The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-29
GENERAL SECTION.
pREsIpENT FosTER,s ADDRESS.

The address OF Presiuent l.. H. n"slei
before the Farmers congress on How the
Agricultural and Mechanical College can
be Improved to Benefit the Farmers OF
Texas" follows
There never was a time in the history
Of the Agricultural and Mechanical col
lege when 1t could not have been improved
ana made more serviceable to the people;
nor viii there ever come such time until
growth and advancement shall cease to be
the law of life.
An things must either grow or die, but
before presenting in detail the points bear
ing specifically on my subject ! wish to
call your attention TO the woeful lack oil
information among the masses regarding
the past and the present work of the col
ieee In the interest of agriculture.
1t viii be in vain that new buildings,
new equipment and additional teachers and
Instructors are provided unless the farmers
of Texas understand more fully what the
excellent corps of teachers and facilities
we now have are accomplishing for the
advancement OF their interests.
Indeed the farmers know that there ls
such an Institution, and that 1t Is sup
posed to teach the science OF agriculture
and in that respect Is distinguishable from
the ordinary college But they have heard
TEDenltN IuhL llult worn olu aA'A9F AAH'
has done service against Industrial educa-
dion so long namely, that the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college educates boys
AWAY from work. that many OF them
do not think the institution offers any
thing different in the way OF education
from what their fathers enjoyed and that
they have heretofore been accustomed to-
The occnson forblds more than a pass
Ing notice OF this campaign story but !
can not forego the opportunity to again
contradict IT, In tho FIRST place whatever
may have been the results Of the training
here given TO the young men OF Texas
ln the early history OF tho college, when
It was without either means or con
stitueucy, and struggling for an existence
it was then, as It Is now, the only college
In Texas Offering TO the rising generation
OF Young men anything but classical ed
ucation. No other Texas college offers
course OF industrial pursuit, or intende'
especially to prepare them for one. IT Is
therefore. quite certain that young mel
from the farm who 90 elsewhere for a
education will be educated away from %
farm and away from the practical sld
Of life so far as the trend OF an educ'
tion can accomplish that result
In the second place IL Is not true thu
young men who have attended the Ayr
cultural and Mechanical college have bee
nlienaied from work on tue farm OF els
lest period of its history, during Its form
tive stage, when It was without adcqu9l
means and facilities to impart such h
strnction as its founders contemplated, IN
there certainly Is no reasonable basis IL
such a criticism now,
Happily am not without facts to eSldl
lish The truth of these statements.
AT the recent commencement there WEI
Class Of 1903. fresh from the poS handle
where they had been ever since they f.
celyed their diplomas from the colleg
Willie the farewell address OF the elias
vnedctorian was still ringing in their eal
they went actively to work to apply ID
instruction they had received to the pra
tical work of farm life.
Besides these there were present man
graduates representing the classes Of otht
years. following The same calling and
goodly number fresh from the field OF col
quest In other Industrial pursuits But,
place this matter beyond conjecture,
tabulated statement was recently prepare
and published In tho college record class
flying the pursuits of the graduates Of Il
institution, so far as they could be asce
tanned. Ont of total of 3IS gradual
whose business vocation could be asce
taned, less than 10 per cent of them we
following pursuits classified as professlo
al, the other 81 per cent were followii
some branch of lndustrlal work.
pursuit were classed as stockmen al
So that by far the largest number we
branches
The college was established to furnI
means anu OPPORTUNITIES lof euucNilnE I
the establishment OF such colleges u,
sessed no such means aud enjoyed no su
opportunities. Its purpose is 20 comb
Theoretical instruction with practical wo
IN agriculture and It's allied branches a
IN mechanics. and in civil engineering
a greater percentage OF It's graduates w
are following the pursuits for which
the Agricultural and Mechanical college
Texas To place these facts before
nre interested In the development OF
strengthen public confidence in ii a
Ferest In the work. It IL doing, aud Il
will be a long stride toward improving
institution so as to benht the farmers
In fact It Is the very hrst step in Il
direction, and that IS my. reason for q
ing the attention of this farmers C
gress TO them. They can not he to gen
ally circulated or too widely known.
far have only called attention to
records OF the graduates of the collie
All colleges keep track of their gradunt
hut no data regarding undergraduates
& College influence &c 70 measure sS fi the "
OF an Institution by the achievements
Its graduates alone.
BY far the greater number or stude
who attend college never graduate. WI
this fact Is considered who can estin
the value to the community OF the Ind
trial training impaired 10 those who h
gone into the various avenues OF indus
without graduntngY
One more observation and I ain d
with this part of my subject. Who am
yen has ever witnessed college gradu
fresh from the college walls with diplo
yet unstained by the touch OF time. 60
Immediately to the corn and cotton III
or to the workshop to take hold OF
enter upon the work or life7
Who among you ever heard Of suct
thing beforef by their fruits ye 81
know them ] believe the time Is I
approaching in all sections OF our eoun
mud II now at hand In many portions
Il when, through the educational inhuc
set IN motion BIZ Institutions like Il
young men VIII choose Industrial In p
rreice to professional pursuits, beca
they promise more sure reward and NJ
~ View a wider field Of scientific resea
Rpd Investigation There must beth