ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN S ASSOCIATION. 7 



will be full of conviction of the foolishness of attempting to rely upon the sale 

 of grain crops, and he will make his arrangements to feed out upon the farm 

 everything he raises upon it. In this case he will have a soil always in good 

 condition and a bank account in the same condition, while in the other case he 

 will have an exhausted soil and a depleted pocket book. 



I am not here for the purpose of giving advice to dairy experts, but during 

 a trip through Missouri and a portion of Iowa last summer I was favorably 

 struck with the difference in appearance in sections of the country equal in 

 natural qualities, where the farmers had paid attention to dairy products and 

 where they had not; and, I suppose, even an expert may occasionally pick up a 

 good idea from a rank outsider. The best definition of an expert I ever saw 

 was this: A person who knows something about everything, and who knows 

 everything about something. The best treatise ever written about getting on in 

 the world was written by a man who was on the verge of going into bankruptcy, 

 and all the assets he had in the world were the proof-sheets of this book, which, 

 by the way, had a tremendous sale. 



A person who had a fondness for statistics lately sent out to many of the 

 prominent business men in the country a large number of circulars, and out of 

 one hundred replies received to these circulars the fact was demonstrated that 

 90 per cent, of the most successful business men throughout our country were 

 born and reared upon the farm. Gentlemen, this one idea speaks volumes to 

 the thinking man. 



But why multiply words. The fact remains and underlies all others that 

 you represent an industry that furnishes the brain and brawn, the muscle and 

 money for the whole country, and, as another has said, while the preacher is 

 supposed to minister for all, the lawyer to get justice for all, the physician to 

 heal all, the farmer pays for all. 



As the representatives of this industry, which is the foundation of all true 

 progress and prosperity in every country, we bid you a thrice hearty welcome 

 to our city. We feel honored by your presence, and we assure you that in any 

 efforts which you may put forth to put honest goods upon the market, branded 

 just exactly what they are, no matter whether they come from the pork packers 

 of Chicago or the creameries of the Northwest, you shall have the undivided 

 support of all of our citizens. 



We have an idea that your meetings will be beneficial both to yourselves 

 and to us, and we cherish the hope that while you leave with us the butter and 

 cream of your thought, you may carry away from us such pleasant recollections 

 as shall induce you in future to come and see us again. 



RESPONSE. 



R. P. M'OLINCY, ELGIN, ILLINOIS. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen; Mr. Mayor: — On behalf of the 

 Illinois State Dairymen's Association I desire to accept the earnest and hearty 

 welcome which you, sir, have been pleased to offer us on this occasion ; and in 

 accepting for my associates this welcome, I do so with the full belief and under- 

 standing that it comes from the heart, and is not mere words uttered for the sake of 

 being heard. There are those of us who know Belvidere, for if I mistake not, this 



