Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-10
INVESTIGATE COUNTRY LIFE
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY
PRESIDENT BEGIN DUTIES.
Hold First Session at College Park.
Visit White House and Then
Start South.

President Roosevelt has said he IL
pleased with the initial work of the Pres
idents commission on country life"
The first meeting of the commission was
held yesterday at College Park. Md. The
object of the organization. which Is com.
posed of practical scientists ION aericul.
ture, is to CLEAN conditions of farming
from the farmers themselves. to visit
agricultural centers throughout the United
States, to report to the President pro-
posed legislation to correct existing evils
and to investigate the social, sanitary and
economic conditions of the country peo-
pie.
The members of the commission called
upon President Roosevelt last evening to
inform him that the commission had be-
gun it's labOrs and to receive such sug-
gestions and advice as the President
might care to advance. and left for Rich
mond Va, where hearing is scheduled
for today.
From Richmond to Raleigh.
The commission will proceed from Rich
mond to Raleigh. and from there to
Spartansburg. S. c. They will then go to
Athens, Ga. and Knoxville. Tenn, and
Lexington. KY. returning her next Sun
day evening. While here conferences will
be held with the Corn Growers and To-
bacco Growers associations. and the 18th
or 18th instant the commission will leave
for the west. where it will spend a month
The commission expects to have its re-
port ready for the President during the
latter part of December.
The hope was expressed at the meeting
yesterday that some day there may be q
gigantic farmers trust. wherein the CO.
horts of agriculturists may be banded
together into a close syndicate to work
for the reforms to which they are justly
entitled. Members of the commission pre-
dfcted great organizations of farmers. d.
yided according to the natural demarca-
sus of opinion seemed to be that the
greatest results to be obtained probably
will be:
Ffrst-The bringing of the railroads and
the farmers. particularly the former, to
a realization of the fact that in a COM
munity of interests there will be greater
benefits to each than at present.
Second-The establishing of a parcels
post. which will bring the producer and
consumer closer together.
President Of College Speaks.
Richard w. Sylvester. president Of Mary
land Agricultural College, speaking for
Maryland, declared that in certain Sec
tons Of the state the rural conditions are
such as probably could not be improved
on. He referred particularly to the Sec
ton OF Sandy Spring, Montgomery coun-
ty. which fe declared to be IDEAL He said
1t is section of well-educated people.
and he believes that the question of edu-
cation of the children is one for consid-
Grafton by the commission. He said that
the public school system of Maryland is
not what 1t should be and that it needs
regeneration.
1t was developed that while the fer
tility of lands In Montgomery Washing
ton and Frederic counties is maintained
under the tenancy system. those in the
five southern Maryland counties are de-
teriorating.
At the afternoon session, Mrs. Sarah H.
Miller. q member OF the Friends Society
of Montgomery county, declared that to
run an electric road through Sandy
Spring would have a demoralizing elect
on that section. as 1t would mean an easy
access to amusements elsewhere. thereby
destroying the attractiveness of home en-
tertainments.
DR.. Augustus Stabler of Sandy Spring
spoke on the sanitary conditi rs in the
rural communities of Maryland.
Mr.. ]. C. Stonebraker of Hagerstown
referred to the subject of the tariff as af
fecting the farmer. and said that the
farmer wanted no legislation on the SUBJ
1ect