The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-09-21

d new lue8 OF lie. He realizes
when he sees the varied industries
conducted in his country how impor-
tant 1t is to have those old ideas that
John Sewer founded in the wilderness
that are embodied In every common
wealth in the land made more than
theories by being carried into actual
operation. With these ideas-that SO
far as authority created by the people
and entrusted to men OF their choice
Is concerned-there shall be absolute
ly no discrimination for or against
any one; they all shall stand equal
before the law.
| like to go to an exposition; don't
like to go as the honored guest be-
cause I don't get to see much OF the
exposition. ! like to go to an exposi
ton and wander about and see the
really interesting things. l have only
seen one-I hope nobody will be mad
because didn't see more. ] only went
to one, and what l saw of that one
made me sorry that l could not stay
there and enrich my mind with what
j there found, and that was this Ii.
brary showing the products of south
ern authors, and / confess it was a
revelation to me. / saw many things
there Of deep interest and some sur
prise, but l did see enough and have
heard enough to know that this expo
sition Of yours ranks very high for the
variety of the things which it has to
show, for the tribute 1t pays to the in
dustries Of your people; to the public
spirit.
A good many people talk about parts
OF our country being worn out-why,
up in Ohio people have actually gone
to leaving the state. or had up to two
or three years ago, going to other
countries. They said the land was
worn out. Now the land never wears
out-men who work 1t may wear out
If they do not apply intelligence neces-
sary to aid that wonderful miracle of
nature which is repeated year by year
and by which the human race lives.
The land never wears out, and instead
Of our great country being fully occu-
pied and worn out, it will have to
maintain many many times more mill
lions than now ifihabit il, and in or.
der that 1t may do that we have got to
have capital and labor and the ener-
gies Of our people directed to securing
better results for their investments
and their efforts; and see part of
this is agricultural exhibits. Now,
you don't think Of East Tennessee as
an agricultural country. 1t was orig
inally, but 1t has become to be known
more for its mineral resources, but /
will say that l saw some good farms
along the railroad to-day, as good
as have seen anywhere, and 1t shows
you are not letting that greatest and
most important of our industries 60
neglected in East Tennessee. You can
pull all you please out Of your lands
you can invent all the machines you
may develop your produe-
tive interests in the mineral and in
dustrial line as much as you wish, but
we have all got to live on what the
farmer brings out Of the ground, and
there'll never be any machine to take |
It's place. (Applause). Therefore, that |
is the basis of all the enterprises, and |
am glad to see that along your val.
leys 1t is not neglected, and to learn
that there is most attractive display
Of agriculture here.
Now, as soon as heard up In Ohio
that the people were moving off ex.
pecting to get better land / set about
to stop it. found out that the depart.
ment Of agriculture was not efficient
and set to work until gradually |
nave increased the number of county
fairs in the state where experiment
stations have been established. with
exhibits showing good seed, the differ
,nce in fertilizers. and the means of
lealing with pests, which by some un-
explained decree OF Providence assail
llways the work of men, and we set to
work getting list of unoccupied
arms. We arranged to supply the
ack of farm labor by having a repre-
in New York where the immi-
grants land, and it has made most
difference already, and
hat same thing can be done in any
Enterprise.
understand that your exposition
las become a permanent institution.
That when You started out 1t was only
or one year, but that you expect now
0 keep 1t going from year to year. to
eep before all the people OF the coun-
ry the resources that you have here
nd the opportunities for investment,
nd hope at some other time to come
1hen l can get line on your pro-
ress. 1t could not possibly show in
ny Judgment, in so short time, the
rogress that has been made since the
outhland was in the days of recon-
truction. Thank God had that les
on given me, and ! never again ex-
ect to see such thing, and thank
cd that the privilege has been given
lie of seeing the resurrection and tri-
mphant uprising Of the people. ! do
OF know how many men in my region
OF those two pictures. | got one right
fter the war when ! went clear down
, Southern Alabama, and the other
hen since the war we have seen the
ew South rise in her magnitude and
reatness to astonish the world.
Now, want to say one thing. and
lat is that this old sympathy. this old
'eling between my home city and
ours, between Ohio, and especially
outhern Ohio and this great region of
,urs Is founded on no passing
fought, on no temporary interest.