The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-11-27
Suggested That Meetings Be Held
To Discuss Subjects.
FOLLOW OUT ROOSEVELT HINT
Efficiency Of Rural Schools, Need Of
Good Roads, and Many Other
Topics Of Interest.

From Fridays Daily.
The Republican and, Herald states
that it has been suggested that the
farmers and others in Winona county
residing in the country districts ar
range to hold public meetings some
time before Saturday, Dec. 5, to dis
cuss the questions which the country
Life commission is at this time en-
gagged in studying and to indicate
their own ideas as to what are the
most important subjects for the COM
mission to consider As heretofore
noted, the commission members them
selves will be at the School of Agri-
culture in Minneapolis on Dec. II, this
being one of their stops on a tour
through the country. Farmers Of Blue
Earth county could get together for
a similar purpose and with profit to
themselves.
Suggested by Roosevelt.
The plan to hold meeting in Wi
mona county is along the line of gen
eral suggestion made by President
Roosevelt. In letter to the members
of the country life commission the
president says the farmers should feel
"a sense of ownership in the COM
mission" and that he believes that
the commission could get into the
closest possible touch with the farm
ers. He urges the Importance of hold
ing the meeting before congress adj
journs prior to the Christmas holidays,
so that at the time congress re-assem-
bles, early in January, the commission
may have reports of the meetings in
hand and may be gin position to adj
vice definitely what should be done"
At the same time President Roose-
welt adds two members to the commits
sion--one member from the south and
one member from the far west
Charles S. Barrett, of Union City, Ca,
and William A. Beard, of Sacramento,
Cal. -
In his letter to the commission
President Roosevelt suggests that
school district meetings might be pro-
fitable to discuss these matters as the
schoolhouse is a natural and proper
place for the discussion of matters of
public veal, or the meetings could
be held at other customary or con-
venient places.
Those Who Live in the Open.
President Roosevelt says that his
use of the word farmers is meant to
include all those who live in the open
country and are intimately connected
with those who do the farm 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 con-
nection with life work of those who
are on the farm. He suggests the
following topics for consideration:
The efficiency of the rural schools.
Farmers organizations.
The question of farm labor.
The need of good roads.
Improved postal facilities.
Sanitary conditions on the farm.
To the commission he says: "Your
purpose is neither to, investigate the
farmers, nor to inquire into technical
methods of farming. You are sim
ply trying to ascertain 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. To this end your es-
pecial desire is to get in touch with
and represent the farmers themselves"