No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 207 



paring teachers to teach Agriculture in the public schools. Men 

 who are capable along these lines can not nearly fill the present 

 demand. Farmers are called in to assist. Several days ago I was 

 asked to speak to the students of an eastern Normal School, and 

 a more eager and attentive audience I never had. In speaking 

 before a preparatory school, 1 was surprised at the interest mani- 

 fested by the boys in the agricultural college and the prospects for 

 the graduates from an agricultural course. 



My friends, our work sets the world to thinking seriously about 

 the farmer. It is compelling conditions that will give the farmer 

 a square deal. I am exceedingly proud to be associated with a body 

 of men who have already accomplished great things for the present 

 and future welfare of this great Republic. Let no one imagine that 

 all this came about as in the natural course of events without any 

 one giving the matter much consideration, because such would be 

 a gross mistake. Practically every one connected with this work 

 did a lot of honest, hard and faithful labor. The Director of In- 

 stitutes, like the general of any army, found that eternal vigilance 

 was the price of success, ever alert, straining every nerve to con- 

 quer ignorance and prejudice. With the majority of lecturers, I 

 have been associated with for years and know them to be sterling 

 and conscientious workers for the good of the cause. 



But I wish particularly to speak a word about the County Chair- 

 men, who have charge of local matters in the county and without 

 whose aid the work would be one-sided, or unbalanced at best, and 

 possibly a failure in many instances. Two weeks hence these county 

 chairmen will meet with their people and arrange places to hold 

 the next meetings. Later, the places will be visited, committees ap- 

 pointed, programs arranged and the folks interested to make the 

 meeting a success. Days, yes weeks are spent by them in adver- 

 tising and perfecting arrangements at the different places. When 

 the time comes to hold the meetings, these men come out to the 

 railroad station to meet the lecturers and for the next week or 

 two stay with them looking after their welfare and comfort to the 

 best of their ability — ^very often themselves suffering discomfort 

 and exposure so the men with them may be well cared for. These 

 men go out and brave the storms and blizzards, drenching rain and 

 driving sleet over roads that baffle description, as well as the traveler. 

 And what compensation tempts these men to do all this and much 

 that I have not enumerated? 



No compensation, my friends. Love for their fellow-men, love 

 for country, patriotism and loyalty to duty of the highest citizen- 

 ship prompts them to do this. Personally, I associated with about 

 a hundred of these men and I honor and respect them as I do the 

 veterans who defended our country on the battle field, indeed a 

 number of the older ones wear the Grand Army button. A noble, 

 self-sacrificing, conscientious body of men who deserve many-fold 

 the thanks and credit they get from the people whom they serve 

 without renumeration or the thought of pay, only the results of 

 their work in the betterment of humanity. Such is the body of men 

 and women you welcomed and I hope their visit and deliberations 

 for a few days in your city with your excellent people may prove 

 mutually beneficial. Again I thank you for your kindness and many 

 courtesies. 



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