No. 7. t)EFARTMENT OF AGKICULTlJRE. 401 



scrap heap of the past. We want no antagonisms in our college 

 or over it. 



Our only antagonists should be ignorance and prejudice — the two 

 foes of agricultural education in all times and places. Responsi- 

 ble heads are being secured, and let us hold them responsible. If 

 we give proper support to our agricultural educational institutions, 

 there will be no escuse for any farmer not being helped by them. 

 If we give our institutions a start, the things which I have named, 

 or something as good, will come to pass, to the immediate and 

 permanent betterment of things agricultural in this State. Impress 

 the men who vote money for agricultural education with the nec- 

 essity for such a start, and the people will see that they keep it 

 a-goiug. I have faith in our people. If they do not wake up this 

 year, they will sometime, because they must. But your support 

 is needed NOW for a State Fair and for an agricultural school. 

 The agricultural i)ress, that noble army of men who march under 

 the glorious banner whereon is inscribed the stirring words ''Now 

 is the time to subscribe," is backing this cause. The farmers' 

 organizations are backing it. And if individual farmers will back 

 it we shall have more progress to record in the next five years than 

 in all the previous years of our history. 



The CHAIRMAN: Since Dr. Hays does not appear to have come, 

 we shall be pleased to hear from any one in the room on this sub- 

 ject, for a short time. 



MR. WELD: I notice that there is with us this evening one who 

 is interested along the line that has been talked of, and I have no 

 doubt but that every one here will be glad to hear from him. I 

 refer to Dr. Welch of the State College. 



The CHAIRMAN: We shall be very glad to hear from Dr. Welch. 



Dr. Welsh then spoke as foUov/s: 



ADDRESS OF DR. WELCH. 



Gentlemen: I have been very much pleased with what I have 

 heard here tonight, up to this point; 1 was especially pleased to 

 hear the Press make itself heard in behalf of education, particu- 

 larly Agricultural Education, because I have been interested in it 

 for a good many years. For the past few months I have been 

 especially interested, because I have been placed in a position v^here 

 I a.ra expected to look after the financial condition of the Penn- 

 sylvania State College, and, 'following what has just been said, I 

 presume it would not be out of place for me to tell you some of the 

 things that I have found. 



A few months ago I didn't know any more about the financial 

 condition of the college, or the way the State of Pennsylvania 

 had been taking care of the college, than any one else here, but 

 when I went there and began to get at the bottom of things, I 

 learned some things that surprised me, and will, I presume, sup- 

 prise you. 



In the first place, I heard before I went there that the Penn- 

 sylvania State College has been sailing under the banner of Agri- 



26—7—1906. 



