THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION 15 



and in every industry, that every effort in life is dependent for 

 its success and prosperity on the man that is behind it. If -we 

 here in southern Illinois are behind the times, it is because we, 

 the individuals, are behind the times. 



I know it is not popular to get up and talk about your 

 faults or about the faults of your neighbors. I know it is more 

 pleasing to have a mutual admiration society and tell each 

 woman how good-looking she is and tell each man what a good 

 fellow he is, but that does not make prosperity which is lasting 

 and going to stay with us. Whatever defects we have are our 

 own fault, and I want to appeal to you to take advantage of 

 the lessons that we can learn at this meeting, let us take them 

 home with us and put them in practical use and get results. 



It would serve no good purpose if after all that is said and 

 done we cannot six months or a year from now see results from 

 it. If what is said falls upon empty ears, if what is demon- 

 strated is let fly away with the wind, then no good will be ac- 

 complished and we will be in the same old rut that we have 

 been in all of this time. 



I have said this much about the disadvantages, now let me 

 paint a picture of hope. There is no question but what we are 

 endowed by nature in this southern Illinois country, with all 

 the attributes that are necessary for success. God gave his 

 beneficiaries as an inheritance, that is worthy, our soil and our 

 climate. Our natural conditions are equal to any in any part 

 of this State or in any part of this great country. We can 

 produce on our farms just as much and as great a variety a- 

 they can produce anywhere else. We can produce just as good 

 cows and we can get just as good results if we get the right 

 man and work the right way. 



You cannot keep on in the same old way of letting the 

 cow stay on the south side of a barbed wire fence when the 

 thermometer goes down to zero and expect her to make a for- 

 tune for you on your farm. You cannot expect to take a cow 

 and give her that kind of care and attention and get enough 

 milk in a year to pay for her feed. 



