Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-22

f1iS rs a IlpEl1SCOIf1lItEs II IiAIuLN
seems an occasion for lengthy politi-
cal speecf--rather is it an opportunity
to recall old associations and renew old
friendships
Il am glad, son of Iowa. to come
back to the place where was born.
Here spent the first 10 years of my
boyhood. Here my parents and my
grandparents tciled. worSh!pcd God.
oid their part in building this COM
munity and now lie In the cemetery
over the hill
During the past a. years I have re-
turned from time to time that / might
pay respect to their memory, that
might express my appreciation OF those
kindly and sympathetic folk who. taking
a boy to their hearts, wiped away the
one grief of childhood. One OF my
vivid recollections was my earnest in
tcreSt in debate between neighbors and
relatives when they were discussing not
who was to assume me as burden. but
who was to take the boy as a member
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.
Praises Teacher.
And I have no apology for even
more personal note. There is present
here today 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 dcstinies You have come to do
me courtesy as son of Iowa. take
this occasion to acknowledge my debt
10 that lady-Nfrs. Curran.
There Is no imprint upon our minds
50 deep as those OF early boyhood--
mine are the Joys OF Towa--the glories
of snowy Winter. the wonder at the
growing crops. the joining of the neigh
bors to harvest. the gathering of apples.
the pilgrimage to the river woods for
the annual fuel and nuts. the going to
school. the interludes rom work i'll the
swimming hole. fishing In creeks, the
hunting for prairie chickens and rab-
bits in the hedges and woodS--it is the
entry To life which I could wish for
every American boy and girl.
Again today I have had refresh
ment of spirit in return to these scenes.
The swimming hole is still in use. 1t
has the same mudbank It is still inn
possible to dress without carrying mud
home in ones inner garments AS an
engineer could devise improvements
for that swimming hole But doubt
If the decrease in mothers grief at the
homecoming of muddy boys would COM
pensste the inherent joys of getting
muddy.
Visits Quaker Church.
Il have been to $50 the old Quaker
meeting house It has been moved
across the street and replaced by a
more modern structure. The old build
ing appears at some time to have been
turned into 4 moving picture house,
which reminds me of the time l heard
Aunt Hannah. moved in meeting, Bit
terly denounce the rise of modern ways
and prophesy that If they were per-
sisted in. that eciifice dedicated to God
would some day be transformed into
place of abomination
Il do not place the movies in that
class, but knowing Aunt Hannahs views
Oil any form of human recreation. even
70 the godlessnesS of sliding down hill.
| suspect that If she knew of this she
would get great satisfaction at the con-
summation of her warnings.
This was always n Republican village.
1t was here that / received my first
touch of the national life. 1 well
recollect the hosting of the flag at half
mast over my fathers blacksmith shop
on the assassination Of President Gar
field
Recalls Torch Parade.
Il Tecollect we'll the torchlight process
sion in the Garfield election. was not
high enough TO be permitted the con-
duct of torch. but l participated by
walking alongside for miles. At that
time there were two or three Democrats
in the town. I do not know today
what seemed to me an enor-
NOUS torcfilight parade was instituted
for their conversion or not, but be-
lieve it was hopeless, because one OF
my boyhood friends and opponents in
battle. who I expect Is in this audience
to-day. is descendant of one OF those
Democrats and has been regcnerated
only In the last month.
Il am proud to have been born in
Iowa. I have ofttimes said that the
good Lord made 1t the richest stretch
OF agricultural land that ever blessed
any one sovereign government. 1t was
settled bv the adventurous. the cou-
rageous. who fought their way across
the er-extending frontier: they have
builded here in so short period as IS
years a State with the least poverty,
the highest average intelligence. the
most generous education which ever
blessed single Commonwealth.
Here in West Branch can be found
all the miles.ones of the changes which
have come TO American agriculture.
Only a mile from here is the farm
of my Uncle Allen, where / spent some
years of my boyhood. That was Just at
the passing stage of the great pioneer
movement. Many farms were still places
al fr.,r he tK,Nu nadi-
ate needs of the families.
we ground our wheat and corn on
toll at the mill; we slaughtered our
hogs for meat: we woye at least part
of cur own clothing; we repaired our
own machinery. we got our own fuel
from the woods: we erected Our own
buildings. we made our own soap, We
preserved cur own fruit and grew our
own vegetables Only a small part OF
the family living came by purchases
from the outside Perhaps 20 per cent
of the products were sold in the mar
kets TO purchase the small margin OF
necessities which We could not our
selves produce, and 10 pay interest on
the mortgage.
Basis Has Shifted.
In a half century the whole basis of
agriculture has shifted. We have i'm
proved seed and live stock. We have
added a long list Of mechanical inven-
lions for saving Of labor; We have In
creased the productivity of the land.
And il has became highly specialized
business. There Is no longer one in
dustry called farming, but In fact
dozen industries Probably over 30 per
cent Of its products now go directly or
indirectly 10 the markets and probably
over 80 pr cent Of the family living
must he purchased from outside:
WATERLOO IOWA