54 



DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



The spirit that builded an empire, 



And makes for the public weal; 

 That thrills our hearts with courage, 



And patriotic zeal; 

 Inspires us with earnest endeavor 



To accomplish the noblest, our best — 

 'Tis the spirit of Colorado, 



The spirit of the West. 



Governor Hodges leaving with Governor Ammons, President Waters 

 resumed the chair and introduced Jay Kerr, representing the Governor of 

 Arkansas. 



Arkansas 



MR. KERR: 



I was somewhat surprised up at our booth at the Exposition to be 

 notified this afternoon that I was to appear here this evening and extend 

 the respects of Governor Hays of Arkansas. I am very sorry that the 

 Governor is not here to pay his respects personally and tell you about our 

 great State of Arkansas. I am in the railroad business, myself, and am 

 not in the habit of making speeches. I have never made one and I don't 

 suppose I ever will. I know the first thing Governor Hays would have me 

 do would be to thank you for the cordial invitation to come here to Wichita 

 and address this Congress. 



Most everyone associates Arkansas with some kind of a story, as 

 there are a great many stories circulated about Arkansas, and they have 

 done us considerable harm. However, I will not make any further com- 

 ments about that, but will just tell you one myself. 



A young fellow lived down cn our road in Arkansas, whtf had gone to 

 Kansas City and made a lot of money and he used to come back home to 

 visit the old folks. He tried to prevail upon his father to go up to Kansas 

 City and look over the town. He wanted to show him some of the great 

 things in the big town of Kansas City, but the old gentleman didn't care 

 to go. He was somewhat dubious about going to such a large city, but 

 he was finally persuaded to go, so they boarded one of our passenger trains. 

 On that road to Kansas City you have to pass through a pretty ''long 

 tunnel. The old gentleman was quite nervous and as they passed through 

 the tunnel he reached over, grabbed his son by the shoulder and said: 

 "I told you something would happen; I knew it. I have gone stone blind!" 

 (Applause.) 



I don't know just what, the Governor would have me say about dry- 

 farming, because we don't have much dry-farming down our way. Only 

 once in a while we have a little drought — it rains on us pretty regularly down 

 in Arkansas. I know he would say this much: That if any of you people 

 out here don't know how to grow crops, we would like to have you come 

 down to Arkansas and we will show you. Just as Governor Ammons said 

 of Colorado, we need people in Arkansas. We have lots of land and lots 



