The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-24

| the people OF ms country can De
done, because no more valuable work
for the farmers of this country cal,
be done.
Now of course the whole success
Of the work depends upon the attitude
of the people in the open country, OF
the farming people Of the United
States. If they feel an awakening in
terest in what YOU are doing. they
should manifest it. Moreover, it is
essential that the farmer, the men
who actually live on the soil should
feel a sense Of ownership in this COM
mission, should feel that you gentle
ment in very truth represent them
and are responsive to their desires
and wishes, no less than to their
needs. It seems to me therefore that
it would be wise to try to get into the
closest possible touch with the far
mers Of the country and to find out
from them, so far as you are able, just
what they regard as being the sub
jects with which it is most import
ant that you should deal. This You
are already doing by sending out d
circular Of questions and by holding
meetings in different parts Of the
United States. But perhaps some
thing more can be done.
l accordingly suggest that you ask
the farmers to come together in the
several school districts Of the coun-
T try so that they may meet and con-
slider these matters. / suggest the
school districts because the school
house would be the natural and pro-
per place for such a meeting: or they
could meet at other customary or con-
venient places. 1t would be well it
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 reassembling 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. I suggest that
you ask them to meet not later than
Saturday, December 5th; and You
will Of course use your own judg-
ment 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 con-
nected 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 connection with the life work
of those who are on the farm.
You know better than [ what to-
pics you will suggest. How would it
do to include such topics as:
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.
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 III
touch with and represent the far
mers themselves. The commission
now consists of five members. l
shall ask two more gentlemen to serve
upon it, so that the full membership
will be as follows:
Prof. L. H. Bailey, Of New York
State College Of Agriculture, Ithaca,
n. Y, chairman.
Mr.. Henry Wallace, Wallace's
Farmer. Des MoineS. Iowa.
Kenyon L. Butterfield. president
Massachusetts Agricultural college,
Amherst, Mass.
Clifford Pinchot. U. S. Forest Ser
vice, Washington, D. c.
Walter H. Page, of North Carolina,
editor of the Worlds Work.
Charles S. Barrett. Union City, Ga,
and William A. Beard. Sacramento,
! Cal