New-York tribune., 1910-10-07

dent with plenty of money at his disposal.
No man is perfectly independent OF his
duties 10 the state When we look around
and see how much more complicated our
system of government has become III Is
apparent how much more duty the citizen
owes 10 the government, the farmer IN
common with the others A hundred years
ago our grandfsthers were self-support-
ing They raised their own wheat ground
their own -four at the neighboring mill,
dipped their own candles and devoted their
efforts TO supporting themselves without
reference to outside markets. All this has
completely changed with the higher stand
ards Of living. The farmer is now de-
pendent on the distant market and on the
means Of communication with that mar
ket. Furthermore. with the absorption Of
free land, II is no longer possible 10 skim
of one farm and go to another We have
got to devote more efforts TO our own
farms. and the state therefore becomes
vitally interested in bettering agricultural
education through agricultural colleges, ex-
pertinent stations and other institutions
which under the methods Of former times
were unnecessary
This demand for a higher standard Of in
telligent citizenship is peculiarly important
in the Empire State. Our state has a di-
versif1ed population. At one end of il is the
greatest city in the country. with all Of the
peculiarities Of an urban population
Through the central part are the beautiful
farm lands Of the Mohawk Valley extend
ing 10 the west. interspersed with many Of
the great cities Of the state. while in the
north are the great forests. with their Won
derful possibilities Of conservation and wa
ter power development From the very fact
Of his environment the New York State man
must have a broader view Of governmental
duties than the citizen Of a manufacturing
or agricultural state. He must be able TO
understand the point of view OF those who
are in different situation and to synpa-
thize and labor with them intelligently.
Praise for State Fairs.
All OF this brings out the importance Of
the functions Of our state and county fairs
Just as a physician must have his medical
associations. Just as lawyers must have
their bar associations. just as business men
must have their business mems associa-
tions. so the farmer. intelligently TO per
form his duties under the new conditions.
must have an opportunity Of meeting others
and exchanging his views with them. thus
broadening and elevating the standard of
work One Of the most encouraging things
has been the improvement Of the character
Of our state fairs during the last twenty
years Such state fairs as the great fair at
Syracuse and the great Minnesota and St.
Paul fairs have educational influences upon
the country at large of the most valuable
character
After the talk came a general handshak-
ing bee Mr.. Stinson is an athletic per
son. and while he hasn't trained much
for such events. he stood il well llun-
dreds grasped his hand Even those who
stood out on the racetrack to hear him
thrust their arms through the fence and
pumphandled. Then when he had TO leave
the grounds for his train. Mr. Stimson
had 10 shake hands all the way through
a bunch Of automobiles parked along the
road leading TO the entrance II looked
suspiciously as II the attendants at the
DAYS dotngs had taken him unto them
selves and considered him 4 friend