The Detroit times., 1908-11-21
TO ND FARMER IN
SOLVING LIVING
QUESTIONS q +.
PREsIDENT ROOSEVELT URGES
COMMISSION TO CONFER WITH
RURAL RESIDENTS so GOVERN
MENT CAN ASSIST.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2, AT the
suGgestion OF President Roosevelt. the
country life commission has asked the
fapm6rt of the country to meet In their
respective communities some time be-
fore Saturday. Dec. o.. 20 discuss the
Questions which the commission Is
studying and to indicate their own
ideas of what are the most important
subjects for the commission TO con-
sider.
In a letter 10 the members of the
country life commission. the president
says the farmers should feel IA sense
of ownership In the commission" and
that he believes that the commission
should get into the closest possible
touch with the farmers. He urges
the importance Of holding the meet
Ing before congress adiourns prior TO
the Christmas holidays, so that at
the time congress reassembles, early
In January. the commission may have
reports OF the meetings In hand and
may be lin position to advise definite
~ what should be done"
At the same time President Roose-
welt adds two members to the COM
rnission--one member from the south
and one member from the far west
Mr.. Charles s.. Barrett. of Union City,
Ca, and Mr.. William A. Beard, OF
Sacramento, Cal.
suggests School Houses.
The letter Of the president to Chair
man Bailey Follows:
MY Dear Prof. Bailey:
II suggest that you ask the farm
ers to come together In the school
A{atw<ntg ~ he cr&fhaf thaV
may meet and consider these matters.
I suggest the school districts because
the schoolhouse would be the natural
and proper place for such a meeting;
or they could meet at other custom
airy or convenient places. Ii would be
we'll II the meetings could be held
within the next three or four weeks
that n, before congress adjourns prior
to the Christmas holidays, so that al
the time OF the reassembling Of con
gress early In January you will have
the reports Of the meetings and sc
will be In position to advise definite
~ what should be done. I suggest
that you ask them to meet not later
than Saturday. Dec. 8; and you will
Of course. use your own judgment
whether to summon the meeting by
ClTCUtaI OF OtueTWlSe.
Throughout this letter where use
the word farmers" l mean also to
include all those who live In the open
country and are intimately connected
with those who do the farm work
ministers, school teachers, physicians
editors of country papers. In short. al
men and women whose life work II
done either on the farm or In connec
ton with the life work Of those WHIT
are on the farm.
suhjscts Are Indicated.
"You know better than ! wha
topics you will suggest. How would 4
do TO include such topics as:
The efficiency Of the rural schools;
TURNER'S organizations;
ssTho question OF farm labor;
The need of good roads:
"Improved postal facilities:
f6anitary conditions on the farm,
"Yonr purpose II neither to investi
gate the farmer. nor to inquire into
technical methods OF farming. Yor
ary simply trying to ascertain what
are the, general economic, social, edu
cafional and sanitary conditions OF tn,
open country, and what, II anything
the farmers themselves can do to hell
themselves. and how the governnlen
can help them. To this end your en-
pedal desire Is to get. In touch will
and represent the farmers them
sslvss.r ,