Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Ag Building [PAGE 28]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

26

for us if they could communicate with us. They saw how the educational wind was blowing- from the farm to the town, from agricultural to professional life, before they went. It was only a breeze in their day, but maybe from their spirit homes they have seen that breeze increase to a blizzard, sweeping: things toward the town and toward the occupations of the town, as that other kind of blizzard sweeps the snow of the plain upon the hamlet in its path. I am ready to believe that those good men if they thought we could hear them, instead of chiding us, would say, boys, you "did nobly" even to hold down your little cow barns in such a gust, I have not much to say about the $7,000 plant. When the farmers heard about it, a movement to right things, general, intelligent, 'determined, irresistible, was begun. This great agricultural building is one of the fruits of that movement. The generous appropriation by the last legislature for better equipment of the plant, and for other purposes of the college is another fruit of that movement. There will be other, perennial crops of good fruit which that movement will bear. Farmers are conservative; they are not easily moved individually and are harder to move en masse, but when they move other things will be moved that need moving. If the University ship has been turned from its right course, little or much, or if it has been turned right about and headed the wrong way, the farmers will surely swing her round again and send her on her appointed way. They know her mission ; it was clearly mapped out from the beginning, and knowing it they will see to it that she have a chance to accomplish that, mission. Lest some might think otherwise, let me say I have not spoken a word in any spirit of complaining—not a word intended as an arraignment of anybody for what may have been done or left undone in or concerning this University. There has been lack of information and consequent misunderstanding and disagreement among the people as to the true and lawful character, scope and purpose of our University. I have deemed it my right, perhaps my duty as a citizen and farmer, to set forth here those purposes. And let no one infer from any utterance of mine that I take an unfavorable or gloomy view of matters and events in general.