NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 259 
So much has been said in the past with reference to an appropriation 
by our state legislature that I do not feel there can be anything new 
brought out at this time. A short review of the plans and work of your 
legislative committee may be appropriate. This association is under 
lasting obligations to E. R. Shoemaker, chairman, as well as his associates 
on the committee, for the unceasing efforts to get the legislature inter- 
ested in your behalf. 
Our plan, as formulated, contemplates asking the legisalture for at 
least $10,000. We hope with this to put two or three first-class men in 
the state as instructors and inspectors to work especially among the 
dairy men and creamery patrons organizing cow testing associations that 
will enable the farmers to weed out their poor and unprofitable cows. 
These men will also give practical instruction in feeding and breeding 
dairy cattle, the growing of feed and the use of the silo. 
It has been the plan of this association to hold but one convention a 
year. Those of us who have had this matter in hand know how hard it 
has been without a regular fund to fall back on to keep up an existence. 
It is not expected to do away with this meeting, but to make it much 
larger and better than it has ever been. It is hoped that this yearly 
meeting may be held in some of the larger cities in the state that have an 
auditorium with a good basement where a fine show of dairy cattle may 
be made. In addition to this we expect with the assistance of the ap- 
propriation, to bring the gospel of good dairying to the very doors of 
thousands of farmers that could not attend the state meeting by holding 
seven or eight small conventions or what may be termed short courses 
in dairying in different parts of the state. These meetings will really be 
schools of instruction along scientific lines such as are now being used in 
Germany and other foreign countries. The principal expenses of these 
meetings will be for hall rent, paying speakers and securing material for 
demonstrative work. 
We have heard much of late about teaching of agriculture in our public 
schools. Within the last year we have had several inquiries from prin- 
cipals of these schools saying that they were expected to teach agriculture 
and that they felt that dairying was one of the most important branches 
they would like to know where they could get literature and information 
that would be helpful to them in this work. If the Iowa State Dairy 
Association can get this appropriation, we are confident that we can 
return more of real value to the state in an educational way for the 
price they are paying, than can be had through any other source. 
This association is made up of men, many of whose lives have been 
spent in dairying and for its betterment. They understand, thoroughly, 
the needs of our state and are in a position to give most excellent returns 
for the small appropriation for which we are asking. We gave last year 
the amounts appropriated by our sister states for dairy improvement. 
We will only call your attention to the advancement they are making. It 
is largely due to this financial aid. Why should our state neglect so 
important an industry longer, when no other of our sister states has 
better natural advantages? 
The population of Iowa is being rapidly depleted by the immigration 
of our young men to the west, the south and to Canada. The proper en- 
