ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Response 



MR. JOSEPH NEWMAN, ELGIN. 



Mr. Chairman and Representatives of Belvidere and the Members? 

 of the Illinois Dairymen's Association: 



We return thanks, heartj^ thanks for being asked to come to this town. 



When this subject was first approached among the Directors we sent 

 out one or two men, good and true, to look over the situation, and thoy 

 brought back to us about the same reports that the two men of old 

 brought back, "The land was flowing with milk and honey"; that the- 

 farmers were anxious to have us come; that the town would treat u& 

 right, and we know from what friends we have here that that would be: 

 so, and we immediately decided to accept the invitation to Belvidere. 



We, of course, expect, and we know we shall not be disappointed,, 

 that the citizens, as well as the farming community, will turn out, 

 and it is, as the former speaker said, to the interest of the merchants aa 

 well as the dairymen. We in return expect to hear from your local 

 speakers what they have learned in regard to the dairy interest; we may 

 gather knowledge as well as give knowledge in that particular. 



The dairy interests of the United States, and I take it from figures of 

 Governor Hoard of Wisconsin, have reached eight hundred millions of 

 dollars annually. Hence we have gotten to a point where the dairy inter- 

 est of the United States is one of our greatest interests. Thus, this? 

 annual convention of the State should be attended to and carefully 

 watched, that the right men are taking hold of it. and you farmers should 

 take into consideration your inflacnce in the city or town you live in, and 

 remember every one is needed to help us in this work of lifting up the- 

 dairy still higher. 



The city and country surrounding Belvidere I need not speak of to 

 you, because we all agree there is no other valley under the bright sun- 

 shine, or on God's footstool that will surpass it in fertility, bright men^. 



