SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 369 



untrue. I think you understand what I mean, but I want to give you 

 another illustration. I have attended conventions in other cities and 

 have listened to some of the most appropriate and beautifully worded 

 addresses of welcome delivered by someone representing the community 

 and have received nothing more. Again, I have attended conventions 

 where the formal welcome was of small moment and the generosity, the 

 hospitality, and the good fellowship of the people of the community was 

 such that I came away with a warm spot in my heart for my hosts. 

 However, it is a custom that formal words of welcome be given, and 

 I am pleased to have this opportunity of performing the functions and 

 of doing the extending this morning. 



In the first instance, I am glad to welcome you because I know 

 Waterloo and I know that all that I may say to you will be backed 

 up by the people of Waterloo. The people of Waterloo are proud of 

 Waterloo and of the things within it, and are proud to show it to others. 

 You know it is a human characteristic to take pleasure in showing 

 things that you are proud of, to people. Consequently, there is a reason 

 for the hospitality of the people of Waterloo, even were it not for the 

 character of the group which has come. I used to think that the people 

 of Waterloo talked Waterloo too much but I have come to the conclu- 

 sion that they do not, because I have come to the conclusion that a 

 person should talk his own town, he should talk his own state, he 

 should talk his own country, his own business, if he likes it, and if he 

 does not like it, he should investigate the cause. If it is the com- 

 munity in which he lives that is wrong, let him improve the community 

 if he can and if not, let him move to one that he does like. 



Waterloo, as you know, is a city which has grown rapidly during 

 the past twenty years. In 1895 we had a population of some 8,000 

 people. In 1900 the number had increased to more than 12,000. In 

 1905 it had risen to 18,000. In 1910, 26,000 people were residing within 

 our gates and in 1915 better than 34,000 people were making their homes 

 among us. We are a manufacturing city, engaged, as you perhaps 

 know, in the manufacture of many and various products, chief of which 

 is the cream separator, the gasoline engine, and the manure spreader. 

 We have large jobbing interests, and our manufactured goods go to all 

 parts of the world. 



In addition to the Industrial Waterloo, there is the other side, which 

 is equally interesting. For instance, Waterloo has a beautiful river 

 which has caused us to have two of the best sides of the same river 

 that you will find in any community in the state, and, while this should 

 not be an occasion for warning, I would suggest that you all use care 

 in expressing an opinion as to which side of the river you like the best 

 on the wrong side. 



We have thirty churches and two well-built, sanitary jails. We have 

 four of the best wells in the country and it is said by those who use the 

 fluid that it is a particularly good quality of water. 



Waterloo has some of the most beautiful women in the world and 

 some of the homeliest men out of captivity. She has some seventy miles 

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