icCohvention 



ilDENT— [CHARLES B. SHUMAN ELECTED TO LEAD THE lAA 



CRESrON 



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FOSTER 



his calm, deliberate judgment over- 

 whelmingly told him, that the good of 

 the organization would be best served 

 by his retirement from active leader- 

 ship. It was a time, he said, when he 

 felt he had suflFicient vigor left to 

 assist his successor in getting a hold of 

 the reins of leadership and when he 

 could be of some counsel to the board 

 of directors. 



"I have great reverence for graying 

 hairs," he added, "but I know, as every 

 man knows, and I can speak without 

 being misunderstood, that young men 

 usually furnish the initiative and zeal 

 for driving ahead. It takes great vigor 

 as well as sympathetic understanding to 

 inspire people to do things." He re- 

 assured the delegates that he was not 

 running away from any responsibility 

 and would be available at any time to 

 the Association, board and officers, for 

 counsel and advice. He added that the 

 Farm Bureau people had built the lAA 

 to its present position. "And," he 

 added, "when this convention comes to 

 a close and you go to the quiet of your 



home, I want you to go with a feeling 

 that this institution is in splendid 

 hands, because it is. . . You have men 

 so well grounded in the principles of 

 Farm Bureau philosophy, so devoted to 

 the causes of rural life, that they won't 

 let this organization go down side- 

 tracks. I know these men are going 

 to pull together as one of the finest 

 teams that ever stepped out for an or- 

 ganization. So let's go with that feel- 

 ing, as that is the way I am going. 

 . . .With the assurance that the policies 

 are well grounded in the institution, 

 with you leaders well acquainted with 

 one another, and with the benefits of 

 your county, district and state meetings, 

 I have nothing but confidence and great 

 happiness as I look forward to much 

 better days for the Illinois Agricultural 

 Association. Through you I want to 

 thank all my friends for ail the wonder- 

 ful support and cooperation I have re- 

 ceived. It is beyond anything I have 

 ever known a man to receive." 



Just before Mr. Smith turned the 

 gavel of office over to President Shu- 

 man on Thursday afternoon, he again 

 gave further explanation of his future 

 plans. It was an answer to the ques- 

 tion in the minds of many, "What is 

 Smith going to do?" 



The lAA retiring president said, 

 "Smith is going to do just exactly what 

 he has told you folks he is going to do. 

 And if my word has been worth any- 

 thing in 20 years, I hope you know I 

 am equally true now when I say rhat 

 Earl Smith isn't going to go into any 

 line of big business, he is not going 

 into politics, and he is not aspiring to 

 any kind of further honors. I have 



Pras. Smith inlls WLS' Art Pag* and radio 

 audience of plana to rotir* 



The Rev. George M. Gibson outlines the 

 "Seven Lamps of Character" 



Talmage Defrees congratulates delegate 

 on selection of lAA officers 



Hurrying back from trip. AFBF President 

 O'Neal addresses final session 



