The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-12
THEY GO OUT
AFTER HIM.
Governor Stanley Hunted Up
by the Agriculturists
To Make Them a Speech About
Farming.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS
The Only Farming He Knows
About Is
Digging About In His Garden
in Wichita.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS

The Kansas state board of agriculture
began its twenty-eighth annual meeting
in representative hall last evening. 1t
was the intention to hold the prelimin-
airy session for the transaction of rou-
tine business during the afternoon, but
this part of the programme was not
carried out.
Governor Stanley, who was to deliver
the welcoming address, was not pres
ent when the session opened, and while
a committee was sent for him, the re-
ports Of the officers were received.
When Governor Stanley arrived, he
was introduced by Ex-Governor Click,
siastically received. He said:
81 don't know when I have had such
a delightful two days as the last two
which have spent in Topeka / haven't
body has been very cordial with me,
but this meeting is the most enjoyable
of all.
MY wife often says when I am dig
ging around my little home down at
Wichita that I ought to have been a
farmer, and 1 am inclined to think so,
too. I expect when get through with
my term L will have made up my mind
that l am a better farmer than gov
ernor.
81 have asked Governor Click and
Secretary COburn to what 1 was to
welcome you. 1t certainly is not to
portion of the state; not to Topeka, be-
cause the city has a representative
here, and the farmers have done more
than everyone else toward building
these massive walls within which you
are now meeting.
1.-THE farmers of Kansas ought to be
proud. During the past year they raised
$50, 000 900 worth of products. Our corn
product-let's see, Mr.. Secretary, how
much was it?'
WOULDN'T GIVE FIGURES.
Secretary Coburn shakes his head.
cit was so much that even your sec
rotary, the best secretary any board
of agriculture ever had (cheers), doesn't
dare tell. Then there is our cattle in
dustry. When I have ridden over our
state, I have seen, not, perhaps, cattle
on a thousand hills, but a thousand cat
tie on every hill.
81 want to assure you that whatever
this administration can do to advance
the agricultural interests of the state
will be cheerfully done.''
After Governor Stanley had conclud-
ed, President Click called on Secretary
Coburn to read that portion of his mes
sage referring to the agricultural inter
ests of the state.
Mayor Fellows was then introduced
to welcome the board to Topeka. He
said:
MAYOR FELLOWS "IMPROMPTU.
"a few days since, the thoroughly eff
ficient and exceedingly popular secre-
tary of the state agricultural society in
vited me to be present at and take part
in the opening exercises this evening,
and welcome you to our city in an off,
hand impromptu talk, and further sug-
gested that 1 make it brief. 1 assured
him fully appreciated the honor con-
ferred and, of course, accepted with
thanks.
Il called at the rooms of the state
agricultural society, hoping to find
among the priceless treasures there,
material for an impromptu' welcome. 1
70 into
one, as we always do when we visit this
department, still I had nothing i'm
promptu,-but let me assure you that it
affords me great pleasure to welcome
you to our city under such happy cir
cumstances.
"You are the representatives of our
people who are enjoying a wonderful
degree of prosperity. The poor farm
ers of a few years ago have become the
plutocrats of today. The money loan
ers of the east have been transferred to
the prairies of Kansas and three
fourths of the depositors in our banks
are the til1ers of the soil.
1.-The agricu1turists have developed
the resources of our state and made it
to be proud of. Your society, by
unwearied and often unappreciated eff
forts of its members, has accomplished
wonderful results by disseminating use
full information. The secretaries of your
boards have been men well qualified to
fill the important positions and deserve
the gratitude of every true Kansan. 1t
will not be out Of place for me to say
that the present secretary, Mr.. Coburn,
has performedy invaluable services for
the state and has worthily won the
honor of being the most prominent ag-
riculturaI statistician and writer that is
in the United States today.
Il desire to congratulate you on the
increasing importance of our southern
ports as points of export and import.
I have been informed that the Galveston
harbor is inadequate to handle one
e %1,~ IN rnff sod for aor-f
and 1 thoroughly believe in the extern
sion of our harborS along the Gulf coast
and the improvement of water ways
which will reduce rates to the producers
of the northwest The western railroads
are bending every effort to extend their
lines in that direction and in a few
years the vexatious question OF rail-
road transportation to salt water, Will
be solved by the competing railroads
ending at the Gulf of Mexico and the
Atlantic coast.
I'm conclusion let me say that the
legislature of Kansas ought to be more
liberal in appropriating money to carry
on the work of this society. There is no
economy in trying to save a few dollars
and Gripping the work of your society,
and the people of this state do not want
it done. Let them increase your appro-
priations for additional reports and
postage and let your secretary be paid
a reasonable salary. He does not re-
ceive as much salary a lot of second
rate clerks in this building and he is
accomplishing more good than any
other man under this roof. without ex
ception.
Il hope this meeting may be a most
pleasant and profitable one, and again
let me assure you that fully appreciate
the honor conferred and that the capital
city extends to you all a most cordial
welcome
PRESIDENT CLICK RESPONDS.
President Click responded briefly to both
addresses of welcome.
After G NJ. Davis of Hugoton, Stevens
county, had read a paper on THE South