The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-11-16
FARMERS WILL
HOLD MEETINGS
FOR CONFERENCE
President Suggests One ,S
Every School District in
the Nation
REPORTS TO Be USED BY THE
COUNTRY LIFE Commission
Country Life Commission Meetings
WIN Discuss Rural Schools, Farm.
ers' Organizations, Needs Of Good
Roads and Farm Sanitation

ers' Organizations, Needs Of Good
Roads and Farm Sanitation
Washington, D. c., Nov. 16.-Thor-
ough cooperation Of farmers and pro-
fessional interests connected with
them, throughout the United States
in the work of the country life COM
mission is urged and the appointment
of two additional members Of the COM
mission, Charles 8. Barrett, of Union
City, Ca. and William A. Beard. of
Sacramento, Cal, is announced, in a
letter of President Roosevelt to Chair
man Bailey of the commission.
The letter and the reply of Mr.. Bal
ley welcoming the presidents sugges-
tions were made public today. The
presidents letter follows, dated Nov.
my Dear Professor Bailey:-1 wish
ct 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 country can be done, because
no more valuable work for the farm
ers of this country can be done.
Nov, OF course the whole success
OF the work depends upon the attitude
Of the people In the open country, of
the farming people of the United
States. If they feel an awakening in
terest in what you are doing, they,
should manifest 1t. However, 1t is
essential that the farmers, the men
who actually live on the soil should
feel a sense of ownership in this COM
mission. Should feel that you gentle
mon in very truth represent them
and are responsive to their desires
and wishes, no less than to their feeling
Of tense Of ownership in this commits:
sion, should feel that you gentlemen
In very truth represent them and. are
responsive to their desires and wishes,i
no less than to their needs. It seems
to me therefore, that It would be-
wise to try to get into the closest pos
sible touch with the farmers Of the
country and to find out from them,
90 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 do
ing by sending out circular Of ques-
tions and by holding meetings in dif-:
ferent parts of the United States. But
perhaps something more can be DONE
II accordingly suggest that you ask
the farmers to come together In the.
several school districts of the country
30 that they may meet and consider
these matter. suggest the school
districts because the schoolhouse
would be the natural and proper place
for such meeting; or they could
meet at other customary or conven-
lent places. It would be we'll IL the
meetings could be held within the
next three or four weeks; that Is,
before congress adjourns prior to the
Christmas holidays, so that at the
time of the reassembling of congress
eerly in January you will have the
reports Of the meetings and so will
be In position to advise definitely
what should be done. l suggest that
you ask them to meet not later than
Saturday, December s; and you will
Of course use your own judgment
whether to summon the meeting by
circular or otherwise.
Meetings Called
Throughout this letter where use
the word farmers mean also to in
clude all those who live in the open
country and are intimately connect
ed with those who do the farm work
ministers, school teachers, physi-
clans, editors of country papers, in
short all men and women whose life
work Is done either on the farm or
in connection with the life work Of
those who are on the farm.
"You know better than I what top
ics you will suggest. How would it
do to include such topics as:
The efficiency of the rural
schools; farmers organizations;
the question Of farm labor the need
Of good roads, improved postal facil-
ities;' sanitary conditions / on the
farm?' !.
''Your purpose is neither to inves-
tigate the farmer, nor to inquire into
technical methods Of farming. You
are simply trying to ascertain what
are the general economic, social, edu-
cational an dsanitary conditions Of
the open country, and what, II any
thing the farmers themselves can do
TO help themselves, and how the gov
ernment can help them. To this end
your especial desire is to get In touch
with and represent the farmers them
selves. The commission now consists
Of hye members. I shall ask two
more gentlemen to serve upon 1t, 30
that the full membership will be as
follows: 3.5
sProf. L. H. Bailey, New York state
college, of agriculture, Ithaca, N. ~
chairman; Henry Wallace, Wallace's
Farmer, Des Moines, Ia. Kenyon L..
Butterheld, president Massachusetts
agricultural college, Amherst, Mass
Clifford Plnchot. U. 8. forest service,
washington. D. G.; Walter H. Page.