No. 4.] RURAL CREDITS. 143 



responsibility, a task to perform, — we won't speak of oppor- 

 tunities, — greater than was ever placed upon any people in the 

 world. It is necessary that we talk about military preparedness 

 and all that; that is necessary, but the most fundamental 

 necessity of all is a preparedness of our economic structure, of 

 our manufacturing business, — a preparation by which we may 

 finance everything that we do, that we, as a people, may work 

 in harmony. The time has come when there is a call to 

 patriotism, a call for the American people to respect the 

 obligations of citizenship as almost never before. We should be 

 serious thinking people now, planning out how we are going to 

 perform this service for the world which it almost seems that 

 we are ordained to perform. We are equal to it in ability. 

 We have the resources, both in materials and in men and 

 women; we have the capability; we have the brains; and the 

 only question before us is whether we can work together and 

 perfect our organizations and perform in an orderly manner 

 those things which are necessary to carry on a great work to 

 its, consummation. I am glad that there is this feeling through- 

 out the United States which brings people together, as we are 

 to-night, to discuss these vital questions of human welfare, 

 because they are far-reaching. 



Third Day. 



The third day's session opened with the annual meeting of 

 the New England Alfalfa Growers' Association. President 

 L. E. Mayo of Harding presided and introduced Mr. H. W. 

 Jeffers of Plainsboro, New Jersey, who spoke on "Alfalfa Con- 

 ditions in New England." 



