TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 193 



President Sykes : Gentlemen, I wish to thank you for the 

 honor yoii have again seen fit to bestow upon nie. I have about 

 come to the conelusion that somebody who ean't do anything else 

 must take this work, and you fellows have made uji your minds 

 that I am not fit for anythinor'else, but that you can get some- 

 thing out of me liere; so year after year you continue to harness 

 rae. 



Sonu' might wonder why I did not refuse to accept this posi- 

 tion at this time. Will say by way of explanation that when the 

 association practically forced it upon me a year ago, I was o1)- 

 liged to le-lease my farm for a term of years, and my plans 

 were changed entirely. On this account I can very easily take 

 charge of the association for another year, and it will not inter- 

 fere with my personal affairs. 



It gives me satisfaction to believe that you men do really ap- 

 preciate what T have tried to do in this organization, and one 

 thing that gives me gratification is the fact that I have never 

 asked a man to vote for me for president of this association. I 

 have always taken the position that this organization belonged 

 to its membership, and that the members should determine who 

 they wanted for of^cers; and if they did not want Sykes', I 

 wanted and (^xpected them to say so, and select somebody else. 

 I think I have stated before that I have never thought that Sykes 

 was the only man in this organization that coidd make it a success*. 

 I am sure that you have lietter material in this association than 

 your humble servant who stands before you. l)ut it seems* that I 

 am again your choice. 



Every year the burdens of this office become greater, because 

 as the association grows the work develops and new issues enter 

 into it. But be this as it may, I am just going to say, as I have 

 said before, that if the Lord spares* my life I will give you the 

 best there is in me for the coming year; and I will also expect 

 you men scattered over the state to do your part. So when I 

 ask yon during the coming year, as I will, to lielp me canvass in 

 your localities where I have not canvassed, and ])robably in some 

 places where I have done some work, I don't want you to say: 

 ''AVell, Sykes, I just can't do it; there is no use talking, I can't 

 take the time." I have been a fanner all my life, and I know 

 that it will be a sacrifice to you most any time ; but we must make 

 this sacrifice. This organization in the future will be ."just what 

 we make it, and under the system on which we are now working 

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