CONVENTION OF COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 1009 



governmental assistance. lie laid much stress on the importance 

 of personal and local initiative in solving difficulties and ejecting 

 reforms, and discussed the general question as to what it is wise and 

 just for the State to do in aid of the farmer. 



His remarks dealt Avith the leading questions relating to the im- 

 provement of agriculture as an industry, the men connected with 

 it, the conditions of country living, and similar educational and 

 economic aspects. This led to a consideration of the various agen- 

 cies of the State and of the nation for agricultural advancement, the 

 respective functions of these agencies and their relationships, with 

 an attempt to outline a logical and efficient system extending from 

 the National (xovernment to the individual farmer. The address 

 was suggestive rather than exhaustive, and outlined so sharply many 

 of the j^roblems for future solution that the association voted to 

 have it printed at once for distribution in advance of the proceedings. 



The report of the executive committee was presented by its chair- 

 man, Dr. H. C. AVhite, who briefly reviewed the events of the year. 

 Among these were the increase of funds to the land-grant colleges 

 through the passage of the Nelson amendment to the current agricul- 

 tural appropriation act, and the designation of the colleges as depos- 

 itoi'ies of public documents. It was deemed best to attempt no action 

 relative to the establishment of a national university at Washing- 

 ton, as no further effort had been made by the National Association 

 of State Universities or others interested. Through its chairman the 

 committee had endeavored, at a conference held November 21, 1906, 

 to secure the admission of the land-grant colleges to the benefits of 

 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. A^Hiile 

 the views of the board of trustees are at j^resent adverse to the admis- 

 sion of these institutions, no final decision has been reached, and an 

 invitation to another conference in advance of the next annual meet- 

 ing of the board has been received. Action relative to the occasional 

 meeting of the association with the National Educational Associa- 

 tion, for the discussion of the jDcdagogics of agriculture and allied 

 subjects, was deferred in view of the efforts being made to secure the 

 establishment of a department of rural education in that association. 



The association adopted a resolution expressing its profound appre- 

 ciation of the services of lion. Knute Nelson, of ^Minnesota, in secur- 

 ing the increased api)ropriation to the land-grant colleges. President 

 AVhite was also authorized to conduct further negotiations with the 

 officers of the Carnegie Foundation. 



The report of the treasurer. Director J. L. Hills, showed a balance 

 from the previous year of $058.38, receipts from dues of $1,440, and 

 disbursements of $1,405.84, leaving a balance of $932.54. Subscrip- 

 tions to the fujid for the graduate school were also received from 

 284J>— No. 11—07 M 2 



