The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-09

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lem and to see II as a whole. TO dlstin
glish clearly between what the gov
eminent can do and what the farmers
must do for themselves, and It wishes
to bring not only the farmers, but the
nation as whole, to realize that the
growing Of crops, though an. essential
part is only part OF country life.
Crop growing is the essential founda-
ton, but II is no less essential that the
farmer should get an adequate return
for what he grows. and II is no less
essential-indeed, II Is literally vital
that he and his wife and his children
shall lead the right kind Of life.
For this reason It is Of the FIRST Inn
portance that the United States depart
ment OF agriculture. through which as
prime agent the ideas the commission
stands for must reach the people,
should become without dalay in fact a
department OF country life, fitted TO
deal not only with crops, but also with
all the larger aspects OF life In the open
country.
Three Needs Of Country Life.
From all that has been done and
learned three great general and imme.
diate needs Of country life stand out:
First.-Ehective cooperation among
farmers to put them on level with
the organized interests with which
they do business.
Second.-A new kind Of schools In
the country. which shall teach the
children as nsuch outdoors as indoors
and perhaps more, so that they will
prepare for country life and not, as at
present mainly for life In town.
Third.-B Better means OF communica-
ton. including good roads and a par
cells post. which the country people
are everywhere, ana rightly, unani-
nous In demanding.
To these may well be added better
sanitation, fos easily preventable dis
eases hold several million country peo-
pie In the slavery Of continuous III
health.
Organization Is Necessary.
The commission points out-and l
concur in the conclusion--that the
most important help that the govern
ment, whether national or state, can
give is to show the people how to 60
about these tasks OF organization, ed
ucation and communication with the
best ard quickest results. This can
be done. by the collection and spread
Of information. One community can
thus be informed of what other COM
munities have done and one country
Of what other countries have done.
Such help by the peoples govern
ment would lead TO comprehensive
plan of organization, education and
communication and make the farm
ing country better TO live in, for In
tellectuaI and social reasons as well
as for purely agricultural reasons.
The government through the de-
partment Of agriculture does not cul-
tivate any mans farm for him, but 1t
does put at his service useful knowl-
edge that he would not otherwise get
In the same way the national and
state governments might put into the
peoples hands the new and right
knowledge Of school work. The task
Of maintaining and developing the
schools would remain, as now, with
the people themselves.
Money For Expenses Asked.
The only recommendation submit
is that an appropriation Of $4,000 be
provided to enable the commission to
digest the material 1t has collected
and to collect and to digest much
more that is within fits reach and thus
complete its work. This would enable
the commission to gather In the har-
vest of suggestion which is resulting
from the discussion it has stirred up.
The commissioners have served with
out compensation, and do not recon-
mend any appropriation for their serv
Ices, but only for the expenses that
win be required 20 finish the task that
they have begun.
To improve our system Of agricul
ture seems to me the most urgent Of
the tasks which lie before u.s. But 1t
cannot. in my judgment, be effected
by measures which touch only the ma
terial and technical side Of the sub
ject. The whole business and life of
the farmer must also be taken into
account Such considerations led me
to appoint the commission on country |
life. Our object should be to help de- |
yelop in the country community the
great ideals Of community life as well
as Of personal character. One OF the
most important adiuncts to this end |
must be the country church, and / IN
vite your attention to what the com
mission says of the country church |
and of the need OF an extension Of I
such work as that of the Young Mems |
Christian association in country com
munities. Let me lay special emphasis
upon what the commission says at the /
very end Of its report on personal
ideals and local leadership. Every
thing resolves itself In the end into
the question of personality. Neither
society nor government can do much /
for country life unless there is volun-
tary response in the personal ideals of
the men and women who live in the
country.
Plea For Farmers Wives.
In the development Of character the
home should be more important than
the school or than society at large.
When once the basic material needs
have been met, high ideals may be