East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-11-23

the farmers of the country to meet
in their respective communities some
time before Saturday, December 8,
to discuss the, question which the
commission Is studying and to indicate
their own ideas of what are the most
important subjects for the commis-
sion to consider.
In letter to the members of the
Country Life commission the presi-
dent says the farmers should feel "a
sense of ownership in the commits
sion," and that he believes that the
commission should get into the clos
est possible touch with the farmers.
He urges the Importance of holding
the meeting before congress adjourns
prior to the Christmas holidays, so
that at the time congress reassembles
early in January, the commission may
have reports of the meetings in hand
and may be sin position to advise
definitely what should be done"
At the same time President Roose-
welt adds two members to the COM
mission-one member from the south
Mr.. Charles S. Barrett of Union City,
Ca, and Mr.. William A. Beard OF
Sacramento, Cal.
Roosevelts Letter.
The letter of the president to Chair
man Bailey follows:
| 4,
November 3, 1908.
My Dear Professor Bailey:
| wish at the outset cordially to
thank you for the way in which you
have taken hold of the work you are
doing. No more valuable work for
the people of this county can be done.
Now, of course, the whole success
of the work depends upon the atti-
tude of the people in the open coun-
try. of the farming people of the
United States. II they feel an awak-
ening interest in what you are doing.
they should manifest it, Moreover
il is essential that the farmers, the
men who actually live on the soil
should feel a sense of ownership in
this commission. should feel that you
gentlemen in very trust represent
them and are responsive to their de-
sires and wishes, no less than their
needs. 1t seems to me therefore,
that it would be wise to try to get
the farmers of the country and to
find out from them, so far as you are
able. just what they regard as being
the subjects with which it is most
important that you should deal. This
you are already doing by sending out
a circular of questions and by hold
ing meetings in different parts of
the United States But perhaps
something more can be done.
Ask Farmers To Meet.
| accordingly suggest that you ask
the farmers to come together in the
several school districts of the country
50 that they may meet and consider
these matters. | suggest the school
| districts because the school house
would be the natural and proper
place for such a meeting; or they
could meet at other customary or
convenient places. 1t would be well
! II the meetings could be held within
! the next thre or four weeks; that is.
| beifdte CONGRESS adjoulhs prior to
the Christmas holidays, so that at the
! time of the reassembling of congress
early in January you will have the re-
ports of the meetings and so will be
in position to advise definitely what
should be done. | suggest that you
ask them to meet not later than Sat
urday, December 5; and you will Of
course use your own judgment wheth
er to summon the meeting by circu
| lar or otherwise.
Throughout this letter where / use
the word farmers / mean also to
include all those who live in the
open country and are intimately con-
nected with those who do the farm
work-minsters, school teachers,
physicians, editors Of country papers,
in short all men and women whose
life work is done either on the farm
OF in connection with the life work of
those who are on the farm.
What Is wanted.
You know better than | what top
les you will suggest. How would it
do to include such topics as:
The efficiency Of the rural schools
Farmers organizations.
I 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, ed
ucatonal, and sanitary conditions of
the open country, and what, if any
thing, the farmers themselves can
do to help themselves, and how the
government can help them. To this
end your especial desire is to get in
touch with and represent the far
mers themselves, The commission
now consists OF five members. II
shall ask two more gentlemen tol
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