The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-30
AGRICULTURAL


Address delivered by F. s. White, asri- cultural and horticultural commissioner of the Rock Island-Friseo lines, at the Arkansas State Fair, 1907
 MT Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:-l am glad to meet with you here today. For some time I have been looking for ward with anticipation to this gath- ering here for the celebration or the harvest feast For two reasons, at least have I been looking forward to th1s gathering: First, I have hoped all the time that something might be said here which would result in lasting good in building up the greatest business in this great country of ours; second, nave been looking. forward to th1s occasion for the pleasure it always a1ords me in meeting and exchanging ideas With the people It is meet and proper that we gather once a year to celebrate the harvest feast This is a custom as old as the races or at least as old as his tory We are here today to pay tribute of respect to the oldest and most important occupation of man. We come here bringing the best products of our fields, orchards, vineyards and gardens as well as the best stock from our fioeks and herds This friendly rivalry for the rewards offered is one of the farm err best means of education. for here we have a grand opportunity for free exchange of ideas and methods. Here
 
 sons which we may take with LIS to our homes and apply to our farming opera tons. But not only do we have here the evidences of the skill and frugality of the men but here are also the finer arts. the handiworl of the ladies. Here the ladies not only display their work in the finer finished garments and the good things to eat but we also have the floral offerings and these beautiful flowers are the emblems of peace and purity.
 As before stated we are here to pay tribute to our greatest industry. agri culture and horticulture, and horticulture is only the finer, more perfect and higher accomplishment of agriculture. I am with you in a new role My coming differs from anything, perhaps, you have ever had in your town. My mission Is some- thing entirely out of the ordinary. It is not only an honor but also pleasure to me to be able to stand before you as the first and only man, so far, in the United States, who has been able to get one of our greatest railroads to establish and maintain a well organized agricul- tural and horticultural department and to create the office of agricultural and horticultural commissioner I have the distinction of being the first and so far the only agricultural and horticultural commissioner in the United States. This is not only an honor to me but a great compliment to agriculture Do not think
 
 road is the only one that is giving at tention to agriculture or that I am the only railroad man that Is trying to pro- mote the agricultural interests Of our country Many of the great railway sys- tems have agricultural agents who are doing work of this character but most all of them work under or in conjunction with some of the other departments such as the freight, passenger. land or l advertising departments, while in our case the road has taken an advanced step Tn establishing aRd maintaining a well organized departukent separate and distinct from all the other departments By having this department unhampered by other departments the commissioner Is In position to carry on the work more effectively and greater results are ob- tained in a shorter time Our general manager, MT. w. B. Riddle, in taking charge of matters, was wise and fore sighted enough to know that the pros perlty of the railroads as well as that Of every other business and profession IS measured by the prosperity of the farmers of this country; for the think ing man can see at a glance that we are all, no matter what business or pro- fession we may be engaged in, dependant upon the Farms and the farmers of this country for our business existence and prosperity. Let disaster and failure come 10 our farmers and we all go down to-
 
 day than ever before In our history These are few of the reasons why am here before you today
 had made arrangements. before com Ing. with the managers of this fair to de- liver series of lectures on agricultural supJects' May we hope to see these lee lures well attended. There are many things that I desire to talk about while am here and allow me to say to yon now that no matter what cause you may have for feeling that the railroad has not treated you fairly in every deal, let me ask you not to let this or any prejudice you may have against the railroad extend to me or prevent you from coming out to near me- for l want to say to you that am In no way responsible for any of the things which may have happened 70 you Tn your dealings with others. My work is purely a missionary educational work, and l feel that I will be able to prove to you, If you will give me your at tention, that I am here to do you good. to talk to you and with you, to reason and exchange ideas with you. In this WAY we can be of great benefit to each other.
 There Is an old saying. and a trde one. too, that when you touch a mans poch- etbook you touch his heart. There are lots of fellows standing ready to thrust their hands into your pocketbooks, and 1 want to tell you how to keep their hands E out. This is ah> age of rapid thought. rapid transit and an age of progress along all lines. We are enjoying a period Of unprecedented prosperity. but I believe we can stand more. Many of us do not have all the good things of the world that we need or could use. While we are pass ing through this age of rapid transit, hay ing the railroads. the interurban lines the telegraph and telephone to keep us in close touch with the markets of the world, as we'll as the free rural mail de- livery to give us the news of the day. the question is. are we keeping our az riculture in line with other of our indus tries? fear not: we have trusted too long now in the old idea that agriculture was a business that if left to itself would take care of itself. We are beginning to find out that education is as badly need- ed in agriculture as it is in any other business in fact, it takes the most en- terprising wide-awake and up-to-date man to succeed on a farm in this coun- try.s. Opinion has changed wonderfully along this line in even one generation When I was a boy in school. if we had a very bright boy who was always we'll up In his studies, and who was able to stand at the head of his class, the plan was to make a lawyer, doctor or some professional man out of him, but the boy