The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-01

words, the typical American farmer OF
| today gets his remuneration in part in
| the shape of an independent home fol
his family, and this gives him an ad-
vantage over an absentee landlord
Now, from the standpoint Of the ma
| ton as a whole 1t is prominently de-
s1rable to keep as one of our CHIEF
american types the farmer, the farm
nome maker, of the medium-sized farm
This type of farm home is one of ouI
strongest political and social bulwarizs
Such a farm worked by the owner has
proved by experience the best place In
which to breed vigorous leaders alike for
country and city. It is matter OF
prime economic and civic Importance
to encourage this type of homecoming
farmer.
Educate the Farmers.
Therefore, we should strive in ev-
cry way to aid in the education of the
farmer for the farm, and should
shape our school system with this end
in view; and so vitality important is
this that, in my opinion, the federal
government should cooperate with
the state governments to secure the
needed change and Improvement in
our schools. 1t is significant that both
from Minnesota and Georgia there
nave come proposals in this direction
in the appearance. of bills introduced
into the national congress. The con-
gressional land grant act of 1852 ac-
complished much in establishing the
agricultural colleges in the several
states, and therefore in preparing to
turn the system of educational train
ing for the young into channels at
once broader and more practicable
and what 1 am saying about agricul-
tural training really. applies to all in
dustrial training. But the colleges
can not reach the masses, and 1t is
essential that the masses should be
reached. Such agricultural high
schools as those in Minnesota and Ne
braska for farm boys and girls, such
technical high schools as are to be
found, for instance, in. both St. Louis
and Washington, have by their sue
cess shown that it is entirely feasible
to carry in practical fashion the fun
damentals of Industrial training into
the realms of our secondary schools.
At present there is gap between our
primary schools in country and city
and the Industrial collegiate courses,
which must be closed. and if neces-
sary the nation must help the state to
close 1t. Too often our present schools
tend to put altogether too great a pre-
MUM upon mere literary education,
and therefore to train away from the
farm and the shop.
We should reverse this process.
Specific training of a practical kind
should be given to the boys and girls
who when men and women are to
make up the backbone of this nation
by working in agriculture, In the me-
trades; in short. who are to do the
duty that should always come first
with all of us, the duty of home
making and housekeeping. Too mar
row a literary education is, for most
men and women, not real education
at all; for real education should fit
people primarily for the industrial
and homemaking employments in
which they must employ the bulk of
their activities. Our country offers
Hall MI
tic and social advancement, for social
and economic leadership in the world.
Our greatest national asset is to be
found in the children. They need to
be trained to high ideals of everyday
living, and to high efficiency in their
respective vocations; we can not af-
ford to have them trained otherwise.
and the nation should help the states
to achieve this end.
The Mississippi Valley.
Now, men of Iowa. I want to say just
a word on a matter that concerns not
the states of the Mississippi valley it
self but the states west of them, the
states of the Great Plains and the
Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately,
am not able on this present trip to
visit those states, or I should speak to
their own people on the point to which
I now intend to allude; but after all
anything that affects a considerable
number of Americans who live under |
1ne set OIL cOnOlllOHS, pe VI hiO-
nent to all other Americans, for never
forget friends, that in the long run |
we shall all go up or go down to-
yether.
The states of the high plains and OF
he mountains have a peculiar claim |
Upon me- because for number of |
years I lived and worked in them, and |
have that intimate knowledge of their |
people that comes under such eondi-
ions In those states there is need OF
, modification of the land laws that |
nave worked so we'll in the well-water-
ID fertile regions to the eastward, such |
me object in all our land laws should |
always be to favor the actual settler,
he actual home maker, who comes to
lwell on the land and there to bring up
lis children to inherit it after him. The
should part with its title
O the land only to the actual home
to the profit-maker, who
ioes not care TO make a home. The
and should be sold outright only in
Quantities sufficient for decent homes
lot in huge areas to be held for spec
llative purposes or used as ranches,
where those who do the actual work are
merely tenants or hired hands. No tenn
,orary prosperity of any class of men
ould in the slightest degree atone for
allure on our part to shape the laws
O that they may work for the perman-
mt good of the home-maker. This is
fundamental gentlemen, and is simply
arriving out the idea upon which
well in speaking to you of your own
arms here in Iowa. Now in many
tates where the rainfall is light it is
G.