East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-17
INDIANA FARM HAND WRITES TO
ROOSEVELT ABOUT COUNTRY LIFE

Washington. Oct l7.-An Indiana
farmland has written a letter to
President Roosevelt about the work
which the Country Life commission
is carrying on, The president has
turned the letter over to the Country
Life commission and the commission
has asked the farmland to write some
more.
'I have been a farmland just long
enough" says the presidents cores
pondent. "to learn the cause OF so
many sons and daughters and we'll
meaning. reliable farmhands leaving
the beautiful farm and country and
going TO the city. A lack of order
and system on the farm and too long
hours for a day is what is driving
the best minds from the farm to the
city and shop. What can We expect
OF a hand. or the farmers wife and
her posterity. in the way of intellectu-.
al development when they get out OF
their beds at $3.50 in the morning and
work from that time until or p.
m.9 And no attention paid TO the
sanitary conditions Of the home and
necessary conveniences on the farm
for doing the farm work with the
least labor and time"
First Hand Information.
This man has given the Country
Life commission some very interest
ing first-hand information about ru-
raj conditions and recommendations
based on a long experience in farm
work and farm life. He has worked
for all kinds OF farmers, good and
bad. he says. and he has always had
his eyes open to detect the causes OF
their success or failure. He has
drawn his own conclusions and sets
them forth in downright, straight
forward fashion. Education pays in
farming. he SAYS. The farmer who
plans out his work and carries 1t
through in a systematic, business
like manner. just as the city man
does. will be able to shorten the
hours of labor. $50 many farmers
measure everything on the farm from
the standpoint of muscle" he con-
tinues. "and are extreme in some
things and slack in others. decid-
ed several years ago that life is too
short to work for Peter Tumbledown
farmers"
Now. Mr. President" he writes,
"vou can take this for what it is
worth. I have not given you half OF
my experience" The Country Life
commission has written him that his
suggestions are so useful that they
hope he will send more.
Make Business Men Out of Farmers.
Compel the farmer to be busi-
ness man." he says-"Go into the
homes Of some of the farmers and
the so-called farmers and ascertain
how they live. and learn Of their
methods of doing the business in
which they are engaged. And you
will be surprised what a variety you
will find. Ascertain what they read,
and what stress they put on their lit
erature that comes into their homes
(if ay' y'comes) bearing on the business
they are engaged in. See what per
cent study their business.
"Give me the educated + armer as
a boss and the educated farmland as
a hand. When l come in contact
with a hand or farmer that studies
his business I find him advancing
and it is a pleasure to work for such
men.
One Kind of Eight Hour"
The majority Of the farmers are
eight-hour men. that is, eight hours
in the forenoon and eight in the
afternoon. Eight or 10 hours on the
farm cannot we'll be adapted in all
cases. but it need not be from IA to
16 hours. II the family arises every
morning at o'clock and the wife and
daughters attend to the household
duties, and the farmhands and sons
attend to the chores and go to the
field at I o'clock and work until II
or 1880 and go to the field again at
/ and keep at It until 6 o'clock, and
go 10 the house and eat the supper
and then do the evening chores, they
have done a farm days work. Reg
ular hours for work, and regular
hours for sleep and regular hours
for rest and recreation, with plenty
OF standard papers and books in
cluding the best agricultural papers
and books, and a full faith in God,
and good grub is wanted.
THE family should rise at o'clock
on Sunday morning as well as on week
DAYS. and do the necessary Sunday
morning chores and then go to
church and show the business man
in the city that Sunday on the farm
does not consist in changing the stock
from one field TO another. or sailing
II, or unloading a load Of hay that
was brought In on Saturday evening.
The Farmers Wife.
Coming 10 the meals al the meal
hour makes It easy on the wife so she
can arrange her household duties in
order, as can also the husband his
farm work.
Men Of worth and standing In the
shop and city tell me that II order
and system were used on the farm
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