Evening star., 1914-11-11
Smith-Lever Agricultural Ex-
tension Work Greatest
Ever Undertaken.
SECRETARY ADDRESSES
FARM EDUCATORS HERE
Declares Every State in Union Has
Decided to Join in the
Movement.

David r. Houston, Secretary of Agr-
culture. addressed the Association of
American Agricultural Colleges and
Experiment Stations today with de-
scription of the work that is being
done to administer. the new Smith
Lever agricultural extension act of
Congress, which he characterized as
''in the aggregate the. largest and
most significant piece of educational
work that any nation has ever under
taken.N
Mr.. Houston said that the work.
which has now proceeded for several
months, has been found to be 1.-The
most systematic and gigantic attempt
to help men and women laboring about
their daily tasks to enlarge the scope
of their efforts ever made by any
agency
The convention opened today in the
small ballroom of the New Willard
Hotel.
This organization is one of twelve
similar organizations which have been
meeting In Washington the past few
days. and will continue to meet here
for several days more.
Six of the organizations completed
their work yesterday afternoon and
last night. They are as follows: Ma
Society for the Promotion OF Agricul-
tural Science, American Association for
the Advancement of Agricultural Teach
ing. American Society OF Agronomy,
American Society of Animal production
and American Farm Management Asso-
citation.
The convention of the Association of
American Agricultural Colleges and
Experiment stations was called to or
der this morning in the small ballroom
of the New Willard Hotel by DR.. A. c.
True, the president, who is also head OF
the office of experiment stations OF the
Department of Agriculture.
Secretary Houston characterized the
gathering as "a family meeting,' in
view of the large number of employees
and representatives of the Agrlcul-
tural Department present.
$40, ,oCo, 600 to Be Expended.
Under the Smith-Lever act, recently
passed by Congress, more than S40'-
100000 OF state and federal money
during the next nine years is to be
expended in demonstration work ana
extension teaching OF agricultural ana
home economics. The whole morning
session OF the convention tomorrow
is to be devoted to d discussion OF the
work being done, and statement
from the Agricultural Department Will
be presented on the subject.
MI. Houston said that every state
in the Union had announced it's ac-
ceptance of the working plans for the
administration of the Smith-LeVef act,
and that every college has made its
projects and has had them approved.
"rThe task of the Depart tnent or AS-
ricuIture,'' he said. is ended, and. in
the Vernacular, it is now up to you.
You have difficult problems. Some OF
you are laying foundations under eA-
listing legislation for the expenditure
- = nr
TO get the latter sum. want to promise
you the hearty cooperation of the
Department of Agriculture in meeting
your difficulties"
Meetings OF sections devoted to col
lege organization and policy, expert
ment station organization and pollcy
and extension organization and policy
occupied tne attention OF the delegates
to the convention TINS afternoon a
night session will be held, beginning at
s o'clock this evening. The conVen-
ton will come to an end Friday.
Land Grant Engineering Folk.
The Land Grant Engineering Asso-
citation also began its annual conven-
tion in Washington today. an address
by P. p. Claxton, commissioner of educa-
ton, being one of the principal Tea
lures of the opening session. This con-
venuon is being held at the New Eb-
bitt Hotel and Dean Anston Marston
of Iowa State College, who is presi-
dent of the organization, presided.
Dean Benjamin of Purdue University
delivered an address on THE Functions
OF a University" This convention Will
also continue until Friday afternoon.
The American Association of Farm
ers' Institute Workers ended its con-
yention this afternoon. The Associa-
tion of Official Seed Analysts will be-
gin its annual convention at the New
willard Hotel tomorrow.