104 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



was bright looking, a man of reputation. He was a distinguished look- 

 ing man — and his first utterance was, "I am a Dairy Farmer." The 

 stillness was painful ; not a response. The man wlio had educated him- 

 self in every branch that would fit him for any position ; that great 

 big speciman of health and happiness — one of nature's noblemen; that 

 man who had chosen from all the avenues open to him what (to my 

 mind) was the greatest profession in the category, and availing himself 

 of this opportunity, in the presence of thousands of people, in the 

 strength of his manhood and the glory of his high calling, to declare 

 himself, not only a friend and advocate of the best organization in the 

 world, but a member itself, and an enthusiastic believer in the justice 

 of their cause; and, in all that vast concourse of people— not an audi- 

 ble response. My first thought was of my own boy who was just arriv- 

 ing at an age when he must decide what his occupation would be ; with 

 a strong inclination toward farming, and of course anxious to select one 

 that would be remunerative and at the same time pleasant, he had iDut 

 one guide that was prominent. He had a right to expect that his 

 future could be seen in the reflection of the past of those who had 

 trod the path that he was seeking. He could only judge of their con- 

 tentment and satisfaction by their enthusiasm. I wondered, if he could 

 have attended these meetings, what his conclusion would have been, as 

 between a Republican and a Democrat and a farmer. 



I am glad the time is past when the idea prevails that a man who 

 is unfit for anything else can farm successfully, and that the poorest 

 of farmers make "Only a Dairyman." I am thankful that institu- 

 tions of learning are being established and are now being operated, 

 where our boys can especially fit themselves for agricultural pursuits 

 in a way that they may get pleasure out of their work as well as attain 

 the most satisfactory pecuniary results. I am glad the time is past 

 when we adopt measures in our business and pursue certain lines on 

 our farms simply iDecause it is in accordance with the policy pursued 

 by our forefathers, whom, we are sure, were the best people on earth. 

 We realize that this is no evidence of inferior judgment on their part, 

 and this is no sign of presumption on our part. AVith the highest degree 

 of respect and reverance for what Ave learned through this source, for 

 the precepts and example that come to us from past ages, we simply 

 appreciate that conditions are different in every particular, and it is 

 absolutely necessary that methods should be changed. 



I am told that years ago, up in the northern part of the country 

 where I was raised, a candidate for congress started out on his cam- 

 paign with a speech and a barrel of whiskey, and when he had a meeting 

 he set up his barrel, knocked out the head, hung tin cups all around it. 



