The Washington times., 1908-08-27
BAILEYS DECISION
PLEASES PRESIDENT
ithaca Man Agrees to Help
Probe Condition of
Country Life.

President Liberty H. Bailey. OF the
New York College of Agriculture, at
Ithaca, after once declining the service,
has. accepted President Roosevelt's ap-
pointment as chairman of the commits
sion for consideration of means to i'm
prove the condition Of the rural popu-
lation
DR.. Bailey declined when first named.
giving as his reason that the duties
of his position at Ithaca would make
II impossible for him to give sufficient
time TO the commissions work. The
President however, declined TO accept
such an answer. and laid the matter
before DR.. Bailey with such earnest
insistence that the latter, some days
ago. promised to reconsider, and il pos
sible TO make arrangements which
would permit him 10 undertake the
work These he has now perfected, and
his acceptance Of the commission has
been forwarded to the President.
President Is Pleased.
President Roosevelt is much gratihed
at this turn He was anxious that DR..
Bailey should head the commission be-
cause OF the long and ardent interest
ne has taken In this work In sending
10 Washington the announcement that
Or. Bailey had accepted, the President
also sent great mass of letters which
nave been received by him since his an
nouncement OF the commission and his
letter TO Dr. Bailey outlining the work
he wanted done.
These letters seem 70 disnose effect
ualiy Of the charge that a good deal of
opposition 10 the project has been mani
tested among farmers. IN a pile or
forty letters and kilograms. addressed
70 the President, there was just one
which suggested dissent from the plan.
The rest all congratulated the President
on the STEP and urged that the works
was certain to be of the greatest value
Many suggestions We're made as 20 the
lines IL should take, and assurances Of
cooperation We're given by nearly all
the authors.
VIII Have Suggestions.
1t is manifest that the commission
Will have plenty Of suggestions calcu-
lated 10 broaden the scope OF its work.
The general line Of suggestions. l.Ow-
ever, is In main related TO a few topics
OF these. improvements OF country roads
is easily the favorite. Better sanitation
for country homes comes in for strong
with proposals for teach
ing the science or sanitation as adapted
10 the country.
The condition Of women I'm the country
receives much attention also, many
writer's pointing out that the woman
Of the farm needs help and a broader
life more than anybody else, The need
of books, and Of reading matter in gen
eraI, IS urged, with mary suggestions
that a scheme OF ruat circulating
libraries ought to be practical and
would be OF the utmost benefit
Moral Condition Discussed.
Some Of the writer's urge also that
moral conditions in many rural COM
munities deserve attention. Improve
meut NJ country schools Is insisted upon
by many students Of the problem of
country life, as one means OF keeping
the best class Of farmers on the farm,
and inducing their boys and girls 70 re-
main there as well.
The commission IS composed OF Or.
Bailey. chairman; Henry Wallace, Of
Des Moines: President Kenyon X But
ferfieId OF the Massachusetts College
of Agriculture. Clifford PinchOt, and
Walter ii. Page. of North Carolina,
editor OF the Worlds Work. The com
mission is expected 10 meet III Washing
ton during the first half OF September
ana outline its work. on which the dlf-
ferent members VIII take special as
signments. working up different depart
guents OF IT.
laid before Congress, IS the promise.