Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-11-25
COUNTRY LIFE.
Farmers Asked to Meet and Give Elk.
preston to Their Ideas.

/ PASooAOh W 1hClT lucdSs
AT the suggestion Of President Roose-
welt, the Country Life commission has
asked the farmers Of the country to meet
IN their respective communities some
time before Saturday, Dec. 5, to 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 consider.
In letter to the members OF the
Country Life commission the President
| says the farmer should feel 'ssense 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 meetings before Congress
| adjourns prior to the Christmas holidays,
so that by the time Congress reassembles,
early in January, the commission may
have reports OF the meetings in hand and
may be sin position to advise definitely
| what should be DONE"
| At the same time President Roosevelt
adds two members to the commission
one member from the South and one
from the far West-Charles 8. Barrett, of
Union City, Ga, and William A. Beard,
OF Sacramento, Cal.
The letter of the President to Chairman
Bailey follows:
| THE WHITE HOUSE,
| WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 9, 1908.
My Dear Professor Bailey:
| wish at the outset cordially to thank you
| for the way in which you have taken hold Of
the work you are doing. No more valuable
| work for the people Of this country can be
done, because no more valuable work for the
| farmers Of this country can 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. II they feel an awaken
| ing interest in what you are doing, they
should manifest it. Moreover, 1t is essential
| that the farmers-the men who actually live
| on the soil-should feel q sense Of ownership
in this commission, should feel that You gen
tlemen in 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 farmers Of the country and to
find out from them, SO far as you are able,
just what they regard as being the subjects
with which it is most important that you
| should deal This you are already doing by
| sending out a circular Of questions and by
holding meetings in different parts Of the
| United States. But perhaps something more
| can be done.
accordingly suggest that you ask the farm
ers to come together in the several school
districts of the country SO that they may meet
and consider these matters. l suggest the
| school districts, because the schoolhouse
would be the natural and proper place for
such meeting; or they could meet at other
customary or convenient places.
1t would be well if the meetings could be
held within the next three four weeks
that is, before Congress adjourns prior to the
Christmas holidays-so that at the time of the
reassembling Of Congress early in January
you will have the reports of the meetings and
so will be in position to advise definitely
| what should be done. ! suggest that you as k
them to meet not later than Saturday, Dec. S,
and you will of course use your own judgment
whether to summon the meetings by circular
or otherwise.
Throughout this letter where use the word
FARMERS" mean also to include all those
who live in the open country and are init
l
work-ministers, school teachers, 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 l what topics you
will suggest. How would it do to include
such topics as: The efficiency of the rural
schools; farmers organizations; the question
| 0f farm labor. the need of good roads. i'm
proved postal facilities; sanitary conditions
, on the farm.
Your purpose is neither to investigate the
farmer, nor to inquire into technical methods
of farming. You are simply trying to ascer'
: tain what are the general economic, social
educational and sanitary conditions of the
open country, and what, if anything, the
farmers themselves can do to help themselves
and how the government can help them. TC
this end your especial desire is to get il
touch with and represent the farmers them
| selves.
, The commission now consists of five mem
bers. l shall ask two more gentlemen tC
serve upon it. so that the full membership
will be as follows: Prof. l.. II. Bailey, New
York state college of agriculture, Ithaca, N
Y, chairman; Henry Wallace, Des Moines
| Iowa; Kenyon L. Buttertield, president Mas
schusetts agricultural college, Amherst
> Mass; Clifford Pinchot, U. S. forest service
Washington. d. c.; Walter H. Page, of NORTH
Carolina, editor of the Worlds Work; Charlie;
S. Barrett Union City, Ga, and William A
Beard, Sacramento, Cal.
Again thanking you, and with all gooC
wishes for your success in this great and i'm
, | portant work, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
To this letter Chairman Bailey replied as
, follows:
COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE.
November l2 1908.
Sir:
The commission on country life is much
gratifed that its efforts have met with your
approval. The public interest in the subject
seems to be widespread and to be constantly
| n the purpnSa ~ tho wnrl hacopas