326 IOWA DEPARTMENT CF AGRICULTURE. 



RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



HON. H. J. NEITEET, WAXKEB, IOWA. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. — I should think that it would 

 become somewhat old to you people to have to listen to my response 

 to the address of welcome at every annual meeting that is held at Cedar 

 Rapids; I should think it would become oppressive and a burden to you 

 as it has to me, and in fact I am at a loss to know what to say to 

 interest you. I know of no good reason why I should be called upon by 

 the Iowa State Dairy Association to respond to the twofold welcome of 

 the honored mayor of this beautiful city of Cedar Rapids, but I appreci- 

 ate this distinction through their invitation and appear before you to 

 respond briefly as possible and confine myself to such matters as may 

 be of interest to the citizens of Cedar Rapids. 



It is true that we have always met with a hearty welcome when we 

 h^d our conventions in this city; we have always been treated with 

 the utmost liberality and cordiality. I do not know that any members 

 of our organizations have violated those privileges and I believe, Mr. 

 President, and feel confident that the character of the members of our 

 association and their associates that come here is above reproach. You 

 could hand them the keys of all the safes and doors of this city and 

 they would not violate any confidence reposed in them, but we do not 

 ask for the keys from the fact that if anything did happen to occur 

 which was wrong they might accidently lay the blame upon some of 

 our members, consequently we do not want the keys, Mr. Mayor. 



I know of no city anywhere for its progress, its ambition, its clean- 

 liness, its industries, its education — common schools, high schools, 

 academies and colleges, — manufacturing establishments, of the great 

 packing industries, the greatest oatmeal mill in the world (you have 

 probably heard that before, but it will bear repetition a thousand times) 

 the beauty and architecture of its streets and parks, that can compare to 

 Cedar Rapids. It is known by its many churches, which show the great 

 devotion of its people. The citizens of this city are of a high degree of 

 intelligence (this is not flattery, I am not seeking office) which is evi- 

 denced by the progress and prosperity of the city; it is a city of many 

 homes. I know of no place (and I have visited many cities in this 

 state and others), I know of no place where so large a proportion of 

 its inhabitants own and occupy their own homes as in the city of Cedar 

 Rapids. The home is the bulwark and the safety of our government. 

 As has been said, and truly said, that education is the perpetuity of our 

 form of government, it is equally true to class the home as a co-partner 

 with education. 



Some of you may wonder what our organization is for, what its 

 object is in holding these meetings. To start out, Iowa, it has been said, 

 is an agricultural state, and we do not deny it, but the most import- 

 ant branch of agriculture in the state of Iowa today, taken by itself, 

 is the dairy industry. I am creditably informed, as has been reported 

 I think by our honorable dairy commissioner, that in the state of Iowa 



