West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-03-05
STAYING ON THE FARM
President Suggests Making the
Life More Attractive.
HoWcAN IT BEST BE DoNE7

Youth From Leaving For the Big
City-Mutual Interests Of All.
In the discussion of issues supposed
to be OF much greater importance one
paragraph IN President Roosevelt's re-
cent message to congress has been gen
orally overlooked 1t carries n recon-.
mendation for some sort OF action by
the government that may be calculat-
ed TO check the onward march OF the
farmer boys TO the cities.
President Roosevelt Is not very def.
mite In his recommendation, as might
be expected. Ii Is n subject requiring
special treatment. Mr.. Roosevelt mere
" suggests that the department OF ag-
riculturc might be given authority TO
cooperate with state governments I'm
developing institutional and social
movements TO make farm life more at
tractive. He says, 1.-The effort must be
made to make farm life not only remu-
nerative, but attractive. so that the
best young men and girls will feel in.
ciined TO stay on the farm and not go
to the city"
Commenting on this topic. the Won.
ans National Daily says editorially:
AS a mntter of fact, the young man
on the farm is far better Off than the
young clerk or salesman who has en-
ployment ut wages that barely provide
Tor his bodily needs and leave nothing
over at the end OF the month. The
Farmer boy doesn't see II that way.
however. He sees the bright lights
and is lured by what he looks ON ns
the many facilities for amusement and
entertainment. He sees far greater OBJ
portunities for getting on and getting
up In the world in the city, where
there are libraries. theaters. lodges So
ciai functions and all things that add
to the pleasures OF life. OF course all
these things take n different color
when viewed Mt close hand and when
the hard, cold fact presents itself that
all cost money and that sometimes the
price Is very high-too high for n ma
1ority OF young men ever TO hope 10
reach them. 1t does little good. how
ever. to tell the country lad these
Things. He wants to see for himself
The best way to cure this fever Is
TO feed It, Let the farmer bog see for
himself just how much of the appar-
ent brilliancy is the merest tinsel and
the music only sounding brass and tin
king cymbal'"
In many respects farm life is much
more attractive now than It was n
generation ago. Since boys now reach
Ing maturity were born several impor-
tant agencies have combined to render
rural lie less lonesome and TO put II
In closer touch with city or town life.
One OF the most important of these Is
the telephone. In thousands of COM
munities the towns and the farmers
houses are connected by telephone.
thus making INSTRUMENTATION quick
and easy. The farmers wife may call
up her neighbors or the stores I'm town
and in some communities the stores
now deliver goods within certain
country radius. The farmers daugh-
tiers may talk over the phone with
neighboring gIrls-or with young men.
The trolley car lines I'm many COM
munities serve to make the distance TO
town considerably less by reason OF
decreasing the time required for the
Trip, not to mention the saving of both
er In hitching up n team to drive I'm.
The rural mail delivery routes form
another feature that makes farm life
more attractive. Farmers get their
mail at their doors every day instead
OF having 10 hitch up and drive into
town, which used to be done about
once week chiefly for the purpose OF
getting the family mail.
All these things help. but, as Presi-
dent Roosevelt suggests, there might
be some official cooperation for insti-
tutional adjuncts to increase the at
Effectiveness of farm life. As there is
now q schoolhouse in every hollow.
who knows but that a few years hence
there will not be n clubhouse on every
hiilf No doubt the president would
suggest a gymnasium as one feature
OF the club. 1t is not to be disputed
that with some such social center near
home the farm boys and girls would
be more content TO remain on the old
farm and would think at least twice
before seeking the glare and glitter OF
the city, with its attendant hardshIps.
What helps the country helps the
town. II the best blood OF the farm
Ing community goes away 90 some big
city, the town Is sure to suffer there
by. Therefore Il behOoves the towns
RNSR~N W NR~RptAaAt Win Lnt FARMING
population IN the effort 20 make life
on the farm more pleasant In many
communities there IS n tendency on
the part OF the townspeOple TO keep
aloof from the country people II
would seem that mutual interests
would demand closer fellowship and
association. Already il has been sug.
gested that the farmers be invited 10
become members OF the town board OF
trade or commercial organization. Thus |
recognized as factor in the local bust |
ness life. IL may be that the farmers /
would be inclined 20 spend more mon |
ey at the town stores and less at the /
sity mail order establishments. Fol
lowing out this hint, 70 may be sug-
gested further that the country young
people be invited 90 Join the town So
ciel clubs and take part IN the various
functions Of the winter season. a
town without n populOus, prosperous
and cODtented farming community
around It IS not calculated 90 be much
of town unless 81 be supported BIZ
factories OF something o. that sort.
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