1902.] IXRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 21 



of the most useful and honorable of industries. When the 

 farmer is prosperous, it means general prosperity. The 

 merchant, the artisan, and the professional man is also pros- 

 perous. Our State is what the farmers have made it. They 

 occupy a very responsible place, and especially so at the pres- 

 ent time. They have the power in their hands at the present 

 time to do much for the weal or woe of our people. In the 

 great convention which is soon to assemble to make amend- 

 ments to our constitution, the farmers of this State have our 

 destiny in their hands. Upon their wisdom and progressive- 

 ness much of the future welfare of this State depends. As 

 one taken from the workshop, and as one of the people of 

 this great city, put into my present position by an election to 

 office, I certainly deem it a great pleasure and honor to wel- 

 come you and the Governor to our city, and to thank you all 

 for coming here to hold your annual mid-winter session. I 

 wish, gentlemen, I had the eloquence of Governor McLean, 

 that I might extend to you a suitable welcome, and do full 

 justice to the occasion, but my life has been cast in a dififerent 

 mold. The workshop has been my school, and I will not 

 attempt to do the impossible. 



In looking over the program I see there are many interest- 

 ing papers to be read, and many eloquent men here to address 

 you. I trust that your meeting here will be most pleasant and 

 profitable, and that you will carry with you, gentlemen, to 

 your homes pleasant memories of the city of Bridgeport and 

 her people. 



The Secretary. I have the honor now to present to 

 you one who needs no introduction to this audience, His Ex- 

 cellency the Governor of the State of Connecticut, Hon. 

 George P. McLean. 



Gov. McLean. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, and 

 his Honor the ]\Iayor of Bridgeport: I want to say to his 

 Honor the Mayor, first, that an honest purpose is more 

 eloquent and elegant than any language in the world. (Ap- 



