New-York tribune., 1907-08-01
PRESIDENT LENDS AID
RECLAIM FIRMS, He SAYS.
Hill Cooperate 7oith the ConTention
To BE Held at Syracuse.


Commerce at Syracuse has issued the call. de-
cided upon at its meeting two days ago. for a
convention of the representatives. of CONNER
ciaL agricultural and other organizations inter
ested. 10 consider ways and means for rehabi
teting the abandoned farms Of the state
The convention. which will have the back
ing of President Roosevelt Secretary Wilson of
the Department of Agriculture, President God
frey of the state grange and other prominent
men, will be held in Syracuse on October II,
Is and Il
John a. stewart. president of the Republican
League of Clubs of the State of New York, who
has been at Syracuse for the last week said
yesterday that the convention would be one Of
the greatest gatherings ever held in the Stale
of New York to discuss the abandoned farm
question.
1t was said yesterday by some of the Repuh-
lican politicians up the state that Lieutenant
Governor Chanler, who is going to speak be
fore the state grange August 16 would at
tempt to make the convention Democratic
issue
We want this convention made a Republi
can issue" said politician yesterday. and we
want all the credit given to the Republican
party at once. Mr.. Chanler. who is to be the
candidate for Governor. in his speech before
the state grange will try make the affair
democratic issue"
Before the convention was called Mr.. Stewart
MIN for his cooperation. Mr.. Roosevelt wrote
Mr.. Stewart letter in which he said that he
was IN hearty sympathy with the movement
and would do all nc could 10 assist in the work
OF the convention. The Presidents letter reads
rs follows:
oyster Bay. y !. July %. 1907
My Dear Mr Stewart: have the heartiest sym
pathy with such = movement that you speak
Of Indeed. doubt Il there il any other movonlenc
as vital to the welfare of this state as one that
shall deal In and vet in thoroughgoing fash
ion with the needs OF the people Of the farming
districts and the small towrs / have been keenlN
alive for many years to this situation. and many
OF the very points you speak Of touched upon in
my address at the semi-ceutcunia of the
founding q agricultural colleges Lansing Mich.
The various Eastern States duty to the
country districts which at present they are fail
ing to perform
Everything that the Department Of Agriculture
Washington do to aid in tho movement VIII
assuredly be done / will gladly cooperate with
the Syracuse Chamber OF Commerce or with any
other bodies to the extent Of my ability to make
th" movement that they propose a success. | VIII
ask. however. that YOU do not summon the CON
vention without giving me amTle warning. 50 that
! may he sure that the men YOU wish repre-
sentinE the national government can ne present
Sincerely yours. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
P.S-l inclose YOU copy Of my address at
Lansing.
Mr Stewart said that the League Of Eepu6-
Iican Clubs has for several years been urging
some concerted action looking toward the bot
terment Of conditions IN the country.
1t Is work The Importance Of which has
been constantly impressed upon Us by our
country membership said Mr. Stewart. with
reference 10 the Chamber Of Commerce con-
vcntiou it will act entirely in non political
capacity. We know that the problem to be
solved is not a political problem. that it is
much too widespread and its Importance comes
nome too closely to To be regarded mat
ter purely for political exploitation. Therefore.
with reference to the Syracuse convention. We
regard ourselves as non-polit"al. and are SIM
ply taking advantage Of our organization and
machinery 10 aid in this splendid work which
President Stilvcll. Secretary ark and other
members Of tn" Syracuse Chamber Of Commerce
nave undertaken.
From one point Of view, however this move
ment may be regarded as a political one. for the
reason that results commensurate with the i'm
portance Of the work cannot he attained with
out substantial aid ct the hands Of the Legts-
lature to the end that there may be complete
change In the attitude of the State OF New
York toward the affairs Of the farmer
The clubs Of the league viii cooperate with
other orEaniza tions in bringing 10 the atten-
tiou of those who are candidates for election 70
the Senate and Assembly the necessity of favor
able legislation. and recognition Of the fact
that the state owes duty to the farmers and
To the inhabitants Of the villages and smaller
towns
''On the part of many there Is a we'll grounded
belief existing that there should he a complete
reorganization Of the Department Of Agriculture
in Albany and ar entire change in the states
AZ a
recognized throughout the state that Commls-
sioner Weitine. First Assistant Commissioner
Flanders ana Charles II. Larnon and other oiti-
cials of The department have been handicapped
ny lack Of up-to-d2te facilities ana proper
scientific equipment
1T is believed under such a reorganization
and appropriate tions commensurate with the i'm
rCrtance Of the work that could be done 10y the
dtpartment. millions Of dollars would be added
70 the land valuations In the end the state at
18th ,{.,- and WDlllG
hcucfited.
1T cannot be gainsad. of course, that the
condition in which the country finds itself to-
day is the result 10 a greater or less degree. OF
circumstances beyond the control of society as 1t
Is a present organized, but it is. however. re-
cenizcd as a fact that neither the farmer him
self nor mis- country his state has assumed
that attitude of responsibility which results IN
concrete effort and self-hflp. Undoubtedly, If
the farmer and the villager and the citizen of
the city had co-operated in an attempt 10 main
tain 30 = greater degree that balance between
city and country. without whi i the welfare -
,he citizens as whole is ieopardcd. some hene:-
icent results would have been accomplished
But. unfortunately, the upset Of the balance
vas So gradual that the present state Of affairs
has come. t. us like an iHsidious disease. whica
now we must set out 70 cure
Even if the farmers were to organize. their
mower 10 benefit themselves would be limited.
only that movement which Is initiated ~ the
citizens of the state whole, which move
mont viii finally bc taken over by the state It
self con bring about change Of conditions
that will restore tho national balance and bins
about AGAIN a healthful economic and social
state.
"In ,bo loss i'm value Of one-ffth at the least
r 81 600 900 tEu OF farm and land value I'm
tho last twenty years. in the loss OF population
u, townships Of - per cent IN the last ihlfy
rcare lies a menace to the state as social
nnfjtv which until recently had not been re-
Z i- lrl1p -