Putnam patriot., 1908-11-27
Country Life comni sion.

Al AiAf HHtEAt4Atsftf FA flttNe.tt
 seit. the OantrH Life commission has asked the fqrmefs ef the e3untfy to meet in thcir respective II communities some Ume befere saturday, BeeeH per [. lo diseuss the questions which the Commission is studying apf t9 iaii- cate lhelf o8n ideas of @ha4 ate tue most important sahjeets for the totaz mission to consider
 In letter io the members q lhe Commission the President saxs the farmers sloaid feel n sonse of owner ship In the Commission, and thal he believes That the Commission should get into the closest possible touch with the farmers. He urges the importance of holding the meeting before angfess adjourns prior 10 the Christmas holtz days, SO ihnt the time Congress re as. rembIcs, early in January, the tom= mission may have reports ot the meet ings in hand and may be "in position To advise definitisely what should be done"
 The President. in his letter, offers the following topics 10 he considered ny the farmers; and hy farmers he says "f mean also to include all those who live in the open country and are intimate lx connected with those who do the farm work mihisteis. sehoel tenfhets, physieiaus, editors af county papers i. s44 ssFh hnafs Ii work Is dom either on the farm ef in connection Niih the fife work ot those Wbo afe m fhe farnt
 The efficiency of the rural schools.
 i.nftHerz organizations
 The question q iafm labor
 The need If good loafs
 imptuNed aaeld facilities
 @aaitafY conditions en ihe tafa.
 The efeate,t If ai tepic7 that qught to be discussed hv thoee dcaefibe1 q fnfmers, is tapid transit. With quick and easy transit ta central towns al The topIes suggested ty the President would follow ln natural eautse. It ts being cut of from the outer world that dwarfs all progress and deadens men- tai energy la lhe mountainous re- gions of Kentucky and other like sec. tons, where the natives have been cut of from the outer world from lack of easy communication herewith, they afe bul children mentally, even in lheir hafnlels and villages, while physically they have no superior in manly and wemanly form. They are rapidly trans. formed when brought in close contact with refined people ut the outer world. IL k equally nalieeaale among the eol- cred people oi the south. As Prnies. snr Battle snid, while i'll thl~ city, seek ing funds to educate his cplorcd raee they ate bat bates, mentally, and as people, they have made na aiN anee. ment, intellectually, since their slave. " days, They have no influences te elevate and develop nil their mentality until they 70 to Hampton, Inskegee, okolona or. some ether industrial eda- caiional institutions for ealored young men and women, where they arc trans formed as are N hite people under the same conditions. All the indisidual ism gives way 10 the compleNity of the outer world. Professor Battle was q manifest example of this tranforma ton in what K termed an inferior race.
 The further We go back in the isola- ted sections of our State, where people cannot reach the outer world, We Ind them primitive in their lives and ohiec- lionably so the further back they are found. Steam cars and trolley lines that reach such sections soon make change: People of wider mental train- ing come in, new life Is given to bnsi- ness, new hopes and aspirations stir the hearts of the people and the change goes on until the community isin har- nony with like places in what has been fhe outer world.
 No matter what part of this or other State we test this statement We will lind ii proved. IniercomminieaIien with interior and eeatfal communities leNel them al np 10 the same attain saents, no matter how lacking people have become for want of such com. aningiing,
 The nextq question k, How shall the sewns in this and adjoining county, he Tween hero and springfield, now de priyed q rapid transit, he provided 10 bless the residents ard develop the Ia. fent rich resources If the teFfi.ofssa
 That K ihe question for the farmers 10 discuss. If they can determine on some feasible plan le get trolley roads where needed and where they will ulti- mately pay, IL should ne publicly an nounced, and IL will he for The Com anission or government To devise means