344 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



welcome and we thank him for the talk he has given us and the compli- 

 mentary remarks regarding our industry and live stock business gener- 

 ally. We appreciate the generous welcome and the courteous treatment 

 accorded from this city, not only at this meeting hut every meeting here- 

 tofore. We have met with a generous welcome and such courteous treat- 

 ment for so many long years that we consider we have a standing invi- 

 tation when the time comes for the meeting and we come right along con- 

 fident that we will find the latch string on the outside and a hearty 

 welcome from the city. These are the things that bind us to this city. 

 Many other cities, perhaps, would be glad to have us hold our meetings 

 there but we feel that this is our natural home. We are also under obli- 

 gations from the fact that the hotels have at many times opened the doors 

 of their parlors for our sessions without money and without price. We 

 have never been compelled to hold our meetings in the rain or the sun 

 but have always found a place ready for us. 



There is another class of private enterprise in this city which I think 

 is worthy of our serious consideration, private enterprises which have 

 worked in season and out of season, never letting an opportunity pass to 

 speak a good word and aid us. I refer to the agricultural press of this 

 city. The editors of the live stock journals have always helped us hold 

 our meetings and they consider themselve a part of us, as indeed they are. 

 I doubt if any of us know the relation that exists between the live stock 

 journal and the live stock breeder. Our interests are mutual. It is fre- 

 quently said that we ought to cut the live stock journals out but this would 

 be a foolhardy policy. It is possible that we could live without them or 

 they without us but the advancement is very slow in both cases and if 

 we work together everybody concerned is bettered. I will say this, that 

 they have learned that in order to help themselves they must help us; 

 that in order to build up their industry they have to work and hustle 

 and make themselves of use to us or go out of business. When we all 

 take that principle that united we stand, divided we fall, sink or swim 

 together, the industry will be conducted on pleasant lines for everybody 

 concerned. 



We are here in the capacity of swine breeders at least three times 

 each year. We have our organization in the winter and our great state fair 

 besides the old Swine Breeders' Association and the meeting of the na- 

 tional association of expert swine judges. And this costs quite a good 

 deal of money. Those who live in remote parts of the state cannot come 

 in less than three days. Why do we sacrifice our time and money so 

 many times a year? If I was to answer this question I would do it by 

 asking another. Why is it that Iowa stands so far ahead of any other 

 state in numbers of swine produced and in price obtained for them? 

 When it comes to the exhibition of swine Iowa stands second to none. 

 The greatest hog show is held in this city. It does not come spamodi- 

 cally but every year. We know it will be here. Why are these things? 

 They are in the nature of results. It is just the same as when it gets 

 dark when the sun goes down — it is the law. In order to produce any 

 finished product we have to have the raw material. We have the raw 



