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Missouri Agricultural Report. 



MISSOURI THE SADDLE HORSE EMPIRE. 



(John T. Hook, Paris, Mo.) 



I find myself again with you and it is good to be here. 



I am not here for the purpose of making a speech — for like 

 a century plant, I bloom along that line only occasionally. I 

 am here to talk to you as a neighbor would talk to a neighbor. 

 Yes, to talk to you like a brother should talk to a brother. The 

 beginning of the year 1914 finds the seat of the "Saddle Horse 

 Erhpire" in our State, and our mutual friend, Rufus Jackson, 

 sits on the throne. I hope every one of you takes his paper. 



Without stopping to discuss the matter as to how it hap- 

 pened, it stands out as a cold-blooded proposition that the year 

 1914 finds the greatest saddle horses of the world citizens of the 

 State of Missouri. Now with these conditions confronting us 

 the question is, "What are we as members of the Missouri Saddle 

 Horse Breeders' Association going to do about it?" How are 

 we going to conduct ourselves? Heretofore we have run our 

 big fairs and horse shows largely with the aid and consent of 

 Kentucky. Do you want this to continue or do you want us 

 to be released from our cable-tow and be bound to the State of 

 Missouri — by the stronger tie of State pride? I dcn't blame the 

 Kentuckians for trying to dominate the shows of this country 

 and control the committees, but I do think it is time for us to 



In the $2,500 saddle stake, Missouri State Fair, 1913. 



