Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-05

that there must be open to farmers the
chanoe for technical and scientific training,
not theoretical merely, but OF the most
sents peculiarly high type Of American
citizenship and he must have the same
chance TO rise and develop as other Ameri-
can citizens have. Moreover, It Is exactly
as true of the farmer as II is Of the bust
ness man ana the wageworker, that the
ultimate success Of the nation, Of which he
forms part, must be founded not alone on
material prosperity. but upon high moral
mental and physical development. This
education of the Observation-Disclosures by
preference. but also education from the out
side, as with all other men--is peculiarly
necessary here in the United States. where
the frontier conditions, even in the newest
states nave now nearly vanished, where
there must be a substitution of a more in
tensive system OF cultivation for the old
wastcfui farm management and where there
must be better business organization
among the farmers themselves.
EducRttOn for Farmers.
Several factors must cooperate in the
improvement of the farmers condition He
the widest possible sense-in the sense
which keeps ever in view the intimate re,
lauonship between the theory of education
ana the facts of life. In all education we
should widen our aims. 1t is a good thing
10 produce certain number of trained
scholars and students, but the education
rather to produce a hundred good citizens
than merely one scholar, and II must be
turned now and then from the class book
70 the study of the great book OF nature
itself. This is especially true Of the farmer,
as has been pointed out again and again
by al observers most competent to pass
practical Judgment on the problems Of our
country life. All students now realize that
education must seek to train the executive
powers Of young people and to confer more
real significance upon the phrase dignity
OF labor" and to prepare the pupils so
that in addition to each developing in the
highest degree his individual capacity for
hPI n
right public opinion, and show in many
ways social and cooperative spirit. Organi-
cation has become necessary in the bust
ness world, and it has accomplished much
foe good in the world of labor. 1t is no
less necessary for farmers. Such a move
ment as the grange movement is good in
itself and is capable of a well nigh Infinite
further extension for good so long as Il IL
kept to its own legitimate business. The
OF farmers for mutual advantage are partly
economic and partly sociological.
what Has Been Achieved.
Moreover, while in the long run voluntary
effort WIN prove more efficacious than gov
eminent assistance, while the farmers must
primarily do most for themselves. yet the
government can also do much. The Depart,
ment of Agriculture has broken new ground
In many directions and year by year II
finds how II can improve It's methods and
develop fresh usefulness It's constant efs
fort is to give the governmental assistance
In the most effective way; that is, through
associations of farmers rather than to or
through individual farmers. 1t Is also
striving to coordinate Its work with the
agricultural departments Of the several
statee, and 50 far as its own work is edu~
cationa4. to Coordinate It with the work
OF other educational authorities. Agricul-
turai education Is necessarily based upon
general education, but our agricultural
educational Institutions are wisely specialize
ing themselves making their courses relate
to the actual teaching OF the agricultural
ana Kindred sciences TO young country pco-
pie or young city people who wish to live
In the country.
Great progress has already been made
among farmers by the creation Of farmers
Institutes, OF dairy associations, Of breed
ers' associations, horticultural associations
and the Ike. A striking example Of how
the government and the farmers can CO.
operate Is shown In connection with the
menace offered OF the cotton growers Of the
southern states by the advance OF the bOll
weevil. The department is doing all II can
10 organize the farmers in the threatened
districts, just as IL has been doing all II
can TO organize them in aid OF its work to
eradicate the cattle fever tick in the south.
The department can and will cooperate
with all such associations, and II must have
their help II its own work is to be done in
the most efficient style.