Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-03-18
KEEPS THE BOYS AT HOME.
FArmers' Association In Southern I'LL
nOis Has This object for Its
Principal Aim.

The continual exodus OF boys from tho
farms Of southern Illinois to the cities
Is being combated In this section Of
Egypt ~ 4 society bearing the name OF
Farmers Relief association. The asso-
citation is the outrrUwth OF an idea
Matched in southern Illinois. and in the
seven counties where the society is or
ganized its effects are plainly seen. says
the Chicago Inter Ocean. The rush OF
young men to St. Lou. ...5Cago and Gin
clnnati has been Amos; completely
stayed. The farmers boys are them
selves members of the new organization,
which has In Il manner furnished at
fractions to rural life which largely on
set the allurements u! the city.
The Farmers Relief association ia
modelled somewhat upon the lines OF the
trades union. n embodiCs some of the
best and most reasonable features OF
former ill-born farmers societies. The
central Idea OF the association is to make
country life attractive. The founder,
James III. England. cuntended that IL in
each school district the families could
De rough into closer social relations
II the life given some little variety
problem would DC solved.
The school district was made the unit
in he plan. The school teacher was
raised from mere pedagogue to social
arbtter. He is called the chairman Of
the community committee. and he sees
TINT there is always Some sort of do
ms, rs h people say. The Wagner
school district. Il few miles south OF Car
oondaie. Is the best organizcd COM
munity. In the Wagner society every
person in the district. transient or resi-
dent. Is entitled To membership. To the
social events OF the district the rural
peuaeoSue invites every man, woman
ana child. h means that there are
no feuGs. no quarrels. no I'M in
The community. for all the people meet
In n social way.
Ihe society has gone further than
'h'3' ana has installed n school district,
~'sIcphone System. An old lady who has
h'thinH 10 do but darn heavy home
} Aa' Snc's or sew carro; raa. Is N,
'Et.io tHl' Each familr. .v fhr fss,rIc,
iaFS five 'n'lars annually .ar tho u.s. 81
> ,'-"'c"g. and they use II. Tho youna
- y 81" i'oir counting uvr- the ,cic-
ZION" "h'l the weather is bad. and the
n".i CON- ,nint Of the telephone scrv.
icH 20 re wlGc so far YES that one rainy
u "Gt CT','d had crruerrad so mony
ii the s""-rr,hers 4 4 very sick man
r'h!H "a; E"t 4 mess through 10 rho
doctor in Carbonate. The man did not
die. however.
AS soon MS the telephone system vns
in working order the school teacher
or"anizcd n string band. This COUNTRY
musical organization furnishes the
music n the dances and the church So
ciahles. The hand has \ repertoire that
includes everything from The Arkansas
Traveller to Comm Through the Rye"
and there is hardly n night in a month
that II Ia not engaged.
The Home league. the twin sister 10
tn" Farmers association. is the woman's
club OF the country. II Is conducted on
the saIEc lines as the clubs In the cities.
II conducts n class In domestic science
and does its share Of entertaining. The
two organizations combined have HIT the
credit. or o tick system n Knockout
blow. n = member has anything to sell
he must demand Cash for IL II he buys
he must pay cash.
All these things combined have helped
to make country life attractive TO the
country people. When all the plans are
fully carried ont the organizers believe
that the young men. or the proportion
OF them which remain In the country
will bo satisfied to stay out Of the cities.