142 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



I take pleasure in introducing to you Mr. Crebs, banker 

 from Carmi, Illinois. (Applause.) 



Mr. John M. Crebs: ''The first intimation I had that 1 

 was expected to address you this evening was when I received 

 the program through the mail the other day and having but a 

 day or so to think it over I have not been able to prepare a^ 

 speech, but as I have three or four subjects on which I can de- 

 liver a speech, one equally as well as the other, as you will agree 

 with me in regard to that later, I am at a loss to know which 

 one to speak to you about tonight. 



But after I got here and saw that everybody's mind is on 

 the dairy proposition and the milk wagon, I was reminded of 

 the conversation that I heard only one end of, over the tele- 

 phone the other day. The nigger driver for a transfer man in 

 town had gotten out into the country and his mule had balked, 

 as it oftentimes had done evidently, and I just happened to be 

 in the store when he came over to telephone. He called up the 

 boss to tell him about it. After he got the number and his boss 

 v^n the wire he said he was out by Bill Jones' and old Beck balk- 

 ed agin'. "Yes sir" — remember I only heard one end of this 

 conversation. ''Put sand in his ear. — No sir, didn't do no good 

 — no sir.- — Yes traveling man twist his tail, got him over at 

 the drug store — he come around but, he looked mighty old to 

 me — yes, I build a fire under him and that's what I want to 

 talk to you about — we needs another wagon." (Laughter.) 



Well I am very much in hopes before we get through with 

 this proposition on which we are all met here, we will need a 

 lot more wagons, but not because we have burnt them. 



I find it difficult, while talking to you tonight, to 

 remember that I am not talking to farmers, but solely to those 

 who are here tonight. We are certainly very much interested 

 in the farmers' line, and dairying particularly and what few 

 words I would say would be to encourage those of you who, 

 have so recently entered into the spirit so heartily of helping 

 along the movement that Mr. Matthews, our state food com- 

 missioner, has started. 



