SMITH DEMANDS 



SOUND NATIONAL POLICIES 



... IN AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS AND IN GOVERNiMENT. ADDRESS OF EARL C. SMITH REPORTED 



IT IS with more than usual pleasure 

 and satisfaction that I am permitted 

 to extend official welcome to the 

 delegates and representative leaders at- 

 tending the 31st Annual Meeting of 

 the Illinois Agricultural Association. 

 It is an especial pleasure because only 

 a few weeks ago 1 was very fearful 

 that because of governmental limita- 

 tions, we would not be permitted to 

 have a full meeting of the delegates 

 where proper consideration of the tre- 

 mendous problems confronting agri- 

 culture and the Nation might be given 

 adequate attention. My more than 

 usual satisfaction is prompted by the 

 feeling of a job well done by the Asso- 

 ciation, even though it was forced to 

 operate under serious limitations and 

 handicaps. 



The year of 1945 is destined to be 

 recorded in history as epochal in the 

 memory of every living citizen, and, I 

 believe, in the history of our Country. 

 We have experienced the successful 

 culmination of a war to the East and to 

 the West that for a time threatened to 

 engulf the world. We have daily read 

 long lists of those who gave their lives 

 and of the hundreds of thousands of 

 those wounded on the field of battle. 

 We are all witnessing among those re- 

 turning from the war, the tremendous 

 number who come home seriously 

 maimed or otherwise handicapped in 

 becoming adjusted to the affairs of a 

 peaceful Nation. Since the firing 

 ceased, there is scarcely an American 

 home that has not looked forward to, 

 and many have received, word from 

 their loved ones that brought us al- 

 most from the depths of despair to a 

 feeling of confidence and genuine hope 

 for their early return. It is with a 

 deep feeling of pride and satisfaction 

 that we recognize the immeasurable 

 sacrifices and the outstanding gallantry 

 of our men in arms in bringing to a 

 successful conclusion the most gigantic 

 war of all time. 



Meet Many Problems 



For the first time in American history 



during a period of war, death removed 

 from the helm of government a Pres- 

 ident of the United States. I do not 

 believe that ever before in the history 

 of man have the people of a great na- 

 tion so many times been moved from 

 the depths of despair into periods of 

 hope and from bitter disappointment 

 finally into a deep consciousness of a 

 gigantic task magnificently done, as 

 have the people of America during 

 1945. 



Although entirely diflFerent from the 

 war itself, there have been the tre- 

 mendous economic disturbances, if not 

 chaos, resulting from war that we 

 have all been forced to meet in the 

 affairs of government, of institutions 

 and of men. In the light of these cir- 

 cumstances and experiences, it is hard 

 for me to see how any one can yet 

 doubt that an unseen hand was guiding 

 the destinies of America through trials, 

 tribulations and our own mistakes. 

 When I stop to think only of the ex- 

 periences in the administration of the 

 affairs of our organization and the 

 manner in which what appeared to be 

 almost insurmountable difficulties have 

 been faced and solved, I do not hesitate 

 to say that I would have been over- 

 whelmed with concern if not dismay 

 could I have anticipated in their en- 

 tirety the problems the Association 

 would have to meet and overcome. 



It is with a feeling of deep apprecia- 

 tion that I recognize the devotion to 

 duty, the ability and the fine coopera- 



tion 1 have received from my associates 

 on the Board of Directors, the officers 

 and the entire staff in making possible 

 the report of the stewardship of the 

 affairs of your organization which it is 

 my privilege as well as duty to give on 

 this occasion. 



Organization Forges Ahead 



I am sure you were pleased to leai'n 

 that the Association closed its fiscal 

 year with a membership of 115,651, 

 which is an increase of 10% over the 

 membership of the previous year. The 

 Treasurer has reported on the financial 

 condition of the Association, which re- 

 flects in a practical way the conservative 

 manner in which the affairs of the 

 Association have been handled and its 

 sound financial position as it faces the 

 many and increasing problems that lie 

 ahead. The Field Secretary has already 

 reported very briefly on the affairs 

 coming under his administration and 

 more detailed records will be found in 

 the \ printed Annual Report of the As- 

 sociation on all phases of departmental 

 activities. Without exception, the sev- 

 eral business service corporations have 

 made substantial progress. While 1 

 would like very much to deal with their 

 accomplishments and continuing prob- 

 lems at some length, I can here only 

 mention verf briefly the measure of 

 their successes. ■ 



Illinois Agricultural Auditing 

 Association 



The Illinois Agricultural Auditing 

 Association completed 448 audits for 

 439 members. This work required 

 35,885 hours of auditing time and 

 58,078 miles of travel. The Associa- 

 tion filed 393 income tax and capital 

 stock tax returns, 168 information re- 

 turns and secured two letters of tax 

 exemption for its members. The taxes 

 paid by these cooperatives approxi- 

 mated $186,820.00. When appraised 

 from the standpoint of available ex- 

 perienced personnel and limitations x>f 

 travel, the record of the Auditing As- 

 sociation during 1943 is outstanding. 



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LA.A.BEOOBD 



