Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-24
FARMERS TO MEET
President Roosevelt Urges Rural Res
identS to Ascertain Their
Own Needs.
GATHER AT SCHOOL HOUSES
General Needs, Not Technicalities, Are
Advised as the Subjects for
Discussion.

Washington, Nov. 24-At the sug-
gestion of President Roosevelt, the
country life commission has asked the
farmers of the country to meet in
their respective communities some
time before Saturday, Dec 5, to dis
cuss the questions which the commits
sion is studying and to indicate their
own ideas of what are the most i'm
portant subjects for the commission
TO consider.
In a letter to the members of the
country life commission the president
says the farmers should feel "a sense
of ownership in the commission" and
that he believes that the commission
should get into the closest possible
touch with the farmers. He urges the
Importance of holding the meeting be.
fore congress adjOurns prior to the
Christmas holidays, so that at the
time congress Tcassembles early in
January the commission may have re.
ports of the meetings in hand and
may be lin position to advise definite
| ly what should be done"
At the same time President Roosc
| welt adds two members TO the com
lmission-one member from the south
and one member from the far west
Charles S. Barrett of Union City, Ga
and William A. Beard of Sacramento
Cal.
Text of Letter.
The letter of the president to Chair
man Bailey follows:
The White House, Washington, Nov
10, 190S.-My Dear Professor Bailey:
| | wish at the outset cordially to thanh
you for the way you have taken hole
of the work you are doing. No more
valuable work for the people of thi.
country can be done, because no more
valuable work for the farmers of thi:
couptry can be done x,
| Now, of course, the whole success o
the work depends upon the attitude o
the people in the open country. of tn,
farming people of the United States
If they feel an awakening interest il
what you are doing, they should mani
fest it. Moreover, it is essential tha
the farmers, the men who actuali.
live on the soil, should feel sense o
Ownership in this commission. shoul
feel that you gentlemen in very trutl
represent them and are responsive t
their desires and wishes, no less tina
to their needs. 1t seems to me, there
fore, that it would be wise to try t
get into the closest possible toucl
with the farmers of the country an
find out from them, so far as you ar
able, just what they regard as bein
the subjects with which it is most in
lportant that you should deal. Thi
you are already doing by sending OF
a circular of questions and by holdin
meetings in different parts of tn
United States. But perhaps somethin
more can be done.
Meet at Schools.
| accordingly suggest that you as
the farmers to come together i'm tn
several school districts of the countr
so that they may meet and conside
these matters. | suggest the scho'
districts because the school hous
would be the natural and proper plat
for such meeting; or they coul
= meet at other customary or conveniel
Iplaces 1t would be well if the NEE
ings could be held within the ne.
three or four weeks that is, befoI
congress adjournS prior to the Chris
mas holidays, SO that at the time
,, the reassembling of congress early
6 January you will have the reports
: the meetings and so will be in pos
: ton to advise definitely what shou
: be done. | suggest that you ask the
to meet not later than Saturday, De
: 5; and you will of course use yol
own judgment whether to summon Il
: meeting by circular or otherwise
Throughout this letter where l u
the word farmers | mean also
Include all those who live in the opt
: lcountry and are intimately connect,
with those who do the farm work
l. ministers, school teachers, physician
Il
e men and women whose life work
If done either on the farm or in come
e tion with the life work of those vi
/. are ON the farm.
s. You know better than I what topi
" you will suggest. How would it
a. to include such topics as:
nl The efficiency of the rural schools
IS Farmers organizations.
te The question of farm labor.
s. The need of good roads.
utl Improved postal facilities.
Sanitary conditions on the farm.
lel Not Too Technical.
De Your purpose is neither to inves
le gate the farmer, nor to inquire il
ly technical methods of farming. Y
ne are simply trying to ascertain wi
d. are the general economic, social, e,
lcational, and sanitary conditions of I