DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



271 



MR. JOHN HENRY SMITH, of Utah: Ladies and Gentlemen- 

 Friends, we are drawing to the close of one of the most remarkable 

 congresses that has ever been held in this western land. It has a mis- 

 sion. It has a mission to every citizen of the arid sections of the United 

 States and will be a boon if the results of its efforts shall be carried out 

 to ever}^ section of this land we all love so much. Now then, my friends, 

 in order that this work shall be what we design it to be when we leave 

 here, it shall be the dream of ourselves, our wives and our children that 

 the improvement of this western land lies nearer to our hearts than any 

 other proposition, looking to the development of our countr}'. except our 

 own personal liberties. What is meant by improvement? ' We 

 mean the improvement of its citizenship so that this western 

 country shall present to the world a class of men in whose minds the 

 gospel of strength, and power and determination is fully developed; that 

 their children and children's children, as they come to gaze upon the 

 mountain sides and look down into the valleys shall say of it. "Thank 

 God for this land, the home of good parentage, a spot selected by Divine 

 Providence, upon which the principles of liberty shall grow and extend till 

 the sons of the soil shall present the grandest citizenship of any nation 

 in all the world. 



Isly friends, it is not ni}- thought to detain you but for a few mo- 

 ments. I trust that the members of this Congress as they go from 

 this meeting shall resolve that the best interests of agriculture shall be 

 maintained, that our mining interests and smelter interests, and every other 

 interest that means the betterment of the men of our land, and the em- 

 ployment of our fellowmen shall be guarded with fairness and justice, 

 that conservative methods shall be adopted, looking to the best results 

 and the preservation of the rights of every man. and the preservation of 

 those rights most absolutely and most thoroughly. 



^ly friends. I desire to say to 3'ou that the Trans-Mississippi Commer- 

 cial Congres will be held at San Francisco in November, and that body of 

 men are interested with you in the accomplishment of this same specific 

 purpose, the development of this glorious west of ours. Some time in 

 October that great Irrigation Congress that has done so much, of whom 

 'Mr. Coswell has be§n su"ch a wonderful worker, will hold, its session at 

 Albuquerque, N. ]\I., and there will be found a body of men in line with 

 yourselves, actuated by the same ultimate object, having in mind the 

 accomplishment of the same purposes, the upbuild-ng of the land, up- 

 lifting of our citizenship, placing them alongside of the best and purest 

 men in the world. 



I thank 3-ou for 3-our consideration, and for your kindness to myself 

 personally. I thank you for your efforts in seeking to provide some means, 

 and trust that no man shall leave this city until he shall have discharged 

 his full duty in that respect, that every man will see to it that he adds 

 his dollar. 



