Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-16
VAN LAW AND COFFIN SPEAK
Annual Address Made by c. Il. Van
Law, Who Speaks of the Signs of
the Times-optimistio Of tho Fu-l
ture-Hon. L. S. Coffin, of Fort
Dodge in Attendance

| Marshall County Old Settlers associ-
alton. One of the largest crowds ever
assembled on the Soldiers Home
| grounds was In attendance, the num-
Der present about equalling the atten-
dance Of the past two years, which
/ were record breakers
| Before the noon hour arrived every
| available dinner table and shady nook
was pre- empted by those who brought
lunch baskets filed to the bursting
point Others purchased dinner at the
grounds. Many of those from town did
not go out to the park until after noon,
when the attendance was the greatest.
Hon. l.. S. Coffin, of Fort Dodge, who
is to address the reunion this after
noon, came in this morning from Fort
Dodge prepared to talk reminscently to
the people. He had prepared no set
speech, but depended on the inspira-
ton of the occasion for his material.
The annual address wals made by
Nli. ". IL. Ne1H Law, VI llilS SAlS, dha
he spoke just prior to the dinner hour.
Music was provided by the Soldiers
Home band and Miss Helen Abbott, the
latter winning much applause in the
rendition of vocal numbers.
President +. M. Wheeler, of the as
ISOLATION, made the welcoming address,
which was brief but appropriate. The
response was made by Quartermaster
Bennett, of the Soldiers Home, who
assured the visitors that they were
privileged to all that was proper within
the environs of the home. The pro-
gram for the day was not concluded
until late this afternoon.
Mr.. Van Laws Address.
The annual address to the old set
tiers was delivered by Mr. c. H. Van
Law, whose eloquence and sound logic
in previous addresses have made him
popular with the membership of the
association. Mr. Van Laws subject
was Signs of the Times" and he
lis optimistic of the future. He said
in part:
cit is a significant fact in the de-
velopment of America that our people
are coming more and more into full
lGdllLdltOi Ol fllic llISpSlU ,Ol our
resources. The bare statement of
fact that our national domain en-
braces three and quarter millions of
square miles of territory is iscarcely
a comprehensive proposition. Thanks
to more enlightened public mind,
a better travelled, better read peO-
pie we are coming to realize that
between our ocean boundaries lies
wonderland of resources, fraught with
unbomded material prosperity and
possibilities.
This enlarged knowledge Of our
ma tional resources is one Of the signs
of the times which vouchsafes to us
enlarged realizations for the future.
of industry do not arise out
of shifltless and purposeless effort. 1t
is the inspired, purposeful activity Of
a people that delves into the noun
tains, bridges rivers, fells the forest
and breaks the virgin soil. A vision
of future greatness stirs the otherwise
sluggish energies to greatest exertion
and arouses to highest effort. 1t may
be read as the verdict of history that
no nation realizes greatness unless
led in it's activities by a vision of its
resources for greatness. @a*
$50 much for the vision of our peo-
pie as they face the future, over
which hangs a COLDER bow of promise,
and while it may be a. consequence
of this enlarged vision Of our resourc
els, it is nevertheless q significant fact
Of the present day--one Of the signs
Of the times'-that we are. seemingly
upon the greatest era of in
dustrial Improvement known to the
history Of civilized men. On every
hand the genius of the race is exerting
Itself in the accomplishment of some
new purpose or the creation Of some |
new device that surpasses the |
of the past. Scientific !
has put new life into, or
.ather revealed new powers within the
soil Haryests that once excited adj
niration and wonderment lie buried
beneath new records, which in them
selves only indicate that the limits
# our agricultural resources have not
,et been reached. Human ingenuity
las set to work and brought together
rests which war against pests, work
ng their own destruction to the pres
,rvation of that which is desired to
L.. "A |
.otton crops of our southern states,
md American genus goes globe trot-
ing to come back with a bug from
he table lands OF Guatemala to de-
our the weavel and assure Ameri-
as taking first rank among the ma
ions of the earth in the production
# cotton. The San Jose scale threat
ms American orchards. and again the
american genius digs about the Great
Wall of China to find an insect which
ces the business and saves our or
hards A parasitic fly from South
africa has been put to work in the
range and lemon groves of Califor-
ia. there to demonstrate it's capacity
0 rid these immensely valuable crops
f the black scale pests.
Not only is agriculture in its tech
ical phases becoming the subject Of
reat achievements, but the genius OF
he race is making our mountain fast
esses the great reservoirs wherein is
tored the waters with which to make
he desert places of constant bloom,
nth splendor eQualled only by that
f our rain-bathed plains. Certainly
he guide post Of time points over
highway Of magnificent prospect in