The Washington times., 1908-08-13
Presidents Pet Scheme to
Better Social Conditions
and Raise Wages.
GOOD MEN NAMED
ON COMMITTEE
Every Effort Will Be Made to
Break Down the Conserva-
tism of the Farmer.

President Roosevelts commission for
the study of farm conditions-social and
economic-wiu probably hold its first
meeting in Washington, within month
The meeting has not yet been called.
and. indeed, the Presidents receipt of
acceptances from all the gentlemen ask
ed to serve on the commission has not
been announced. But IL Is definitely IN
derstood that all I'VE Of the gentlemen
will serve.
The men selected for this service were
picked by reason of the Presidents
knowledge that they had all done
good deal Of thinking, studying, inves-
tigation, and writing along the lines of
the task he wished performed The
chairman is Prof. L. II. Bailey, of
New York Agricultural College, who
has made a specially Of the study OF
cooperation among farmers. 1t is re-
markable how far this system OF trans
acting the farmers business has de-
veloped. and yet how little is generally
known of it. Prof. Bailey is convinced
that along this line very great progress
is to be made toward the betterment
OF the farmers economic condition lie
believes that the middlemen with whom
duly great share Of the product OF MS
soil
This commissions work will be only
preliminary. 1t is desired ultimately 10
place the work on permanent DdslS;
and 10 turn It into a great edncaIloIldi
and prOps gandisL- enterprise: me ultl'
who make u the commission DSlleNS,
as does the President, tnal Ihe pes
work for the farm Will be 10 make II
so attractive that the people now theIS
will stay there instead OF moving 70
town This means mat better schooiS
must be provided. better social conul,
tfons. better wages for laborers, ana
better returns for proprletors.
Country Las Been Neglected.
The town is considered, by these stu
dents of country life. to have had vast
IN more than it's share OF attention al
the hands of the sociologists, WhlIe
the country has been neglected. 10
bring back the people now in the cues
and plant them again on the soil Is
looked upon as practically lmpossloie'
They will not come back, and no
sr,o1,nt Of urging will produce results
Worth the while The effective results
viii be produced by working 10 keep the
farmers on the farm, and their cAl'
dren after them.
uanda work. this task is mainly one Tor
fhe states. so far as concerns leglSla-
fiou. There is need for better schools
I'm the country; but these must be Sc
cured bv some reorganization. enecJed
through change of the State laws. con-
solidatiOn Of the country schools. ana
TRANSFORMATION Of the children 10 lhtih
at public expense is looked upon as the
beginning of reform IN the country
schools
Better Roads Demanded.
BETTER roads likewise are necessary in
order 10 get better schools, ana TO im-
prove social conditions. But roads,
again. are under the jurisdiction Of the
states. Some method of cooperation
between the States, the nation, and the
local governmental divisions is widely
looked upon as practicable; but in the
end the burden must be mainly borne
by the local divisions. and the present
difficulty is that in the main road laws
are unintelligent, wasteful, and cumber-
GUS How to induce the legislatures Of
two scores of States to take hold Of d
problem which is different in every
State. Is a great question.
Tie conservatism OF the farmer him
self is universally declared TO be at
tho bottom of the trouble; he doesn't
want road system which he is at
least familiar with, changed for some
thing of which he knows nothing and
of which he rs suspicious that It in
wolves taxing him for the benefit of
them city fellers with the autos"
The work Of the present volunteer
commission will be mainly educational
IL IS in the hands Of good men, all Of
them enthusiasts on the subject They
are President l. II. Bailey, OF the New
York Agricultural College; Henry Wal
lace editor Of WsllaCes Farmer, Des
NlOines, kenyon L Buttsrneld, preSi-
dent of Massachusetts Agricultural Col
lege. Clifford Pinchot. forester of the
Government, and Walter IT. Page,
editor Of the World Work and Country
Life IN America