state capitol of every contiguous state, and inferior 

 to the Capitols of most of the states of the American Union ? Should 

 you feel any satisfaction in the thought that we have saved money 

 by having for our department of justice a building which for years 

 has been unsanitary, insufficient and unsafe. Should you feel any 

 satisfaction in the fact that in saving money the officials of the 

 State of Missouri have for years received salaries one-third to one- 

 half less than the salaries of officials of states similarly situated 

 in the matter of resources, wealth and population. 



Now, I do not stand here to speak in criticism of the actions 

 of past legislatures. I do not stand here in any sense as a critic 

 of the present legislature. This University and the other educa- 

 tional institutions of this State have been well conducted and have 



