The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-24

loI IHc IuIlHcIS VI tHlS cOuHtTy CdL
be done.
Now Of course the whole success
Of the work depends upon the attitude
of the people in the open country, of
the farming people Of the United
States. If they feel an awakening in
tcrest in what you are doing, they
should manifest it. Moreover, it is
essential that the farmer, the men
who actually live on the soil should
feel sense of ownership in this com
mission, should feel that you gentle
ment III very truth represent them
and are responsive to their desires
and wishes, no less than to their
needs. 1t seems to me therefore that
it would be wise to try to get into the
closest possible touch with the far
mers of the country and to find out
from them, so far as you are able, lust
what they regard as being the sub
jects with which it is most import
ant that you should deal. This you
are already doing by sending out Il
circular Of questions and by holding
meetings in different parts Of the
United States. But perhaps some
thing more can be done.
| accordingly suggest that You ask
the Farmers to come together in the
several school districts Of the coun-
{ try so that they may meet and con-
slider these matters. ! suggest the
! school districts because the school
house would he the natural and pro,
per place for such Il meeting: or the,
could meet ut other customary or con-
v"nlrnt places. II would be we'll if
the meetings could he held within
the next three or four weeks; that is,
before congress ad.jnurmS prior ia the
! Christmas holidays. so that at the
time Of the rcasscmbling Of congress
early in January vou will have the
reports Of the meetings and so will
be in position to advise definitely
what should be done ] suggest that
YOU ask them ln meet not later than
Saturday, December 9TH; and You
Will of course use yonr own judg-
mcnt whether to summon the meeting
by circular or otherwise.
Throughout this letter where I use
the word farmcrs' | mean also to
include all those who live in the
open country and are intimately con-
ncctcd with those who do the farm
! Wnb ,lp,1S tnY. a.
| physicians, editors Of country papers,
in short all men and women whose
life work is done either on the farm
or in connection with the life work
OF those who are on the farm.
You know better than | what to-
pics ynn will suggest. How would it
do to include such topics as:
The efficiency Of the rural schools
Farmers organizations.
The question of farm labor.
The need Of good roads.
Improved postal facilities.
Sanitary conditions on the farm.
Your purpose is neither to investi.
gate the farmer, nor to inquire into
technical methods OF farming. You
are simply trying 10 ascertain whal
are the general economic. social. edu.
rational. and sanitary conditions OF
the open country. and what, If any
thing. the farmers themselves can dc
to help themselves, and how the gov.
ernmcnt can help them. To this enc
yonr especial desire is to get il
tonch with and represent the far
mcrS themselves. The commission
now consists of five members.
shall ask lw" more gentlemen to servo
upon it. so that the Full membership
will be rs follows:
: Prof. l.. II. Bailey. Of New Yorl
: State College Of Agriculture. Ithaca
y. Y. chairman.
: Mr.. Henry Wallace. WallaccE
Farmer. DcS M"incS. Iowa.
Kenyon l.. Buttcrficld. prc~idcn
Massachusetts Agricultural college
Amherst, Mass.
| Clifford Pinchol. t. s. Forest Ser
vice. Washington. -. {.
Walter II. Page. of North Carolina
editor of the Worlds Work.
l Charles :. Barrett. Ini"n Cilv. Ga.
= and William \. Beard. Sacramento
|. Cal.
Again thankin" y"m. and with al
J.. GOOD wishes for Your success in hi
, great and imrortan, work. believe me