Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-27

-ASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-People
WAY who have had best opportunities
N" to know and understand Theo-
49, dore Roosevelt have said that
fS1YEH5l his great distinguishing, DOM
t mating intellectual character
istic is his highly developed social sense.
1t is this that makes him resolve all prob
lens of government and administration into
terms of ethics; that makes him preach
sermons in state papers and from the
stump; that inspires his marvellous resource
fulness of ideas for lettering the condition
Of his fellow men; that leads him instinct
lively to gather around him men who under
stand what he is trying to do, and SYM
pathize with the ambition.
1t is this dominating social sense that
moves him one day TO order prosecution Of
some aggregationso OF selfish interests which
he has become convinced is unsocial; on the
next, to press for passage legislation to
prevent discrimination by public service
corporations, the next to call a congress
Of governors to consider the immense prob
lem Of conserving natural resources, and
that finally has recently moved him to APP
point a commission Of experts for the study
of means to improve the country life, to
make it better. fuller. broader and more
attractive.
The project thus stated may seem a bit
vague and academic; but resolved into its
elements 1t is a great enterprise which in
its development win be found to involve
the most practical handling of a number Of
specific problems. 1t is in one way a corol-
larry to the proposal for effective conserva-
ton of natural wealth; but It is a more
complex and difficult problem because It
involves dealing with people, rather than
with things; with souls, rather than with
acres and corporations,
This problem Of the farm and its
economies and its life has for a long time
been interesting the president. He laid the
foundation of the present movement in the
speech at Lansing over y year ago, when
he told his hearers that. beyond the very
important business OF producing good crops,
the farm must be made to produce the
vastly more important output Of good man
hood and good womanhood, all of which
sounds we'll. but stIl exceedingly vague.
To be specific. the movement for the uplift
OF the rural population involves such prob
lens as these:
Improvement OF country schools so that
It shall not be necessary for farmers to
'''move to town in order TO give the
children some sehooling;" a process which
generally taxes both parents ana children
away from the farm, TO the ultimate mis-
fortune Of pareRtA children and farm.
Improvement of country roads.
Establishment Of social centers in rural
communities and development Of a social
life which shall be attractive enough to
countersct the gregarious instinct always
tending TO draw people together into towns.
Improvement and broadening OF the prac-
teal usefulness OF the church in the
country.
Establishment OF libraries, lectures, farm
srs' institutes, etc, and general promotion
OF intellectual interests.
Promotion OF cooperative buying and
marketing among farmers, which shall free
them from the imposltions OF the middle
men aud transportation interests.
Propagation OF intelligent interest IN, I'M
de~rstanding of and demand for the parcels
post, so that IL may be brought about.
Encouragement OF such forms OF CO.
operation as the mutual insurance com
pany. the community creamery. etc.
Improvement OF farm life from both the
sanitary and the esthetic sides by inducing
interest IN better arransemsnt OF thu farm