Lower coast gazette., 1909-03-27
Professor w. z. Dodson and DR., w. II. Dalrpmple.

Half a century ago Virginia was called the Mother of the
Presidents, 50 many of our earlier presidents having come from
the Old Dominion. Now Louisiana is in a fair way to rival even
the Old Dominion in becoming practically the mother Of Agricul-
tural Scientists. During the week we have learned that the Fed
eral Department of Agriculture has been negotiating with Pro-
fessor Dodson to take charge Of its experimental farms, of which
there are now hundreds if not thousands in operation and they de-
mand the most thorough scientific control to Justify the vast ex-
penditure necessary in their organization, operation and mainten-
ance and to utilize the data secured. Professor Dodson with his
great ability, untiring industry and capacity for organization is
just the man for the occasion. Secretary Wilson shows the level
head he has in seeking Professor Dodson, but we say nay, we
can't spare all of our best men in any one season. We may be
able to produce one a year fit to be weaned away from us and car
ried off to strange lands but letit not be Dodson. We want him
here.
This assault upon our intellectual preserves is not made with
the view of capturing Professor Dodson only. We now learn that
our Philippine friends, not content with sending in a tidal wave of
300, 600 tons of sugar to %overwhelm our markets, just as Cuba has
done during the last ninety days, are now contemplating the sez-
ure of DR.. W. H. Dalrymple, our distinguished professor of Veteri-
nary Science and carrying him off to the distant Philippines to
study there the rinder pest and other tropical diseases that afAct
the live stock of the tropical Far East" It seems a thankless
task for US to take such men as these and educate them up to the
highest possible standards avaling of all our research work, of our
mechanical tilage, of our labor saving devices, Of our infinite ex-
periences and to then have them ~ruthlessly torn away from US
and all because Of the promise Of more pay and Of a wider field
of work.
But seriously, let US consider it. We presume that we have
young timber coming along that can take the place of older ones
who are seduced away, but think of the young apostles of Scen-
tMc Agriculture that we have during recent years, sent out
to the rest of the world. DR.. Walter Maxwell was called from us
to the Hawaiian Islands and later there came to him a louder call
to distant Australia. Prof. R. E. Blouin left US to go to Hawaii
and has since gone to Argentine to take charge of the sugar ex-
pertinent station there while DR.. Zerban crosses the Andes and
now directs the Peruvians and teaches the descendants of the Incas
how to make two stalks Of sugar cane grow where but one grew
before.
Whatever Louiaiana loses in all this, however, the rest Of
the world gains and we must be good Christians and sub.
NIT to II. It does seem hard. however. to have ones best prl CO.
quoting with some other fellow and tits hard to stand idly by and
see the tempter Offering Professor Dodson and Dr.. lalrymple all
the attractions of this earth if they will leave us and go to them.
Perhaps Dodson and Dalrymple wont go. Let us hope 50.