Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-09-16
BETTER THAN PROFESSIONS
SAYS THE "BRoTHERs WHO STAY
ON FARM" HAVE BETTER
CHANGE THAN CITY MEN
AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING
TAFT is GREETED BY A BIG
CROWD AT FIRST STOP
ON TRIP

Syracuse, N. Y, Sept. 16.-President
Taft arrived here early today to re-
main until 490 o'clock this afternoon
A visit to the state fair was his first
engagement on his $4,000 mile trip to
the west. The president was greeted
by several thousand persons at the
station and there was frequent ap-
plause from the sidewalk throng as
he was escorted in an automobile to
a breakfast rendered by the Syracuse
chamber of commerce.
There were 200 guests at the break
fast, and at its conclusion the presi-
dent made brief speech acknowledge
ing the hospitality of Syracuse. His
principal address of the day was re-
served for the fair grounds whittier he
was escorted by state troops later in
the forenoon. A luncheon with the
state fair commission at the club
house on the grounds was the last fix
ed event on the program for the day.
Governor Dix was detained at the
Spring Lake conference of governors
and sent the president telegram, ex-
pressing regrets at not being able per-
sonally to welcome him to New York |
state. The presidents Swing around
the circle" started from Boston last
night in downpour, but today there
was brilliant autumn sun. 1t is be-
lieved the president is planning to with
hold his speeches which have to do
with the more important policies of
the administration until he reaches
the western border. Today he plan
ned to confine himself largely to a
discussion of farming methods and
the necessity of conservation of the
soil.
From Syracuse the president will
so to Erie, Penna., where tonight he
will talk of the peace treaties nego-
tiated during the summer and now
held up in the senate.
A discussion of the activities of the
department agriculture and the op-
portunities for progress open to farm
ers formed the subject of the address
delivered by President Taft at the
state fair grounds today.
1--WE are spending thirteen million
dollars a year in the maintenance of
a department of agriculture" the
president said, "and I am confident
that an increase in the appropriations
each year for that department may
and ought to be expected.
1--WE have today in continental Uni
ted States about 19O,OO0,0000 acres of
lands, of this S73,OOO,OOO are included
in the acreage TO farms. In the last ten
years that acreage did not increase
more than 95,OOO,OOO Or a little over
four per cent. In that same time our
population increased 20 per cent.
Nov, if our population increases as
rapidly as it has heretofore, we shall
in fifty years have upward of 100000
900 people in this country to support
on this S7S,OOO,O0O acres, much Of
which is probably not capable of prod
ucing great deal.
"In the next 100 years, if this is to
be a self-sustaining country, we must
adopt new methods of farming and
pursue them with eagerness and intel
ligent enterprise.
'I am not an optimist and believe that
situations, however theatening or i'm
mediately discouraging have in them
selves elements that justify hope Of
betterment The increased price of
farm products has increased the value
of the farms and has made more GER
tain the profit of farming"
The president then referred to the
marked Improvement in prospects for
the farmer, under modern conditions,
and said that these would give to the
brothers who stay on the farm" much