ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS" CLUBS -193 



EVENING SESSION. 

 President Kimmis delivered the annual address, as follows: 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT KIMMIS. 



On the fourth dav of February, 1894, delegates from about twenty-five 

 farmers' olubs in the State of Michigan assembled in this chamber for 

 the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a central or State 

 organization. As a result of their deliberations, there came into exist- 

 <'nce an organization which challenged the attention of the people of 

 Michigan and the fame of which has spread throughout the Union. 

 From many states and different parts of Canada have come inquiries con- 

 cerning the Michigan State Association of Farmers" Clubs, its methods 

 and purposes, ^^'hen live delegates retired to yonder room for the pur- 

 pose of framing a constitution and by-laws for the proposed organiza- 

 tion, they carried with them five more or less clearly defined but radically 

 different opinions concei-ning the direction which should be given the 

 new movement. The central idea was to secure a co-opeiation of the 

 •clubs of the State in an effort to benefit the farmer, but just what should 

 be undertaken and the exact manner of procedure were questions con- 

 cerning which ther(^ was not unity of o])inion. The constitution, as 

 finally reported to the convention, was bioad (Miough to ])ermit any line 

 of etfort that can be deemed of benefit to the farmer. Every delegate 

 present discovered in its terms a provision that would allow him to press 

 the particulai' policy he deemed most im-xirtant. It declarcMl as its pur 

 pose the uplifting of the farmer in social, moral, intellectual and financial 

 condition. What effort for the accomplishment of good may not find 

 sanction under such a declaration of purpose? In no one of the four 

 fields, social, moral, intellectual, financial im]tI■o^■eIlll■T!t, has the work 

 of this Association been barren of results. 



Recognizing the fact that the accomplishment of the first three, uiimely, 

 social, moral, intellectual advancement, was the inevitable result of good 

 local club work, the Association wisely turned its attention during the 

 first year to the encouragement of loca.l organization. The number of 

 clubs in Michigan nearly (juadrupled in the twelve months succeeding the 

 establishment of the State Association, nor will any uni)rejudic;-d ])erson 

 deny this Association the credit of being the ])otent factor in accomplish- 

 ing this wonderful result. Keeping the result in mind, contrast the con- 

 dition of the mend)ers of your local clubs with their condition at the 

 time of its organization; estimate, if possible, the value of the blessings 

 that have come to them because of its influence, and ask them has the 

 Association paid? If the organization of so large a number of local 

 clubs, with all their attending benefits, is attributable to this Association, 

 with what satisfaction may those who have labored so industriously in 

 this cause cont(Mn])late the results thus far attained. If this Association 

 had accomplisluMl no more than has already Ijeen enumerated, it would 

 have amply justified its right to exist. It has done more. 



