Thirty-fourth Annual Convention. ^^ 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



Hon. J. H. Patterson, Mayor of Marengo, III. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : — 



I scarcely know what there is for me to say : I hope the 

 treatment you dairymen receive from the people of Marengo 

 will be such as will tell the story better than anything I have 

 to offer. 



Strictly speaking, we are not all dairymen in the city and 

 yet a great many are depending on the dairy interests for a live- 

 lihood. The first twenty-five years of my life was spent on a 

 dairy farm and the remainder of it selling feed and furnishing 

 it to the dairymen. Whatever I have achieved during my life 

 I am indebted to the dairy interests for. 



We have no large factories in our place to show you and 

 this it not the season when Nature combined with art makes ours 

 one of the most beautiful cities in the state. 



Most of our farmers have dairies and the majority of them 

 produce milk for the Chicago' market. We have an industry in 

 our city which we want you all to see \yhile here, that is the Bor- 

 den Condensed Milk plant, and you will find it is a model of 

 cleanliness. If you have any doubts about the healthfulness of 

 their product, visit the dairy farms around here and follow the 

 milk through the bottling works and you will see perfection has 

 been attained. The management of the Borden Company in- 

 vite you to visit their place while here. 



Our people all want to see this meeting made a success, 

 and I cordially welcome you in behalf of every citizen in this 

 community. I thank you. 



The Chairman : — The response to this cordial welcome will 

 be made by Mr. Joseph Newman, of Elgin. 



