PROCEEDINGS STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 181 



great pride to know that this state stands first in breeding cattle; has 

 stood first rank in the matter of pure bred hogs of the country, and my 

 association with these societies has led me to believe, however, that if 

 Iowa is to hold her place as a leading state in the industries that I have 

 just mentioned and our state fair supreme in its exhibits that it shall be 

 the duty of every member of this association to appeal with a renewed 

 vigor for the protection and the saving of many of the herds of this state. 

 Iowa's place is well known for these products from the fact that the pure 

 bred industries of the state of Iowa have stimulated and educated our 

 farmers and breeders for better livestock. Within the past two years 

 many of our best herds of cattle and hogs have been sacrificed to meet 

 the demands that have been made upon their credit, and I cannot refrain 

 on this occasion from calling attention to the loyalty and far-seeing policy 

 that has been heretofore adopted by the banks o'f this state. The care- 

 ful banker of this state knows that a falling off of the products of Iowa 

 reduces his deposits. The growth of better livestock will increase his 

 deposits. The bankers have the thanks of the state for these policies, but 

 I urge upon the members of this association and all present who are in- 

 terested in the future good of the state that these policies shall continue 

 and that an extension of time be given upon these loans to your breeders 

 until they can receive a fair profit for the money which they have invested 

 in these pure bred herds. I know of no one thing that would be so 

 detrimental to this state as to be forced to send to the "block" the pure 

 bred hogs and cattle of this state which has required a quarter of a 

 century to produce. Every county and district fair director should see 

 to it in his own locality that this industry shall not be crippled and be 

 made to suffer because of a little time wanting for adjustment. The im- 

 provement of livestock in Iowa has only reached a fair stage in its 

 progress. Only ZV 2 per cent of the cattle in Iowa are pure bred, and I 

 believe the pure bred hogs are in the same proportion, yet, upon this 

 small per cent of herds the farmers and stock raisers of Iowa must depend 

 for the increased production in pork and beef. The best herds in England 

 have remained in the same family for a period of two hundred years. 

 Therefore, in this state where production is so promising, why sacrifice 

 the greatest asset in our total resources. 



I repeat that it has been a great pleasure for me to represent Iowa 

 in this breeding association. The matter of appropriations comes up 

 before these bodies and the first thing that you hear is, "Well, what does 

 Iowa want? How much is Weaver going to tax us this time?" I want 

 to say to you that the state of Iowa, and the state fair itself has re- 

 ceived from -the breeders of this country more money to pay out at the 

 Iowa State Fair than any other fair in the United States; and they give 

 us the place because they know that out here in Iowa are the greatest de- 

 velopment, the greatest showing and the greatest merit of all exhibits of 

 any place in the United States. Consequently, it was easy for us to get 

 these appropriations and put them in the state here which have helped 

 to make the great exhibits that you have seen in the past, and I want to 

 repeat again, gentlemen, I want to repeat again to you that the time 

 has arrived for each and every one of you to look carefully into your own 



