Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-06-04
Whole Power Of RoosevsA's Admin.
khadOD Said 10 be DeAInd Movement
colftRs MTa a|sa AUTHORITIES
Conservation Of the National Resour.
ces Of tire United States the Princi-
pal objeet-Farms All Over coun,
try Need Young Men.

President RooSev welt, backed by the
whole power OF the administration.
has started movement to turn the
tide OF emigration, as well as immi
grafton. 10 agricultural pursuits in
America The Pr, sident regards the
movement as quite as important as
that looking to the conservation Of
the natural resouces Of the country,
and even more important from 4 pure
ly sociological viewpoint
Recently he has discussed the sub
ject at length with some of the hes.
thinkers of the country. and in Il prac
tical way has taken the matter up
with Secretary Wilson, of the depart
ment of agriculture. 1t is his desire
to induce people to get back to first
principles and cultivate the soil of
the country. He regards il as fraught
with danger to the integrity of the
nation that so many people. not only
from other countries. but from our
own country, should seek life in the
larger cities. Statistics show that
rhousands-even tens of thousands
of young men and young women are
leaving the farms OF America and
taking up life in cities. The certain
ty is that many of them barely will
exc out an existence i'm towns or cit
les. yet apparently the attractions of
city life are too much for them to re-
sist
II is the idea Of the President that
national movement be started not
merely to prevent young people in
In, rico 1aoyin1 tho
. also TO divert as large percentage as
possible of the alien immigration from
the cities to the country. To this end
he hopes that the attractions of rura!
life may be presented to the people
in a way that will appeal to them.
He has in mind the delivery OF some
addresses on the subject before he
shall retire from the presidency and he
hopes that, in a year from this time.
the movement will be we'll started.
Secretary Wilson is cooperating
with President Roosevelt enthusiast
cally. His department has done much
toward the establishment and main
tenance OF agricultural high schools
in the various states and the work
has been OF immense value. Secre-
"ISoh CtoiNVu StAVGiC III
the publication OF natural agricul
tural newspaper in this city which
shall press vigorously the movement
instituted by the President. The
scheme is only tentative now but the
secretary hopes that it may come to
fiuitiOn.
Secretary Straus OF the department
Of commerce and labor. both through
the bureau Of immigration and
through the division OF information,
is doing all he can to promote the
Presidents policy. Every effort is be-
ing made by the immigration officials
to induce immigrants to seek homes
in the rural district Of the country
instead of locating in the large cities,
which already are greatly congested.
The officials Of the department of
agriculture present figures to show
that the farms in the Middle West
average about 100 acres. 1t is ASSERT
ed that farms OF consideratiy less
acreage. properly titled. would he far
more profitable. The idea is that the
American farmer should till the soil
less extensively and more intensiyely:
in other words, that he should mix
brains with his Drawn and thus get
better result for his work.
While most OF the good farming
land Of the country is expensive. the
work OF irrigation and reclamation OF
isvamp lands on which the govern
ment has entered will enable many
people to acquire lands Al reasonable
prices. On their own lands they will
have much better chances to become
happy and independent than they
would II they should locate in some
larger city. and mentally. morally AMI
physically they would be better men
and women.