East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-23

VIII perhaps arouse greater enlnu-
slasm, and meet with less opposition
than any measure that has marked
his eight years in office, says the st
Louis Globe-Democrat.
The plan to lend a helping hand
to the farmer, to give him a greater
measure of comfort, reward and hap
pness than he now enjoys, is so thor
oughly just that it Is hard to see how
any opposition could be raised. Some
thing has been done for almost every
other class. Protective tariff laws
have given their help to the manufac-
turer; help has been extended to la
boring men In their fights for justice
as in the case where Mr.. Roosevelt
espOused the cause of the striking
coal miners; merchants have had their
interests advanced by host of new
laws against improper combinations
and in favor Of better facilities for
transportation. Alone of all the great
classes that make for the future OF
the nation the farmer has been ig-
norcd I'm the distribution Of proper
aid.
The farmer Is naturally independ-
ent Perhaps in some degree this ac-
counts for the lack of statutes de-
signed 10 assist him. But as a llber-
al contribution to the government,
and as a prime factor in the nations
very existence, the man with the hoe
has a fair claim to the backing Of
Uncle Sam. He is asking no more
than is justly coming to him. Hence
the whole people welcomes move
ment which will perhaps help to
straighten a little that bent back,
which Markham so wonderfully de-
scribed in his famous poem "The Man
With a Hoe"
The Roosevelt plan is directed to
the production of better economic,
sanitary and social conditions. The
commission which he has named to
investigate is empowered to go into
the matter most thoroughly. and
make recommendations When
these have been presented, legisa-
ton will be enacted that is hoped to
be the means Of making the farmers
lot so much happier that there will
be more Of an incentive to take up
and stick to this kind of work.
1t is a peculiar condition in the
United States that while the farmer
is an absolut necessity he has been
the victim of most injustices. The
great money-dealing' classes are, for
instance. not essential to the exist
ence Of the country. They produce
absolutely nothing. They could pass
from their sphere of activities with
out causing the leafs bit Of discom-
fort to the country at large. But the
instant the farmer abandoned his
calling the people would perish.
Heretofore the man who is most
needed to maintain the national life
has been least considered, but now
all that is to be changed, and fair
play for the farmer will be a new slo-
gan Of Uncle Sans.
The men picked to serve on the
commission represent exact knowl-
edge of the subject, and should be
able to give inspired service. They
include Prof. l.. II. Bailey OF the New
york college Of agriculture; Henry
Wallace of Wallace's Farmer, De'
Mones. Ia. President Kenyon l.
Butterfield of the Massachusetts, ag-
ricultural college, Clifford Pinchot Of
the United states forest reserve, and
Walter II. Page. editor Of the Worlds
Work. New York. Prof Bailey is
chairman. and his associates COM
piete a well-balanced body, whose
findings ought to be respected and
swiftly enacted into measures that
will afford relief
The point that the members of the
committee have been asked by Mr.
Roosevelt to keep strongly in mind
is not that the farmers are not COM
Portable. for a large percentage OF
thcm are. in fact, better off than
ever before. But the great thought
| is that they are not progressing in
nroportion IN the remainder of the
country: they are not getting then
rull share. 4 way must be found to
bring them nearer to it, It takes
skill to be a farmer, and the best
farmer ought to be the son of far
NOR. knowing the land from boy
hood. its capabilities, and the kind OF
care il needs. the boy raised on the
farm ought to follow naturally in his
fathers footsteps, and take the farm
when the sire passes away. But un'
der present conditions, with the mar
of agriculture getting less than hi
lust deserts. the boy has not the prop
err encouragement to follow the call
! Ing. and wherever his means permi
the father educatcs his son to othe
things. believing that in almost an!
other line there is a greater chanc'
to amass that wealth which is essen
tion to purchase of the world
comforts.
Sometimes it is the farmers faul
that conditions are not better H
has never learned how to get the full
est return from his land Not les
than 10000 farmers in the south fo
example, have lately admitted tha
they have much to learn about farm
ing, and are improving their product
in quantity and quality by adoptin
methods recommended by DR.. Knapp
farmers cooperative demonstration
work. But it is not alone to the crop
that the attention of the commissio
must be directed. The farmer an
his family. the men, women and chill
dren of agriculture, also need atten
ton. Many of the farmhouses of tn