10 



and women who are the products of farms, and that the great men of 

 today, the great men in the financial world, great men in the business 

 world and commercial world, are the very men w^ho started in their boy- 

 hood days as farmers' boys. I think it is just and fitting that our great 

 city should properly recognize the life of the American farmer in his 

 relation to the necessities of city life. 



The time is rapidly approaching when the people who live in cities 

 will appreciate more and more the necessity for coming into closer touch 

 with those who produce the kind of things that make possible our living 

 in great cities. To the east of us we have a state which, if properly 

 developed, would be one of the garden spots of the world. New Jersey 

 probably stands in the forefront as one of the great trucking communities. 

 I am in .hopes that the day is not far off when the State of New Jersey 

 can so rise to the situation that it will so develop the lands which are now 

 lying idle, to enable the men who own the land there, to furnish to the 

 centers of population all the things that you and I like to eat. 



In Philadelphia we have in the past two years, endeavored to bring 

 the farmer, the man who produces products of that kind, in closer touch 

 with the city. We have made a careful study of the markets, whereby 

 the farmers can market direct to the consumer the products of their labor. 

 That the plans are not yet consummated is not due to any fault of ours, 

 but I am quite sure the day is not far off when we will enable the Phila- 

 delphia citizen to purchase his supplies directly from the man who pro- 

 duces them. Of course, we realize in modern commercial life that everyone 

 who handles these products must of necessity reap some benefit from it; 

 otherwise, he could not remain in business. But we are all selfish enough in 

 our e very-day life to try and secure those things we need at the minimum cost. 



It has been argued that one way to secure that is to put the farmer 

 and consumer in our cities in closer touch. 



That, ladies and gentlemen, is the extent of my knowledge regarding 

 farming. I only want to conclude my remarks "by saying to you again, 

 Philadelphia welcomes you most heartily. It is always customary, J 

 believe, to extend the keys of the city to you. I want to say to you that 

 we have no keys; they were thrown away long ago, and we only have the 

 old-fashioned latch-string, which always hangs out. If there is anything 

 which the city administration can do while you are here to make your stay 

 pleasant and profitable, I want you to feel sure that we are ready to serve 

 you, and all that is necessary to be done is for you to say the word. 



I thank you for the opportunity of appearing here. [Applause.] 



Mr. Calwell: Right at the beginning, I would like to say that 

 I do not know anything about agriculture, but I am very glad indeed that 

 the City of Philadelphia is beginning to take an interest in this great 

 subject. I thank Director Porter for his kindness in giving us the freedom 

 of the city, and offering to help this movement in every possible way. 



