The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-08-11
WOULD AID
The FARMERS
President Names Commission
to Probe Their Condition.
WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

-Four Experts Requested TO Investigate
the Social. Sanitary and Economic
Conditions On American Farms and
Suggest Methods Of Improvement
Report Win Be Sent to Congress
Next Nesr-Prof. L. II. Bailey Of
New York College Of Agriculture.
chslrmSn of the Commission.
Oyster Bay. y. Y. Aug. 1o.-With a
view to brinsinE about better social
sanitary and economic conditions on
American farms. President Roosevelt
has requested four experts on country
life TO make an Investigation into the
whole matter and 20 report 20 him with
recommendations for Improvements.
The report and recommendations With
any additional recommendation which
the president himself may desire -
make. VIII be Incorporated i'm mes
sage which the president viii send 20
coueress probably early next year.
The men President Roosevelt has
asked 70 act as an investigating con.
mittce are. Professor l.. b. Bailey. of
the New York College OF Agriculture:
Henry Wallace. OF Wallace's Farmer
Des Moinos Ia; President Kenyon l.
Butterheld of tho Massachusetts, Agri.
cultural college. Clifford Pinchot. o.
the United States forest reserve. ana
Walter r. Page. editor Of The Worlds
Work. New York.
In a letter to Professor Bailey. ask
ing him 90 accept the chairmanship %
the commission. the president outlines
his desires in the direction OF improve
ments on the farms. The letter in part
follows.
NO nation has ever achieved per
manont greatness unless this great
ness was based on the wellbeing %.
the great farmer class. the men VIII
live on the soil; for IL is upon their
welfare. material and moral. that trc
welfare OF the rest OF the nation ulu
mately rests. In the United States
believe it 10 De true that the farmer
in general are better OF today thar
they ever were before. We American.
are making great progress in the d.
velopment OF our agricultural r.
sources But it is equally true that thr
social and economic institutions OF u,
open country are not keeping pac
with the Development OF the nation a.
a whole The farmer is. as a rule. be-
ter OF than his forebears: but his ir
crease IN well being has not kept pace
with that ~ the country as a whole
While the condition OF the farmers O.
some Of our best farming region
leaves iit-le % De desired. We are IA
from having reached so high a lev,
In al parts % the country. In portion
81 the south. for example. whore a.
depSrtuen. Of agriculture is clrecf,,
instrucung more than 10000 farmer
In better methods OF farming. there
SeVertheless much unnecessary suGe-
ing and needless loss Of efficiency o.
the farm.
we hope ultimately 70 double ~
average yield OF wheat and corn ne,
acre; il viii be a great achievement
but Il Is even more important % dou
bic the desirabIity. comfort and stand
ing Of the farmers lie.
1T IS especially important tina
whatever viii serve 20 prepare cour
Try children for life on the farm. az
whatver viii brighten home life Ia e..
country and make IL richer and mo-
attractive for the mothers. wives ar
daughters ~ farmers. should be don
promptly. thoroughly and gladly
There is no more important person
measured in influence upon the life
the nation. than the farmers wife
more important home than the cour
try home and Il is OF national impof
ance 70 do the best We can for both
Ny immediate purpose in appoir-
ing this commission Is 10 secure fro-
IL such Information and advise as w.
enable me 10 make recommendati0r
to congress upon this extremely in
portant matter. shall be glad II u
commission viii report TO me uD
the present condition Of country d
upon what means are now available 1.
supplying the deficiencies which exist
and upon the best methods of org1r
lied permanent effort in investigate
and actual work along the lines ] ha-
indicated. You will doubtless also a.
II necessary TO suggest means
bringing about the re-direction or b
ter adaptation OF rural schools to o.
training of children for lie on a.
farm. The national and state agric-
tural departments must ultimately jor
with the various farmers and agricu-
tural organizations IN the effort 10 s.
cure greater efficiency and attracty
ness in country life"