The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-08-24
HOOVER RECALLS
BOYKOOD DAYS
ON iowa FARM
Would Not Improve Old Swim.
ming Hole, He Tells Former
NeighborS.
SEES IOWA'S PROBLEMS
LIKE THOSE OF NATION
Will Ask Lowden to Assist Him In
Carrying Out Effective Farm Relief
Program-Shows How Waterways
Will Increase Rural Prosperity.

birth place, among Doynood Irlenus
and neighbors, Herbert Hoover speak
ing here, recalled childhood memories,
paid warm tribute to his former
school teacher, who took him into her
home after the death or his parents,
and told his hearers that the prob
lens of Iowa's farmers are those of
all American agriculture.
Speaking freely and intimately to
an immense throng in which he saw
the faces of many old friends, Mr..
Hoover spoke feeling Of his home ties
with Iowa and then passed to the dis
cussion Of the problems Of his home
state and Of the nation.
His speech follows:
This Is q Homecoming. 1t hardly
seems an occasion for lengthy politi-
cal speech-rather is 1t an opportu-
nifty to recall old associations and re-
new old friendships.
am glad, a son Of Iowa. to come
back to the place where I was born.
Here I spent the first ten years Of my
ooyhood. Here my parents and my
grandparents toiled, worshipped God,
did their part In building this com.
munity, and now lie In the cemetery
over the hill.
Tribute to Teacher
During the past A years have re.
turned from tine to time that might
pay respect to their memory, that ]
might express my appreciation OF
those kindly and sympathetic folk
who, taking boy TO their hearts,
wiped away the one grief of child
hood. One of my vivid recollections
was my earnest interest in the de-
bate between neighbors and relatives
when they were discussing not who
was to assume me as burden, but
who was to take the boy as mem
Der of their own flock. That Is the
spirit of the people Of Iowa. 1t Is the
spirit of the thousands Of villages and
towns in all this wide land.
And I have no apology for even a
more personal note. There Is present
here today a lady who took part In
that debate and who was for years
my teacher in your public school. She
embodies the spirit of that vast body
of women who not only teach and In
spire our children but watch over
their wider destinies. You have come
70 do me courtesy as son or Iowa.
take this occasion to acknowledge
my debt to that lady-Mrs. Curran.
There is no imprint upon our minds
10 deep as those of early boyhood-
mine are the joys Of Iowa-the glories
of snowy winter, the wonder at the
growing crops, the Joining OF the
neighbors to harvest, the gathering OF
apples, the pilgrimage to the river
woods for the annual fuel and nuts,
the going to school, the interludes
from work, In the swimming hole,
fishing In creeks, the hunting for
prairie chickens and rabbits in the
hedges and woods-it is the entry to
life which I could wish for every
American boy and girl.
Again today have had refresh
ment of spirit In return to these
scenes. The swimming hole is still In
use. II has the same mudbank. 1t
Is still impossible to dress without
carrying mud home In ones inner gar
ments. AS an engineer ! could de-
wise improvements for that swimming
hole. But / doubt If the decrease in
mothers grief at the Homecoming OF
muddy boys would compensate the
Inherent joys of getting muddy.
Aunt's Prophecy True
I have been to see the old Quaker
meeting house. 1t has been moved
across the street and replaced by a
more modern structure. The old
building appears at some time to have
been turned into a moving picture
house, which reminds me of the time
heard Aunt Hannah, moved In meet
ing, bitterly denounce the rise OF
modern ways and prophesy that If
they were persisted in, that edifice
dedicated to God would some day be
transformed into place Of abomina-
ton. I do not place the movies In
that class, but knowing Aunt Hannah's
views on any form Of human recrea-
zion, even to the godlessness of slid
ing down hill, suspect that If she
knew Of this she would get great sat
isfaction at the contamination Of her
vaFnings.
This was always Republican VII.
Iage. It was here that received my
first touch of the national life. well
.reoollect the hosting Of the flag at
half mast over my fathers blacksmith
shop on the assassination of Presi-
dent Garfield. ] also recollect well
the torchlight procession in the Gar
field election. Twas not high enough
to be permitted the conduct Of q
torch, but I participated by walking
alongside for miles. At that time
there were two or three Democrats
IN the town. I do not know today
whether what seemed to me an enor'
nous torchlight parade was instituted
for their conversion or not, but I -
Hsve It was hopeless. because one Of
my boyhood friends and opponents In
battle. who expect Is In this audience
today, is descendant Of one Of those
Democrats and has been regenerated
only In the last month.
am proud to have been born IN
Iowa have ofttimes said that the
good lord made II the richest stretch
OF agricultural land that ever blessed
any one sovereign government. It was
settled by the adventurous, the cou-
rageous. who fought their way across
the ever extending frontier; they have
builded here in so short period as
n years A state with the least poy.