The Elbert County tribune., 1909-02-11

4
sage TO both houses of congress:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives; l transmit herewith the report
/ of the commission on country life AT
the outset / desire TO point oet that not
dollar Of the public money has been
paid to any commissioner for his work
I on the commission
The report shows the general condition
of farming life in the open country, and
points out Its larger problems: II indi-
Gates ways in which the government. ma
| tionai and state, may show the peopIe
/ II suggests continuance of the work
| which the commission began.
Judging by 20 public hearings. to which
farmers and farmers wives from 40
states and territories came. and from
$4,000 answers to printed questions sent
out by the department OF agriculture
the commission finds that the general
level Of country life is high compared
/ with any preceding time or with any otlr--
er land. II il has in recent years slipped
down in some places. it has risen In more
places. Its progress has been general. II
not uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that It ought
10 yield. and may be made to Yield. There
I is discomfort in the country, and in places
| discouragcment. Farmers class do
not magnify their calling. and the move
ment TO the towns, though. l am happy
TO say. less than formerly. is still strong
| Under our system, 1t is helpful to pro-
mote discussion OF ways in which the
! people can help themselves. There are
three main directions In which the farm
I ers can help themselves namely. better
farming. better business and bettcr living
on the farm. The national department OF
agriculture which has rendered service
equaled by other similar department
i'm any other time or place; the state
departments Of agriculture. the state col
leges of agriculture and the mechanical
! arts, especially through their extension
work, the state agricultural experiment
stations. the Farmers union: the Grange:
the agricultural press; and other similar
| agencies. have all combined to place with
in the reach of the American farmer an
amount and quality of agricultural infor-
| nation, which. IL applied, would enable
him, over large areas. to double tho
production of the farm.
For Better Business and Living.
/ The object of the commission on coun-
!. try life therefore, is not to help the
| farmer raise better crops but to call his
attention to the opportunities for better
| business and better living the farm.
II country life is TO become what It
should be, and what I believe II ultimate
| iy will be--one of the most dignihed de-
sirable. and sought-aftcr ways of earn
| livinE-the farmer must take advan-
| tage not only of the agricultural knowl-
edge which is at his disposal. but OF the
methods which have raised and continue
to raise the standards OF living and in
telieence In other callings.
Those engaged in all other Industrial
and commercial callings have found II
! necessary, under modern economic con-
| dit'ons. to organize themselves for niI-
| fual advantage and for the protection of
TIER own particular interests in rela-
| ton to other interests. The farmers of
every progressive European country have
realized this essential fact and have
found in the cooperative system exactly
the form of business combination they
need.
! Now. whatever the state may do to-
/ ward improving the practice of agri-
culture. II Is not within the sphere of
any government to reorganize the farm
| ers' business or reconstruct the social
| life OF farming communities. 1t Is how
| ever. quite within its power to its
! influence and the machinery of publicity
which II can control for calling public at
tention to the needs of the facts. For ex-
ample. 1t is the obvious duty of the gov
ernment to call the attention of farmers
to the growing monopolization of water
power. The farmers, above all. should
have that power. on reasonable terms. for
cheap transportation. for lighting their
homes. and for innumerable uses In the
daily tasks of the farm
Necessity for Cooperation.
tits true that country life has improved
greatly In attractiveness, health and COM
fort. and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life is
advancing even more rapidly because OF
the greater attention which is being given
by the citizens of the towns to their own
betterment For just this reason the in
PRODUCTION OF effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States is
of the first Importance. Where farmers
are organized comparatively they not
only avail themselves much more read
lily OF business opportunities and i'm
proved methods. but It Is found that the
organizations which bring them together
in the work of their lives are used also
for social and intellectual advancement
The cooperative plan is the best plan
Of organization wherever men have the
right spirit to carry 1t out. Under this
plan any business undertaking is man
aged by a committee every man has
one vote. and only one vote. and every
one gets profits according to what he
sells Or buys supplies. 1t develops In
dividual responsibility and has a moral
as we'll as a financial value over any
other plan.
I desire only TO take counsel with the
farmers fellow-citizens. II is not the
problem of the farmers alone that / am
discussing with them. but n problem
which Affects every city as well as every
farm in the country 1t is a problem
which the working farmers will have 10
solve for themselves but tits problem
which also affects in only, less degree all
tho rest of us. and therefore II we can
render any help toward its solution, It is
not only our. duty but our interest 10 do
so.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission has tried to help tire
fsrmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to -see II as whole. to disfin-
guish clearly between what the govern
ment can do and what the farmers must
do for themselves: and 1t wishes TO bring
not only the farmers. hut the nation as
a whole. TO realize that the growing of
crops. though an essential part is only
a part Of country life Crop growing is
the essential foundation. but Il Is no
le-s essential that the farmer shall get