Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-16
PRESIDENT TO MEET
9,ODOD|RT FARMERS
At 4STATE PICNIC
u. S. Experimental Station at
Ardmore, S. Dak., to Be
Inspected Today.
N0RBECK AND BULOW
WILL MAKE SPEECHES
Chief Executive Will Travel by
Auto and Train to Attend
Democratic Gathering.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
staff Correspondent of The star,

ltt>t'itill anu 4biSt 1ODttuRR VIII
arrive here this afternoon Ia attend
the farmers annual picnic. The presi.
ident is not coming to make a speech,
but merely 10 minGle with agriculture
lists and the members of their families.
and TO inspect the dry farming expert
mont station operated here at the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture
This outing will unquestionably be
the most democratic affair the presi.
dent and Mrs. Coolidge have attended
since coming to the West, and Judging
from the size Of the crowd which has
gathered in advance Of the arrival
OF the presidential train. the President
is going to see the largest number of
real hOnesttO goodness farmers he
has ever before seen gathered together
At one time. 1t is estimated that at
least 5000 farmers will be on the
picnic grounds by the time the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge arrive. These
farmers are not from South Dakota.
however. the Presidents temporary
home state. Their number is said to
be fairly we'll divided between South
Dakota Wyoming, Nebraska and
Colorado.
Held Each Year.
Except for the great number of
persons on hand for the outing. and
the prairie-like nature of the sur
rounding country, the scene that
awaits the President and Mrs. Cool.
Hpn iG l,n
farmers gatherings he has attended
back in New England. and very
similar to thousands of other gather
inss held during the Summer months
in the rural sections throughout the
country.
The Ardmore picnic is held each
year, not merely for the purpose of
the farmers of the four States pre-
viously mentioned, indulging in Il
good old-fashioned picnic, where old
acquaintances are renewed and old
time games are played. and crops are
discussed. but to give these many
farmers an opportunity to see what
is being done in an experimental way
at the dry-tarm experiment station
This station was started more than
II years ago for the purpose of study
ing the possibilities and methods of
crop production on the semi-arid land
OF the so.called great plains" The
station has been very happily located
at the extreme southwest corner of
South Dakota, thereby making it pos
slble to conveniently serve the farmers
in three adjacent States--Nebraska
Wyoming and Colorado. There are
more than 400 acres of this so-called
prairie land under cultivation at the
t,xKx 4
pastures. Besides its experiments in
crops. the station Is engaged in rails
ing dairy cattle, beef cattle and hogs.
Speeches Are Arranged.
Probably the proudest man moving
about the picnic grounds this morning
is Oscar Matthews, superintendent of
the station, who will personally re-
ceive the President and Mrs. Coolidge
when they ahght from their train and
will be their host at luncheon at his
home and who later will escort the
presidential party over the grounds
and amongst the gatherings of farm
crS and their families. Although Mr..
Matthews has arranged to have the
Presidents and Mrs. Coolidge's lunch
con served in his home, he can easily
switch things so as to serve the meal
out among the farmers if the PreSi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge would prefer
that.
The presidential party is scheduled
to leave the Game Lodge shortly after
$50 O'Clock this morning in motor cars
for Custer. 20 miles away. where it will
get aboard the train which will bring
them here and which is scheduled to
arrive shortly after noon. 1t has not
been determined just how long the
presidential party will remain at the
outing. but advance indications are
that the journey back to the lodge will
not be started before o'clock. How
ever, much depends upon the length
of the speeches to be made on this
occasion by Gov. BulOw and Senator
Peter Norbeck of South Dakota.
Stretch Of Prairie.
When the President gets down into
this section of the State, he will look
upon a countryside totally different
from that which has greeted his eye
during his stay in the Black Hills. In
stead of rolling hills and tall, rugged,
pine-cOVered mountains, the landscape
will present an endless stretch of
sently-rolling prairie land, with miles
of wheat grass waving in the breeze.
Continued on Page 4, Column 81