Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-18

lent places. II Won d y" we'll II the
meetings couird be h Id within the ,
mex, three or four weeks, that Is. be
fore Congress adjourrS pr1"r to the
Christmas holidays. SO that u, the
time of the reassembltnE Of Congress
early in January you will have the re-
ports OF the me tines and 80 will be
In position - advise d"tlni ely what
should be done. sugs ST that yon
ask them to meet not later than Sat
urday, December 9Th and you wilt
of course use your own judy ment
whether to summon u" me ing bl
circular or otherwise.
"Thruughout this letter whCr" us"
the wvrd farmers mean also to in
cludc all those who live i'll rhe open
country and are intimately connected
with those who do III" farm work,
ministers, school teachers, physicians.
editors OF country papers. IN short al
men and women wis" lif" work -
done eith'r on the farm or III con
ncction with the life work Of those
who are en- the farm.
You know better ,hrn what
topics you will suggcS'. How would
il ito TO include such topics as:
The efficiency f tn" rura' schools:
farmers organization; The uu"Stio" Oh
farm labor; the reed OF good roads;
conditions on the fam.
Your purpose is r''th"r to in'"Sti
gate the farmer. nCr to inquire I'M"
technical methods eff farming. You
are simply trying 10 rs; "rtatn what
are the general economic. social, 'dt-
Cational. and sanitary coalitions Of the
open country" and what. II anything,
the farmers themselves can do to help
improved postal facilities. sanitary
thcmselv, s. and how the Government
can help them To this and your
.spoc!al desires Is 10 get in touch
with and represent the farmers them
selves. The Commission now con.
sists of five members. shall ask
two more gentlemen to S"rv" upon II.
so that the full menh' rship will IT,
as follows:
Prof. l.. II. Bailey, New York State
College of Agriculture, Ithaca. New
York. Chairman: Henry Wallace. Wal
l&cc's Farmer. Des Moil"s. Iowa: Ken
son l.. Butterfieid. President Massa-
chusetts Agricultural C0ll"G". Am
hrrst, Mass; Clifford PinchOt. L. 5.
Forest Service. WaShingt II, ID. C.:
Walter II. PaGr, Of North Carolina
Editor OF the Worlds Work; Charles
S Barrett Union City. Georgia. anu
William A. Beard. SACRAMENTO. Cal.
Again thanking yOu. and with all
good wishes for your sn"c"ss IN this
great and important work. believe me-,
Very sincerely yours
(sirncdl THEODORE KO> EVELT.
Mr.. Bailcy's reply 10 he President
follows:
The Commission on Country Lie
is much gratificd that its Efforts have
liz, with your approval. The pubic
interest in the subject seems to b.
widespread and to be constantly
growing. IS the purpose CT the Work
becomes known. Discussion Of the III
Guirv that the Commission IS making.
among the pe ople themselves. is the
best means of arriving at clear rG'
derstanding of what the Country Lite
problems really are. The CCmmlS-
sion gladly welcomes your suggestion
that all country people come to to-
gnthcr to consider these great ques-
tons. and hereby requests all per
sons who are especially interested in
the welfare OF the open country TO
meet in tn .ir usual gathering places
en- or before December ) TO discuss
the subject YOU suggest. or any OF
the questions on which the Commis-
sion is making inquiries.
Copies of the questions may be s.
cured by writing to the Commission
en- Country Life. Washington. y. G.
The Commission desires, that so far
as possible. general summary or
estimate of the discussions in all the
meeting places be promptly sen: TO
It's office in Washington. so that il
NAV have the benefit Of all sugges-
finmS In nraEaring its report