196 



ground. It was my first opportunity to see a tree affected by 

 this disease, about which much that appears to me to be over- 

 drawn and needlessly alarming has recently been published in 

 magazines and newspapers." 



This is dated Albany, May 15, 1911. You will bear in mind 

 that the writer admits having seen but one diseased tree from 

 which he draws that conclusion; and (to Dr. Murrill), if my 

 friend will just bear with me a moment, he will get an oppor- 

 tunity when I am through. 



THE CHAIRMAN: The three-minute limit having expired, 

 we will understand, unless there is objection, that Mr. Williams 

 has unanimous consent to continue. 



MR. WILLIAMS : I hold before this meeting that it is a case 

 of ridiculous and absurd foolishness for a man to come out in 

 a public print of that character and, as a reputable scientific man, 

 wishing to be taken seriously, say that because he has seen one 

 diseased tree he regards this thing as needlessly alarming, and all 

 trumped up and in the air. If that is the kind of scientific aid 

 we are getting, then much of our scientific work is useless. 

 Much of it is just as useless as the conclusions that were drawn 

 here yesterday from some of the papers read. They are simply 

 guesses in the future, strokes in the dark ; they amount to noth- 

 ing. One man can guess at something as well as another. If 

 the practical men of America are to pin their faith to guesswork 

 resulting from the cursory examination of one tree, then I say 

 it is pretty nearly time to call off the scientists and let us look 

 to somebody else. 



PROFESSOR CLINTON: The politicians. 



MR. WILLIAMS : Yes, sir, they will help. You will find that 

 when a politician sees something good, he goes for it and 

 generally gets it. He, at least, has courage enough to try. 



In regard to the article just read before you, I happened to have 

 a copy of that in my hand. I suppose the gentleman who read 

 it is somewhat mystified as to how I got it; but if he desires to 

 know, the information may be had. It may be interesting to 

 this meeting to know that it was one of his pre-Convention efforts 

 in some way to cook up a sentiment, or an apparent sentiment, 



