Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-19
ROOSEVELT SUGGESTS
Country Life Commission Is to Dis-
 cuss Important Subjects.

Country Life Commission Is to Dis
 cuss Important Subjects. Washington, Nov 19.--At the sug, gestion of President Roosevelt, the Country Life commission has asked the farmers of the country to meet In their respective communities some time before Saturday, December 5 to discuss the questions which the commission is studying and to indi- cate 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 presi- dent says the farmers should feel "a sense of ownership in the com mission," and that he believes that the commission should get into the closest possible touch with the farmers. He urges the importance of holding the meeting before con- gress adjourns prior to the Christ mas holidays, so that at the time congress reassembles, early in Jan- uary, the commission may have re- ports of the meetings in hand and may be fin position to advise de- finitely what should be done." f- At the same time President Roose. welt adds two members to the com mission, one member from the south and one member from the far west, Charles S. 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,
 November 9, 1908.
 My Dear Professor Bailey:
 I wish at the outset cordially to thank you for ihe 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 atti- tude of the people in the open coun- try, of the farming people of the United States. If they feel an awak- ening interest in what you are doing, they should manifest it. Moreover, it is essential that the farmers, the men who actually live on the soil should feel sense of ownership in this commission, should feel that you gentlemen in very truth represent them and are responsive to their de- sires and wishes, no less than to their needs. It seems to me there fore 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 send ing out circular of questions and by holding meetings in different parts of the United States. But perhaps something more can be done. ...
 I accordingly suggest that you ask the farmers to come together in the several school districts of the conn- try so that they may meet and con- sider these matters. suggest the school districts because the school house would be the natural and pro- per place for such meeting; or they could meet at other customary or convenient places. It would be well if the meetings could be held within the next three or four weeks; that is, before congress adjourns prior to the Christmas holidays, so that at the time of the reassemblins 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 ask them to meet not later than Saturday, December 9th; and you will of course use your own judgment whether to summon the meeting by circular or otherwise. ' Throughout this letter where I use the word "farmers" I mean also to include all those who live in the open country and are intimately connected with those who do the farm work, ministers, school teach CTS, 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 top ics you will suggest. How would it do to include such topics as:
 The efficiency of 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 to ascertain what are the general economic, social, edu cational and sanitary conditions of the open country, and what, if any thing, the farmers themselves can do to help themselves. and how the gov ernment can help them. To this end your especial desire is to get in touch with and represent the farmers themselves. The commission now consists of five members. I shall ask two more gentlemen to serve upon it, so that the full membership will be as follows: .--
 Prof L. H. Bailey, New York State College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y.
 Henry Wallace, Wallace's Farmer. Des Moines. Ia.
 Kenyon L. Butterfield, president Massachusetts Agricultural college. Amherst, Mass. s..
 Clifford Pinchot, United States for est service, Washington, D. c.
 Walter H. Page of North Carolina.