neld Secretary George Metsger delivers 

 his annual report 



been given all the honors that any one 

 could possibly want or desire — the 

 honor of representing this great body 

 of the finest people on earth, the farm- 

 ers of Illinois. And I think to take any 

 other kind of position would be to be- 

 little the wonderful position of leader- 

 ship and the opportunities for service I 

 have enjoyed here. 



"I am retiring to be in the first row 

 of the ranks of the membership in my 

 county and in my district and in my 

 state and to support as best I can the 

 leadership of the American Farm Bu- 

 reau Federation. . . 



"I am deeply concerned about the 

 trends in America. . . I hope that with 

 some relief from the arduous duties of 

 daily administration of affairs I can give 

 more time to my reading and study of 

 some of the trends and the great ques- 

 tions of public policy of this country. 

 And I may be afforded from time to 

 time the opportunity of free expression, 

 and especially after an interim of a 

 few months, when no one could connect 

 properly any remarks I might- make 

 with the organization or consider fhat 

 I am speaking officially for anyone." 



Mr. Smith said that he did not want 

 to be misunderstood because he knew 

 that his influence in national affairs 

 had been due the fact that he was 

 speaking for a great group and that he 

 would no longer be speaking for a 

 group. However, he said that if there 

 is a great need for free expression that 



is well grounded in the ideals for which 

 American boys fought, and if he could 

 help furnish an answer, he would be 

 proud to make that contribution. 



In leaving office, the farm leader 

 spoke of the beautiful clock that the 

 membership had given to him and 

 Mrs. Smith at the annual meeting two 

 years ago and of the bound volume of 

 testimonials which had been arranged 

 at that time by the board of directors. 

 He issued an invitation to members to 

 stop in his home at Detroit in Pike 

 county to see the book and look at the 

 clock and hear its chimes. 



He concluded by saying, "With the 

 help of God, I can assure you to my 

 dying day, I hope I will never do any- 

 thing that will cast other than honor 

 on the years of service I have been per- 

 mitted to give to this organization.' 



As Mr. Smith presented the gavel of, 

 office to President Shuman, he said, 

 "Charlie, in handing you this gavel in 

 token of the great honor and the tre- 

 mendous responsibilities of leadership, 

 I say to you, sir, just about what Sam 

 Thompson said to me 20 years ago 

 when he was about my age, and I was 

 coming in as a young man about your 

 age. Charlie, I've known you for years. 

 You've got it in you. We are behind 

 you. You can do the job. 



"I knew you before you were on the 

 board of directors. I have ridden with 

 you to meetings and you have presented 

 me to farm meetings. I have seen you 

 in conferences of various kinds. I 



A. E. Burwash nominates Charles B. Shu- 

 man for president oi lAA 



know you are a stalwart son of the 

 soil. I don't question for one moment 

 your devotion to the people of the 

 earth, the rural people of this great 

 state and natioa. I anticipate for you 

 the opportunities of broadening and 

 expanding your natural abilities in 

 greater service than has ever been yet 

 given by a leader of the Illinois Agri- 

 cultural Association. 



"I pledge to you, sir, every ounce of 

 support and cooperation that you may 

 desire and, not only to you, but to 

 your board of directors, in the Im- 

 mediate months ahead. 



"God bless you, sir. You have a 

 great opportunity — the greatest or- 

 ganization of rural people ever put to- 

 gether in any commonwealth of this 

 great country. I know you are going 

 to make a success." 



President Shuman responded by de- 

 claring that he fully appreciated the 

 great responsibility placed upon him in 

 his election to office. "Mr. Smith left 

 a big pair of shoes to fill. I will need 

 your loyal support and cooperation. 



"I don't think there is any more sol- 

 emp pledge than the one made by Mr. 

 Smith when he assumed the duties of 

 president in 1926. I repeat, to the best 

 of my strength and ability, I will en- 

 deavor to serve what I believe to be 

 the best interests of the farmers of Il- 

 linois." 



President Shuman has the well 

 wishes of all, and the support he re- 

 ceived from the delegates in electing 

 him was a positive indication that the 



' 



□mer H. Loehr. Macoupin, discusses grain 

 fanning on Dinnerbell Hour 



Shirley Dickinson sings to audience in 

 Hotel Sherman ballroom 



Art Page interviews Chester Thomason. 

 Morgan, on Dinnerbell Hour 



-. .. ..♦ - 



L A. A. RECORD 



