Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-22
Open Their Annual Con-
vention in WatervilIe.
Address Of The Evening by Or.
George N. TWiiCheIl.
Much Interest and Profitable Ses.
slon..WiIl Continue Today.

ming, was not large, this was explain
ed by President Huntone as being due
To the excellent train service into the
city of Watervlle and the ma jority OC
the members can arrive in. the city,
Wednesday morning, in time for the
opening session. But what was lack
ing In numbers was made up in the
interest shown and the session was n
profitable one for those present
F. C. Wardwell, president of the
Wateryille Board Of Trade, extended n
welcome 10 the association members
and in the absence OF Mayor w. r.
Pattangall. introduced Mayor
Frank Redington, TO express the well
come of the city and for the Board
of Trade. Mr.. Redlngton said that
the citizens of Watervile were al
ways glad To have conventions of all
kinds meet here and that they would
do the best they could for them. Man
must associate with others to pro-
sress and benefit himself as well as
others. said Mr.. Redington, and for
that reason conventions and meetings
are necessary. At the present tlmo
specialization is the thing and while
ne said he was not the one to criti
el2e he, believed that the farmer of
Maine would do better If he would
Specialize more and cooperate more.
In closing he once more extended a
WelcomeSto the members.
In making n response to the well
come, President w. G. Hunton said
that 1t was always a pleasure for him
10 come TO meetings in Waterville and
that It was fitting that this meeting
should be held here as 1t was less thaa
three years ago that the association
was formed IN the very same room
where the meeting was being held and
that Mr.. Redington, at that time may
or of the city, extended the welcome.
Mr.. HHnton told of how in response
10 eau sent, out generally over the
State 50 farmers. representing nearly
every county in the State. met and
organized and that one had only to
look into The hall to see the results
which have been accomplished in the
short time the association has been
organized in closing, Mr.. Hunton ex-
pressed both for himself and the
members the thanks To the Board of
Trade and the city for what had been
done in entertaining them.
The only address of the evening was
made by DIR. G.. NJ. Twitchell of Au-
burn, whose subject was What the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture had Done for the Farmers" Or.
Twtcheu said in part:
What U. S. Government Has Done For
Farmers.
Before, discussion Of the problem of
aid to any industry can be complete.
not only the purposes for which the
aid is granted must be clearly mani
fest, but their effect upon individuals.
or the industry, fully appreciated.
Changed conditions inject new and
ofttimes complicated relations demand
ing n constant REIMBURSEMENT Of means
methods and agencies. Tonight we are
To discuss national aid 10 the great
underlying industry of the world, and
10 appreciate the situation one must
realize fully the condition of agricul-
trral life 10 years ago, the drift from
east to west, the craze for immediate
production without regard to future
soil conditions. and following this the
rapid increase in population. resulting
in the last decade in Il radical over
turn OF public thought and the awak-
ening to the fact that the day is fast
approaching when, under present
methods the country can hardly hope
TO grow the food of support for it's
own population.
With yearly additions of three or
more million mouths to feed, by nat
Bral increase and immigration, ana
the DIR Hrp the great majority 10 the
cities and towns. the problem of feed
ing this multiplying masssof human
ity hasAbecon1e the great question of
the. hour. Something far more signifi-
cant than sihe4 cash outlay for food
supplies is involved in the economic
problems confronting US. Mr.. j. J. Hill,
the railway king, set before us a
pregnant sentence when he declared
that, sNever, in the history of the
world. has the time arrived when.
through the decline of its agriculture,
q. nation Has failed TO supply it's own
food of support but decay has fol-
lowed" Relieving SO firmly in the ne
cessity for the fullest possible develop
ment ofSour agriculture. the greatest
Improvement, of every acre, the grow
ing of maximum crops, and early ma
turity OF every animal and product.
the wisdom of the general policy OF
our government in fostering agricui-
ture is recognized. / beg that those
who question the large appropriation
for thish department win withhold
Judgment until the full bearing of the
situation is apparent.
Agriculture was formerly thought
to be only an Industry of labor; that
Il simple knowledge of the How
coupled with strong muscles and a
willingness TO work long and hard
constituted the sole qualifications fol-
n successful farmer. Then habits OF
living were simple and the people OF
the whirlpool had not spread the mi
crobe of unrest through every portion
of rural habitations. In the awaken
ing to the demand for n broader ane
fuller life there was born the desire
which, today. is met in every locality
resulting i'm theserazet for pleasure {
growing dislike for. continuous work
The breaking mp Of habits of industr,
and irksomeness of those burdens SUR
to be realized by. those away from
1xc,a oil hp wi