DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 31 



C. Lillie, when in Washington called on the President and urged him to 

 come to Michigan. 



On Arpil 12th, 1906, the State Board passed a resolution inviting 

 him to be present, and instructed the president of the college to pre- 

 sent the invitation to President Eoosevelt in person. Accompanied by 

 Senator Burrows, Congressman Gardner and Professor Curtiss, I de- 

 livered the invitation of the board and faculty to the President on April 

 18th, The appointment for this meeting had been made by our repre- 

 sentative in Congress, the Honorable S, W, Smith, who could not be 

 present on account of another engagement. I also presented letters 

 from the master of the State Grange, the president of the State 

 Association of Farmers' Clubs, and the secretary of the State Horticul- 

 tural Society, requesting his presence on this occasion. Professor C. F, 

 Curtiss, of Iowa, as a representative of the executive committee of the 

 American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, 

 assured him that if he would come to Michigan all the other agricultural 

 and mechanical colleges of the country would send delegates to meet 

 him here and would not press him with invitations to visit other in- 

 stitutions. Finally the President stated that it was his desire to make 

 one address to the farmers of this country while he was in office, and 

 probably this would be the proper occasion. In a few weeks his secretary 

 opened communication with me as to the arrangement of date, and the 

 press dispatcher from the White House stated that the President had 

 decided to speak at the semi-centennial celebration of the Michigan 

 Agricultural College. 



It had been rather conceded for several years that the American Asso- 

 ciation of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations would hold 

 its annual meeting in connection with this celebration. The date and place 

 of meeting being left to the executive committee, of which I have had the 

 honor to be a member during the past five years, met in Lansing early in 

 December to satisfy itself as to the ability of Lansing to take care 

 of such a meeting. The Downey House, which had been rebuilt during 

 the year, was at its best. It promised to turn over one hundred and 

 forty of its best rooms for the exclusive use of the members of this as- 

 sociation. The committee decided to hold the annual meeting in Lan- 

 sing during the early part of the week of our jubilee. It also was agreed 

 to hold Thursday morning's session at the college, and make it a part of 

 the jubilee exercises. 



As the college had no authority to spend money in preparing for 

 such a celebration, the legislature came to its relief and passed a joint 

 resolution permitting the State Board to spend not to exceed eight 

 thousand dollars from college funds in making preparations for the 

 coming jubilee. 



The State Board turned the entire matter over to the faculty with 

 no instructions except to make the most of the money set apart for 

 this purpose. * 



Early in the school year the president of the college appointed a com- 

 mittee to have general charge of the celebration with power to appoint 

 such sub-committees as might be found necessary. This committee con- 

 sisted of Profesor Warren Babcock, chairman; Professor Frank S. 

 Kedzie, Professor R. S. Shaw, Instructor Thomas Gunson and A. M. 

 Brown, the secretary of the college. 



