The Mankato free press., 1913-03-07
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What proved to be an appropriate
finish to the four days meeting of
the Crop Breeders and Corn Grow.
ers' associations convention, was the
roundup at the Elks' cafe last
evening. About seventy-five people
participated in this function, which
they greatly enjoyed. Among those
who partook of the banquet were the
wives of a number OF the men, and
the ladies enjoyed the closing pro-
gram as much as the men.
After the excellent dinner served
by Mr.. and Mrs. Ben Williams, At
torney F. F. Ellsworth of this city
was introduced by Professor Bull as
the POSTMASTER of The evening.
Mr. Ellsworth said in his prelimi-
nary remarks that he had found sta
1istics showing the percentage OF peo-
pie who were engaged in the vari.
Gus occupations and found that four
teen per cent were engaged in agrl-
cultural pursuits over the United
States, but he thought about sixty
two per cent of the people of this
community are engaged in agricul-
ture He said: mo other section
of the country has better agricultural
prospects than has Mankato." The
first speaker introduced was F. b.
Crandall, president of the Mankato
Commercial club.
Address BY MIR. Crandall.
Mr.. Crandall said: about year
ago the club tried to have some sort
of a meeting which had as its OBJ.
ject what this convention had as its
a n
excellent speakers, engaged a hall,
and had the meetings. We had the
speakers, we had everything, in fact,
except the farmers whom we expect.
ed to attend. They were not to be
seen. This year we hesitated about
asking for this convention, thinking
that we could not make 1t worth
while in Mankato Finally, we decid-
ed to ask the farmers if they would
come. We called a meeting of a
number of the representative farm
ers of the county to ask them about
it and they agreed to get the others
to attend The results of the past
week proved that the proper method
was used. | only wish we had lot
of boosters in the Commercial club
who were as live as these farmers
are among themselves. This conven-
tiOn has been a source of great graft
fication to us and l am glad OF this
opportunity to welcome you here this
evening"
Pleased With Meeting.
Judge Lorin Cray was introduced
and said: II was a member of the
advisory board of the Commercial
club when this convention was talk
ed of, and | was reluctant about the
convention, but the results have
proved that everything comes to him
who tries for it. | have recently
been i'll the south, i'll the far south,
for the first time, and l want to tell
you people that / am glad that
live in Minnesota. | saw some OF
the land in Florida and Alabama
which is being so much advertised
by the real estate men who tell OF
its productiveness and great value,
and | saw thousands Of acres which
had been sold to northern people
which could not be developed. There
is nothing in the world like adver-
tising if you want some one to buy
something that is worth nothing"
The Judge said that he was a farmer
from 1859 to 1881 and of his success
as farmer. He told the story of
Owen Moore who started farming
OWN more than he could pay, and
leaving the farm "owin' more
Kind Treatment in Mankato.
c. w. Glotfelter, who is president
of the association, spoke of the kind
treatment and hospitality the conven-
tion men had received in Mankato
al
previous remarks this evening that
we have not yet worn out our vel
come. This association has grown
used to disappoiutments. We had
once hoped to bring the National
Corn show to Minnesota, but we were
Jim Killed out of it. We thought
that in the same way we might be
Jim Killed out of coming to Man
kato. An invitation was extended to
us but it was not very urgent one.
At a meeting of representative farm
ers | got more enthusiasm for South
ern Minnesota and agriculture than
at any other meeting, and the sue
cess of the convention was then as
sured. | tried to be sick and not
attend the convention but | could
not do it. / lay the success of this
convention first to the Mankato Com
mercial club and second to the farm
ers of the community"
Attorney Benjamin Taylor when
called upon professed great igno-
rance of all things agricultural but
said chat he had often had the feel
ing that he would some time like
to get back to the soil. He then
spoke of the benefit which would
come to the farmers and CONNER
cial club men getting together to
discuss questions which are of mu'
tual interest to them.
Step in Right Direction.
Dan Wallace, editor of The Farm
er, declared that he felt that it was
a step in the right direction for the
convention to be held in Mankato
this year He noticed many new men
i'm attendance at the meeting and the
benefit from the meeting was going
to more people and being wider
spread after travelling over a large
part of the United States within the
past two years l have decided that
the opportunities are best right here
in Minnesota
II. NJ. Green, who is president Of
the Blue Earth county association,
paid tribute to Judge Cray and to