The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-07-30
FARMERS MEETING.
Ex-senator Ransom Presides
Over the Convention.

GH SCuotOt hOiISOIu tCSbuCS
Over the Convention.
ers OF North Carolina Assemble in
! Raleigh 20 Consider Methods of
Promoting the interests of Agricul-
ture-Farming, the 7other of Indus
try and of Commerce. Should Go
Abreast With the Other Interests
! Spreading Over the Workable
Addresses and Splendid Papers Read
The Farmers Convention which
met i'll Raleigh last week in connec-
ton with the Agricultural & Mechan-
| ical College Summer School, was
a notable success. Ex-senator Matt
v. Ransom presided. More than
two hundred and fifty representative
farmers were present from various
parts OI the State when the cOnven-
tion opened Tuesday morning. Dr.
George T. Winston, president of the
\. ( II. College, called the meeting to
order and explained the objects for
which it had been called. He then
presented Gen. Ransom us presiding
officer, speaking in part us follows:
i take pleasure in Introducing to
you the foremost citizen OF North
Carolina, whose career OF public SER
vice began the day he graduated and
spoke at the graduation exercises at
the University OF North Carolina; a
citizen who has served North Caro-
lima hall Il century, and who has pre-
served his own integrity and the in
tegrity of North Carolina, whether in
the halls of Congress, the field of bat
tie or the court room or on the farm.
| esteem it Il special honor to bring
him to preside over this first confer
ence Il patriot who retired from Con-
gress to preside over his farm |
compare this with the patriotism OF
the father OF this country who left
fame and honor for his private farm
at Mt. Vernon, And may say also
OF Gen. RunsOm that he. too, was
first i'll war, first in peace, and first
in the hearts OF his cOuntrymen.
Gen. Ransom made a splendid ad-
dress, the keynote OF which was an
appeal for the application OF scientific
methods in farming and for Il sister
hood between agencies OF commerce,
manufacturing and agriculture.
CEN p.(sDN'S AnnPESS
For the following lrport we are in
debted to the Raleigh Post:
Gen. Ransom was greeted with q
perfect storm OF applause and assoOn
as quiet was sufficiently restored the
venerable statesman entered upon an
address, all too brief, which for APP
propriateness and forcible delivery
could not be eXcelled. He was visibly
affected by the tribute from DR.. Win
stOn and by the ovation given him
by the people lie said in part
"President Winston, | am deeply
sensible. and trust sincerely CRATE
full of having the high honor OF pre-
siding over this association OF repre-
sentative farmers of our State That
| am embarrassed must be expected.
These scenes, these objects overcome
me nearly; this great college, these
beautiful green trees and grounds,
and the college buildings, and that
great president of this college. Not
many years since, when last saw
this college, it was almost Il barren
| waste: now it is adorned with beauty
and grandeur, grace and promise. 1t
is almost Il supremeioy to behold, to
realize the grand progress North Car
Olina is making 1t fills my heart
with 10Y. What is this twenty-frst
day of July, 1903? 1t may well be
called the birthday OF improvements
in agriculture in North Carolina. 1t
can hardly be comprehended. AS |
observe, my mind is carried away.
Here we are, Governor Aycock, in
| the dawn of new revolution, not OF
cannon and shell and sword, but of
the soil for the Improvement of the
State. Look at her soil, Every va
riety OF products; the East with its
productive gardens; the mighty West
with its grand blue skies, its delight
fu springs, grand forests, and noble
people. YOU men and your wives
resolve upon this thing, it will be
done Look at the great improve,
ments in everything. Farming is the
mother of industries and of civiliza
ton. And why can't this go abreast
with the other interests spreading
over the world? Then let us make
North Carolina a great farming State
What is needed? Science! Let this
he the day that science must take
hold of agriculture and do for agri
culture what science has done for tn,
purest, the greatest and the roblest
OF arts, Touch agriculture with the
great science of chemistry and elec
tricitv. And where can we make il
greater than in North Carolina? Le'
this be the birthday of our improve
ments i'll agriculture.
Farmers, you see the merchant
the railroad man, and the men of al
professions improving by knowledge
Improve likewise by their example
What if every home is made the sea
OF intelligence, The first thing to dc
is to enlist the power of the press, O
the newspapers, in their behalf; tha
Hercules, with its hundred hands
that hundred-eyed Argus. that come
to us full of news like sunbeams be
fore breakfast. The press is now tell
inc, tho tr,1tb inyorio blv | iOyOl