Morris tribune., 1907-07-20


comes cooperation with the Government, and
the government can best give its aid through
associations of farmers rather than through the
individual farmer; for there is no greater agrl-
cultural problem than that of delivering to the
farmer the large body of agricultural know
ledge which has been accumulated by the Ma
tional and State Governments and by agrcut-
ural colleges and schools. Nowhere has the
government worked to better advantage than
in the South where the work done by the de-
partment of agriculture in connection with the
cotton growers of the Southwestern states has
been phenomenal in it's value. The farmers in
the region affected by the boil weevil, in the
course of the efforts to fight it succeeded in de-
veloping most scientific husbandry so that in
many places the boil weevil became blessing
in disguise.
"The people of our farming regions must
be able to combine among themselves, as the
most efficient means of protecting their indus
try from the highly organized interests which
now surround them on every side. A vast field
is open for work by cooperative associations of
farmers in dealing with the relation of the farm
to transportation and to the distribution and
through such combination that American
farmers develop to the full their economic
and social power Cor bnation of this kind,
has, in Denmark, for instance, resulted in
bringing the people back to the land, and has
enabled the Danish peasant to compete in
traordinary fashion, not only at home but in
foreign countries, with all rivals.
ut is true that agriculture in the United
States has reached very high level of prosper
ity; but we cannot afford to disregard the signs
which teach US that there are influences opera
our country life upon really sound basis The
Ioyerextensive and wastefu cultivation of pio-
neer days must stop and give place to a more
economical system. Not only the physical but
the ethical needs of the people of the country
districts must be considered. In our country
life there must be social and intellectual advan-
tages we'll a fair standard of physical
comfort. There must be in the country as in
the town, multiplication of movements for
intellectual advancement and social betterment
We must try to raise the average of farm life,
and we must try to develop it that it shall
offer exceptional chances for the exceptional
man.
"All over the country there is a constant
omptaint of paucity of farm labor. Without
attempting to go into all features of this ques-
ton [ would like to point out that you can
never get the right kind, the oest kind, of labor
if you offer employment only for few MONTHS
for no worth anything will permanently
accept system which leaves him in idleness
for half a year.
"The best crop is the crop of children; the
best products of the farm the ,men and
men raised thereon; the most instructive and
practical treatises farming, necessary
though they be, are no more necessary than
the books which teach us our duty to our
neighbour, and above all to the ne1ghbor who is
of our own household.
II have not the slightest sympathy with
those hystercal and foolish creatures who wish
women to attain easy lives by Sinking their
duties. have as hearty contempt for the wo-
man who shrks her duty of bearing and
ing the children, of doing her full housewives
work, as | have for the man who is an idler,
shirks his duty of earning living for himself
brutal towards his wife and children. / believe
in the happiness that comes from the perform
ance of duty, not from avoidance of duty. But
believe in trying, each of u.s. to bear one
another's burdens; and especially in our own
homes. No outside training, cooperation,