132 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



and in closing, I want to say to you all that you are engaged in one 

 of the most important and honorable callings that any man can pur- 

 sue, and I know that if you will study the problems of the farm, 

 bring enthusiasm to your work, and stick to your business, you will 

 prosper. 



The CHAIRMAN: The address of welcome will be responded to 

 by the Deputy Secretary and Director of Institutes, the Hon. A. L. 

 Martin. 



The following response was made: 



RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



By Hon. a. L. Martin, Deputy Secretary and Director of Farmers' Institutes. 



Mr. Chairman and Friends: It would seem only to remain for me to 

 express for you our hearty appreciation of this very cordial wel- 

 come and wholesome address to which we have listened. Indeed, I 

 felt assured before coming to this historic city and county that the 

 latch-string was out and we would be welcome, and this double as 

 surance and welcome, I am quite certain will make every member of 

 this Institute feel at home. Indeed, we are at home anywhere in 

 Pennsylvania, because we control the greatest forces which the 

 Almighty has ever set in action; and why ought we not to be at home 

 anywhere in the State, and especially is this true in this center of the 

 State, the center in more ways than one. We older people in this 

 audience, need but to look back a little, and remember that this 

 county of Centre has been the home of more Governors than any 

 county within the bounds of the State. We go back previous to 

 1860, half a century, if you please; now I am a pretty young man, but 

 I can remember for half a century in the past. Up here in Howard 

 there lived a Governor of the State of Pennsylvania on the farm now 

 occupied by our worthy Chairman; indeed, he happened to marry one 

 of that famil}', and is living on that historic farm — Gov. Packer — 

 so that before 18G0 this county gave to the State an honored Gover- 

 nor. Then just following that the war times came on, and I do not 

 need to mention the name of our great war governor to you — Andrew 

 Gregg Curtin — elected to direct the affairs of this great State during 

 that trying period. 



We older men have not forgotten those days. We remember that 

 warm-hearted, earnest, energetic man. His home was in this city: 

 his family and kindred still live here. Then after him, as the next 



