DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



237 



the betterment of this condition is largely dependent upon the application of 

 few simple principles of agriculture or of organization. These are within 

 the reach of every farmer and are dependent largely upon himself. It is a 

 question of efficiency — and is individual. 



MR. WEBSTER: 



Just a moment now. Please don't get in a hurry. It is almost noon, 

 but I want to introduce to you a man whom many of you know — the new 

 Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture in Kansas, Mr. J. C. Mohler. 



MR. MOHLER: 



A speech, no matter how full of meat, will hardly take the place of 

 luncheon; and the nearness of the noon hour, I am going to take as an 

 excuse to cover so far as I may my limitations as a platform performer. 



Being injected into this program so unexpectedly makes me think of 

 the story I was told not long ago. A farmer had a very vicious bull, in 

 fact it was so vicious that the farmer could not do anything with him and 

 offered $5 to have this bull brought in dead or alive. One young man 

 thought that was easy money so he buckled on his sixshooter and started 

 out. The bull was lying over there in the pasture all unsuspecting, and 

 he seemed to be surprised that anyone had the audacity to come in the 

 same corral with him. Thereupon the young man got excited, fired his 

 gun, and hit the bull, just grazing the skin. The bull becoming infuriated 

 started after the young man, who ran as fast as he could, yelling, "Open 

 the gates, I am bringing him in alive!" 



My apparance on this program is almost as sudden as the manner of 

 bringing in the bull, but I am willing, if not able, to do whatever is asked 

 of me. 



This Dry-Farming Congress is the only dry thing in Kansas this year, 

 and it is dry in name only. You men from other states or other countries, 

 no matter how fair they may seem to ycu, must be pleased with the dress 

 that Kansas is wearing with which to greet you on this occasion. Her 

 wheatstacks are evidences of our rich wheat harvest, which is the largest 

 any state ever grew. The long alfalfa stocks, our kafir and sorghum and 

 corn which are now in shock, must present a picture to you; but with all 

 our abundant crops that is one great need in our agriculture, and that is 

 more livestock. That applies, of course, to the dry-farmer as well as the 

 farmer in the humid region. Our statistics show that livestock has de- 

 creased in Kansas about 30 percent in the past five years. This year we 

 have a big crop and not enough stock to eat it up. There is not much in- 

 centive to raise a big crop of forage if you have no livestock. 



This Congress, with its worldwide interest, is of universal importance. 

 Its principles, if applied to the vast regions of limited rainfall would prove 

 cf great value to agriculture. I am glad this Congress met here in Kansas 

 this year. It has been magnificently officered. Look at Doctor Waters, 

 the man who was at the head of this Congress this year. He is without a 

 peer in this country. Mr. Faxon always hustled, always worked for the 



