Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-31
saws President in Address at
Michigan Agricultural College
semi-Centennial Celebration.
FOUNDING A NATIONAL EVENT.
Was First Established in United
states--Congress Has Assisted
In Carrying on Good Work.
,ountry,s Interests Demand That the
Farmers Education shall he of the
Best--,tnny Problems 10 solve.

LANSING Mich. May 51.--An address
NV secy. of Agriculture Wilson and
addresses by Ave distinguished edu-
gators made up the program at TIC
forenoon session today of the semi
centennial celebration of the founding
NJ the Michigan Agricultural college
rbo addresses were made in a tent on
the college campus.
sECY. WILSON'S SPEECH.
The subject of the address of Sscy.
wilson was Three Things Last Cen
,ury" He said:
1T has been said that the United
States did three unique things III the
last century, It built az Washington
the C1nitol the Washington monu-
n ent and the Congressional Library,
each the finest of its kind IN the
world. \ much gisnder work was
the LAYING Of the foundation Of agrt-
cultural education and research TO
prepare the farmer for his life Work,
establish agricultural literature ana
HI the filler OF the soil 10 q higher
level of efficiency as a producer and
citizen. No country on earth has such
4 comprehensive system 10 bring
about these results. The total num-
Der of land grant colleges Is So, and
Sc of these give courses in agricul-
tire I11l HIE dIttnlteu NY lNrUNI Nlu~
deu1s. These colleges arc also largely
engaged in giving instruction in agri-
culture to adult farmers in the farm
ers' institutes which are annually at
tended by over 100000 farmers,
These institutions have permanent
funds and equipment amounting To
SS4, 100000 and an annual revenue of
s1450G.0oD. 10 which the federal gov
eminent contributes $4,000, 900 and
thu stale governments $500, 00Q
The work is telling in many ways.
Young people go to these institutions
who would not go to any other, There
s. great demand at home and
abroad for young people educated for
the farm 1t liz the most delightful
and comprehensive study OF material
things TO which the nina can be APP
Piled
Including the population Of our is
land possession half of the people un-
der our flag are producers from the
soil. This half owe il to the other
10 prepare themselves for discharging
the duties of citizenship with the high
est intelligence They are financially
able to educate, as - per cent Of our
cEpurts-or 5000, 900 0O0-is the price of
farm products sold abroad annually,
after supplying the home requirements.
They have leisure and more facilities
for reading and reflection than the
other half of the people. Rural free
delivery of mails, the telephone, the
daily and farm papers, magazines and
other sources OF information, combine
60 form powerful ad1uncts in the edu-
cation Of the farmer and his family;
they are not organized as a class. and
are not likely to be, bnt they are the
nations jury when questions of pub
lir policy are settled.
Our agricultural colleges have
Lroadeped the minds and strengthened
the arms of our farmers, and increased
their efficiency. They have helped
them into a class by themselves among
farmers and dignitied their calling. Do
not understand me that ] would limit
the education OF rural families to ma
terial affairs--to the getting of bread
and butter as some thoughtless men
81 prominent places term agricultural
education. Mans responsibility TO
God and To his fellow men is now be-
ing impressed upon young and old. in
country and village and town, by the
srandest organization OF churches and
schools known to any people. where
mans nobler nature is being stimulat-
ed and developed with infinite patience
and AZ such expense as we are never
likely TO see devoted to material things.
Highly enlightened society, az we have
It, requires liberal incomes. Good farm
ing Is the basis Of bank accounts In
our country. FIJI the pupils stomach
before you teach altruism and see
that the teacher has had bcafsteak for
breakfast. one of the most praise
worthy lines of work being done at our
agricultural colleges is the training OF
young women in what pertains to them
selves and others, including domestic
economy, sanitation, nutrition, venti-
lation and correct living, resulting IN
the American girl, unique unequalled,
perfect"
President r. J. James OF Illinois uni-
Nclsty was unable 70 he present. ms
address was read by Dean Eugene Dh-
NEWPORT OF the agricultural department
OF Illinois university.
PRIEST. JAMES ADDRESS.
The demand for special. professional
education. the training OF the farmer
and the mechanic, IL one which few
people trained I'm the OLD education
over comprehcnded on were ever able
10 estimate at It's true value. But now
We see every day some new kind OF
school springing into existence which IL
intended 10 satisfy this demand for spe-
ciiie and special preparation.
Development of agricultural educa-
ton has, II seems to me, I'm certain
directions, outrun and " today In adj
vance OF the development OF education
IN other lines, and this movement tor
agriculture and the mechanic arts has
benented all our higher education IN
several distinct aud definite ways,
Some Of our American states were
mol, financially speaking. able To- es-
taolish agricultural schools upon tho
requisite scale, and the federal land
grants gave an impulse 10 the principle
OF state education, which has borne
fruit In every direction. Wo see H.
nerhaps, In the most striking way In
the Institution which ] represent here
today. and where has been developed
what win ultimately be one OF the
greatest centers OF scientific inYcstiga
lion and practical training which the
world has ever seen.
NOW this federal grant FOR The ln-
pfnNemenl of education in agriculture
and the mechanic arts WAS followed up
some years later by 4 remarkable grant
Tor the establishment and development
or agricultural college yet | cannot help
feeling that their influence has been
one Of most SPECIFIC and peculiar ANA
remarkable forces al work in tho de-
Nelopment OF this whole branch OF .du-
cation"
President Benz Ide Wheeler OF tito
University OF California presented tho
greetings OF the Pacific coast and adj