NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 371 



in either of these classes tonight and when I am called upon to follow 

 two such distinguished lawyers who have spoken tonight, I am put in a 

 very difficult position. References have been made to some of tlie diffi- 

 culties lawyers have In these times. This reminds me of the story of 

 the lawyer in Iowa who wished to emigrate to Texas and wrote to a 

 friend of his who lived in Texas and asked about the possibilities and 

 what he thought of the chances for an honest lawyer. In replying his 

 friend wrote back, that conditions were very good and he urged him to 

 come on as he felt certain that an honest lawyer would have no compe- 

 tition. 



When our toastmaster first addressed this audience, the various or- 

 ganizations represented here, he made some reference to the allied inter- 

 ests. I thought he was going to say allied armies and I think indeed, he 

 might have referred to it as allied armies and I am proud to refer in any 

 connections to the allied armies of this kind and what they have done for 

 the advancement of a great industry like the dairy industry of this country 

 in all of its branches and I wish to congratulate men engaged in this in- 

 dustry. I believe this organization with its various lines of interest and 

 effort that it has to do with dairying is one of the wisest and one of the 

 best conceived plans that any industry has ever undertaken and in this 

 connection I am reminded of what the last speaker said concerning the 

 importance of protecting an industry which means so much to the welfare 

 of our people and ourselves, and which requires so much important effort 

 on the part of the individual . 



A few years ago when Mr. Armour was showing his famous six horse 

 team in this country and after they had won all the honors that could be 

 won, he conceived it a good idea to send the team abroad and exhibit at 

 the great Palace show in London and when they arrived there and made 

 their first exhibition very great interest was shown in them, so much so 

 that it was a matter of common talk, not entirely on account of the excel- 

 lency of the horses but largely on account of the wonderful manner in 

 which the horses were handled by the driver and King Edward then on 

 the throne made a special request to see the driver. He came down, 

 spoke to Wells and complimented him on the way he handled the team. 

 Mr. Wells related this w^ith a great deal of 'personal pride. Mr. Armour 

 upon hearing of it said, "Wells, wasn't that a good deal of attention for an 

 ordinary man to receive from King Edward?" Wells replied, "Yes, but 

 I am no ordinary man." 



This is somewhat the position of the farmer today. A few years ago, 

 we made a survey of the farms in one of the townships in Iowa and 

 found the average capital invested $37,500. We then made a survey of a 

 township just outside of your city, one of the most magnificent in this 

 or any other state in its rural citizenship, in production and improvements 

 and where everything stands for the highest type of rural citizenship and 

 the average was $50,000.00. Now gentlemen, when you find a business 

 with such a large capital at stake, it is indeed a business that is of great 

 importance and one that we may well keep in mind in a time like this. 

 This business is one that is of vital importance and be it said to the 

 credit of agriculture that it is the only great industry of this country that 

 has met every demand that the Government has made of it and delivered 



