Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-02-09
ON
COUNTRY LIFE
With Special Message Of Rec
ommendation President Sub
mits Report Of Commission

hA1S h0pVEb Va G0uul&6l0m
WASHINGTON. Feb. s.--In trans
hitting the report OF the country life
commission which he appointed some
months ago, to congress today. Pros
ident Roosevelt submitted the follow
Ing message covering his recommen-
dations;
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiyes
! transmit herewith the report OF
the Commission on Country Life. Az
the outset | desire TO point out that
not dollar of the public money has
been paid TO any commissioner for
his work on the commission.
The report shows the general con.
diltion OF farming life Ia the open
country and points out It's larger
problems; Il indicates ways In which
the Government. National and State.
may show the people how TO solve
some OF these problems; and 1t sug-
gests a continuance OF the work
which the commission began.
Judging by thirty public hearings.
to which farmers aud farmers wives
from forty States and Territories
came and from 10000 answers 70
printed questions sent out by the De-
partment OF Agriculture. the COM
mission finds that the general level OF
country life Is high compared with
any preceding time or with any other
land II 1t has In recent years slip
ped down In some places. II has risen
In more places It's progress has been
general. II dot uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either
the profit or the satisfaction that Il
ought to yield and may be made to
yield There Is discomfort IN the
country, and in places discourage
ment. Farmers do not as a class
magnify their calling, and the move
ment TO the towns, though. am hap
py TO say, less than formerly. Is still
strong.
Under our system. II Is helpful TO
promote discussion OF ways in which
the people can help themselves. There
are three main directions in which
the farmers can help themselves:
namely. better farming. better bust
ness. and better living on the farm.
The National Department OF Agricnl-
ture. which has rendered services
equalled by no other similar depart
ment in any other time or place; the
state departments Of agriculture; the
state colleges OF agriculture and the
mechanic arts. especially through
their extension work: the state agri.
cultural experiment stations; the
Farmers Union; the Grange; the ag-
ricultural press: and other similar
agencies have all combined TO place
within the reach of the American
farmer an amount and quality OF az
riculture. Il Is not within the sphere
would enable him over large areas.
to double the production Of the farm.
The object OF the Commission on
Country Life therefore Is not to help
the farmer raise better crops. but 10
call his attention 10 the opportunities
for better b siness and better living
on the farm II country life Is TO be-
come what IL should be. and what !
believe 1t ultimately will be- one Of
the most dignlfed. desirable. and
sought-after ways OF earning living
the farmer must take advantage
not only Of the agricultural know
ledge which Is a. his disposal, but OF
the methods which have raised and
continue 20 raise the standards OF
living and OF intelligence In other
callinRs
Those engaged Ia all other indus
trial and commercial callings have
found It necessary. under modern
conditions. to organize themselves for
mutual advantage and for the protec-
ton OF their own particular interests
In relation TO other interests. The
farmers Of every progressive Europe
an country have realized this essen
tial fact and have found in the coop
TCanttnu.s ~ are xwol