The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-02-12
necessary; and In many cases definite
state laws may greatly aid the work.

that must be undertaken until all the
people are informed on the whole sub |
Ject OF rural life, and until there Is an
awakened appreciation of the neces-
sity OF giving this phase of our ma
lonal development as much attention
as mas been given to other phases or
interests; quickened sense of re-
sponsibility, in all the country people,
TO the community and the state in the
conserving of soil fertility, and in the
necessity for dversifying farming in
order to conserve this fertility and to
develop a better rural society, and
also in the better safeguarding of the
strength and happiness of the farm
women; "a more widespread conviction
OF the necessity Of organization, not only
for economic but for social pur-
poses, this organization to be more or
less cooperative, so that all the people
may share equally in the benefits and
nave voice in the essential affairs Of
the community: a realization on the
part OF the farmer that he has dis
tinct natural responsibility toward the
| laborer In providing him with good
living facilities. and in helping him in
| every way to be a man among men;
| and realization on the part of all
the people of the obligation to protect
| and develop the natural scenery and
attractiveness of the open country.
Underlying Problem of Country Life.
The commission has pointed out
number Of remedies that are extreme
| ly important; but running through all
of these remedies are several great
forces or principles, which must be
utilized in the endeavor to solve the
problems Of country life All the peo-
| pie should recognize what these fun
| damental forces and agencies are.
Knowledge-To improve any stu
alton, the underlying facts must lac un-
| derstood. The farmer must have ex-
| act knowledge of his business and of
| the peculiar conditions under which
| he works. The United States depart
ment of agriculture and the expert
ment stations and colleges are rapidly
acquiring and distributing this knoWl-
edge; but the farmer may not be able
to apply it to the best advantage be-
cause of lack Of knowledge of his own
soils, climate, animal and plant dis
eases, markets, and other local facts.
The farmer Is entitled to know what
are the advantages and disadvantages
Of his conditions and environment. A
thorough-goi system Of surveys In
detail Of the exact conditions under
lying farming in every locality is now
an indispensable need to complete and
apply the work of the great agricul-
tural institutions. AS an occupation.
agriculture is means of developing
our internal resources; we cannot de-
velop these resources until we know
exactly what they are.
Education-There must be not only a
/ R,.t 80 It, nlp h11t
new kind of education adapted to
the real needs of the farming peo-
pie. The country schools are to be so
redirected that they shall educate their
pupils in terms of the daily life. OPP
portunities for training toward the
agricultural colleges are to be multi
piled and made broadly effective.
Every person on the land, old or
young, in school or out OF school, edu-
Gated or illiterate, must have chance
to receive the information necessary
for a successful business, and for
healthful, comfortable. resourceful life
both in home and neighborhood. This
means redoubled efforts for better
country schools, and vastly increased
interest in the welfare of country boys
and girls on the part Of those who
pay the school taxes. Education by
means of agriculture Is to be par'
Of our regular public school work
Special agricultural schools are to be
organized There Is to be a well-de-
veloped plan of extension teaching
conducted by the agricultural colleges
by means Of the printed page. face-to-
face talks, and demonstration or OBJ
iect lesson, designed to reach every
farmer and his family, at or near theil
|
in every department Of country life.
rsanization.-There must be vas'
enlargement Involuntary organized eff
fort among farmers themselves. 1t Is
| INDISPENSABLE that farmers shall worH
together for their common interests
and for the national welfare. II they
do not do this no governmental actlVl
ty. no legislation. not even better
schools, will greatly avail. The farm
!, ers are nevertheless relatively unor
ganized. We have only begun to de-
velop business cooperation in Amerl
ga. Farmers do not influence legisla
tion as they should. They need more
fully organized social and recreativ'
life.
Spiritual Forces.-The forces ant
institutions that make for morallt!
and spiritual ideals among rural PEG
/. | nile must be energlZeu we MISS 'h
heart of the problem II we neglect U
. foster personal character and nelgh
borhood righteousness. The best wa!
to preserve ideals for private conduc
and public life is to build up the insti
tutions of religion. The church ma
great power of leadership. The who'll
neople should understand that II II
vitality important to stand behind TN
rural church and to help it to becom
. q great power in developing concret
country life ideals. 1t Is especiall.
important that the country church rec
|, ognize that it has social responsibiii
tv to the entire community as well a
a religious responsibility to It's owl
,, group of people
: Recommendations Of the Commission
The commission recommends all tn
correctives that have been mentione'
Y under the head of 1.-The nature OF TN
f remedies" 1t does not wish to dis
! criminate between important meas
) ures of relief for existing conditions
, It has purposely avoided indorsins
: anv particular bill now before con
gress, no matter what its value or OBJ
ject.
E There are, however. in the opinion
5 of the commission, two or three grea