678 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



obtain these things — a fair share in the profits of our business, a recog- 

 nition in the distribution of honors, and equalized taxation? One word 

 answers these questions — organize. Association is the secret. We must 

 solve this problem for ourselves. No one will help us. We alone are 

 to blame if we do not succeed. The responsibility is our own. Even 

 the great money power and the great corporations cannot cope with the 

 united power of the American farmers. 



The agricultural department at Washington should be kept in charge 

 of men whose sympathies are along agricultural lines. The department 

 is at present trying to do the following things: 1. To perfect the sys- 

 tem of crop reports. 2. To perfect the weather reports. 3. To secure 

 a greater diversification of crops. 4. To stop adulterations. We ex- 

 pect to succeed. 



The President's address was discussed bv Clyde and Grant Farmers' 

 Glubs. 



"The Farmers' Club, Why?" a paper by Mrs. E. L. Lockwood, was dis- 

 cussed by North Plains and Vassar Clubs. 



The music for the session was furnished by students from M. A. C. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING. 



Mrs. J. L. K. Haner, instructor in sewing at the Agricultural College, 

 talked on the Women's Course at M. A. C. 



Prof. Edith McDermott, who is at the head of the Women's Depart- 

 ment at the college, was called upon and talked most enthusiastically 

 of her work for fifteen minutes. 



President Snyder of the college followed, laying special emphasis on 

 the fact that the college seeks to train young women to be home-makers, 

 not to fit them to cope with men in professional life. 



Mr. Pratt of the Linden Club and Mr. Lockwood of the Surumerfield 

 and Deerfield Club, took this occasion to pay special tribute to the 

 women of our organization. Many of the lady delegates took part in 

 this discussion and Prof. McDermott had the exceeding great pleasure 

 of listening to unqualified words of praise from every speaker with 

 reference to the work of her department at the college. 



A paper prepared by the Rev. John Russell on ''The Social Influence 

 of Farmers' Clubs," was read by A. B. Cook. 



In the afternoon the association visited the Agricultural College. 



In the evening a joint session was held with the State Grange. 



THURSDAY MORNING. 



The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: Presi- 

 dent. E. J. Cook. Owosso; Vice President. Mrs. E. L. Lockwood, Peters- 

 burg: secretary ami treasurer, E. M. Pierce, Elva; directors for three 

 years, H. Gaunt, Highland; A. P. Greene, Eaton Rapids. 



A committee of three was named by Pres. Daniells to prepare assoeia- 

 tional topics for the coming year. A. C. Bird, Mrs. E. L. Lockwood and 

 F. D. Wells, constitute this committee. Retiring President Daniells and 

 retiring Secretary Wells were named as a committee to make arrange- 

 ments witli some music company for the publication of a club song book. 

 The great interest of this session and indeed of the entire convention 

 entered in the final consideration of committee reports. 



