14 



DRY- FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



resentatives from these foreign countries who have never yet had an 

 opportunity of attending the sessions of the International Dry-Farming 

 Congress that they will undoubtedly find the sessions of today and the 

 next three days full of interest and full of inspiration; and not only will 

 they find the sessions full of interest and inspiration, but they will find 

 the opportunities they have between sessions of meeting men who are 

 present — men who are carrying on lines of work similar to their own — full 

 of value to them, and I am sure that as to those who may not be of Anglo- 

 Saxon blood, the officers and delegates of the Congress want them to feel 

 thoroughly at home and will greatly appreciate it, if, when there is a man 

 with whom they want to get in closer touch, they will feel absolutely free 

 to do so and approach that man, whomever he may be, with the security 

 that he will feel honored in being approached with that end in view. To 

 those who, like myself, have been privileged to attend two or three pri- 

 vate sessions of the Dry-Farming Congress I need say no word, for I feel 

 satisfied that they are in the same position as I am — very pleased to be 

 back at the Congress once more and feeling very well satisfied that, as 

 usual, we shall find the sessions of great interest and value and go away 

 with the feeling that it has indeed been good for us to be here. 



On behalf of the foreign delegates, then, Mr. Chairman, I thank the 

 Governor of Kansas, the Mayor of Wichita, and the other gentlemen who 

 have extended so cordial a welcome; and feel sure that the delegates will 

 feel that it has been worth their while to. make the journey, whether long 

 or otherwise, to be here this week. 



I thank you. 



CHAIRMAN DRUMMOND: 



Kansas has done a great deal for this Congress — as much or more, l 

 presume, than any other state has ever done. Not the least she has done 

 is the giving to us of our present President, Doctor Henry J. Waters, Presi- 

 dent of the Kansas Agricultural College, whom I sincerely believe to be 

 the leading agriculturist in the world today and the leading farm edu- 

 cator. I will now introduce Doctor Henry Jackson Waters, President of 

 this Congress. He will assume the gavel and have charge of the delibera- 

 tions from now on. Doctor Waters. 



PRESIDENT WATERS: 



Mr. Chairman, Men and Women: I am deeply appreciative of the 

 honor you have done me in selecting me to preside over the sessions of this 

 Congress and I shall endeavor to give my best attention at all times to 

 reflect credit, so far as it is in my ability to do so, upon the Congress that 

 is here assembled. 



The hour is too far spent for any formal remarks from me on this 

 occasion and *if you will permit me, I will just informally express my 

 appreciation to the friends and officials of the institution who have labored 

 so successfully to bring about the splendid Exposition and Congress now 

 open. 



