Evening star., 1907-09-04
WARM WELCOME
FOR BIOLOGISTS
Visitors Greeted by the Secre-
tary of Agriculture
AND COMMISSIONER WEST
Gathering Held This Morning at the
Cosmos Club.
HEARTY PRAISE FOR WILSON
Prof. Blanchard Of Paris Attributes to
Him Credit for Worldwide In
huence of Department.
HEARTY PRAISE FOR WILSON

Speeches Of welcome to the visiting Zool-
ogists, members of the recent Congress held
in Maine, who arrived here yesterday on a
sightseeing tour, were made at the Cosmos
Club this morning by Mr.. James Wilson,
Secretary Of Agriculture, and Commissioner
Henry l.. West. In behalf of the guests,
Prof. Raphael Blanchard of the University
of Paris made a response which was an
earnest tribute to the worldwide value OF
the work which has been accomplished by
Secretary Wilson and the Department of
Agriculture under his direction.
Dr. L. o. Howard, chief of the bureau Of
entomology, as chairman of the reception
committee, called the meeting to order at
a quarter past o'clock, IN the clubs lee
ture hall The visiting biologists and the
ladies of their party were all present.
1T is with great pleasure" said DIR. How
ard. that 1 welcome you to Washington,
and will do so, not only as the chairman
of the reception committee, but also on be-
half of the scientific people of this city. 1t
Ia not necessary for NE to refer to the fra
ternity that exists among scientific men. or
to the subfraternittes that strong
among specialists. If we look over the
whole field 1 doubt whether we find in any
part of it that the bond is stronger any
where than it is among the biologists.
No National Jealousy.
They are all striving for the same end,
and there is no national jealousy.
when our scientists go to foreign coun-
tries they are always sure of welcome,
and on this account 1t Is really not neces-
sary to welcome you. for If you feel !
do about 1t you know that you are welcome
You have seen the President at Oyster
Bay and have been welcomed by him. but
now you are in the capital OF the nation,
and 1t Is fitting that you should be greeted
t.ttx Nr obi
am fortunate in being able to present to
you the Minister of Agriculture, who will
address you
Secretary Wilson's Address.
Secretary mlIson then arose, amid ap-
plause. and spoke as follows:
Ladies' and gentlemen: Let me welcome
you to Washington. We are all glad to see
you and 1t is red-letter day for us l am
glad you brought the ladies with you In
this country We acknowledge no severe igns
but the ladies, and they may take some
thing back with them that 1t will be good
for you to know
Washington is not only the political cap
ital of the United States; 1t Is also the
scientific center and the most beautiful city
representative and 1t Is rapidly becoming
the social center, and 1 am sure you will
enjoy yourselves while here.
LAS biologists you will be interested es-
pecially in the Smithsonian Institution and
its annex, the Geological Park. In the in
stitution science is studied purely sci
entific lines. In another branch there Is
the bureau of fisheries. attached toSthe De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. This
was designed and organized to supply the
lakes and rivers with food fishes for the
people Its object Is thus economic, but 1t
makes scientific discoveries as 1t goes
along. Science that pertains to the eco
nomics of zoology may be as good a sci
ence as one that does not pretend to utili-
tartan ends. But l believe that no scien-
tif1c fact Is ever lost. We might never
have had an Edison If there had not been
Lord Kelvin. The theorist In science Is
the forerunner of the man who makes
practical application of pure science.
Department Bureaus.
'In the Department Of Agriculture there
are three bureaus which will doubtless be
of interest to you That of animal industry
studies domestic animals and everything
pertaining to them. There is much that
have tanned any OF those native to this
country We first brought domestic ami
mails from Spain, and later from Great
Britain and the continent. We are making
study OF them and seeking for types
best suited to the soil and the climate
THE bureau of entomology, which DR..
Howard graces and honors SO much, makes
a study Of our friends and enemies in the
insect world. Agents are sent all over the
globe for specimens to use in destroying
wall OF China, while DR.. Howard himself
may go to Crimea to get an insect friend
which will help to annihilate the gypsy
moth which Is playing havoc with the trees
of New England.
'"rhe bureau Of biology studies the habits
work.