Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-02-11

ness opportunities ~ SAey AAo - =.
open to question. But no one at all
familiar with farm life throughout the
United States can fail to recognize the
necessity for building up the life q
the farm upon Its social as wen as
upon Its productive side.
Necessity for Cooperation.
II Is true that country life has i'm
proved greatly in attractiveness,
health and comfort, and that the farm
er's 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
introduction Of effective agricultural
cooperation throughout the United
States is Of the first Importance.
Where farmers are organized CO.
operatiyely they not only avail them
selves much more readily Of business
opportunities and improved methods,
but 1t 10 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 under
taking IL managed by committee;
every man has one vote, and only one
vote; and every one gets profits 40
cordlng to what he sells or buys or
supplies. It develops individual re-
sponsibillty and has q moral as well
as a financial value over any other
plan.
desire only to take counsel with
the farmers as fellow-citizens. 1t 10
not the problem Of the farmers alone
that / am discussing with them, but q
problem which affects every city
a. well as every farm in the
country. It il problem which the
working farmers will have to solve
for themselves; but 1t is q problem
which also affects In only less degree
all the rest of us, and therefore II
we can render any help toward its so
luton, 1t is not only our duty but our
interest to do So
The foregoing will, hope, make 1t
clear why appointed commission to
consider problems Of farm life which
have hitherto had far too little at
tention,. and the neglect Of which has
not only held back life in the coun-
try, but also lowered the efficiency OF
the whole nation. The welfare Of the
farmer Is Of vital consequence to the
welfare Of the whole community. The
strengthening Of country life, there
fore, is the strengthening of the whole
nation.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission has tried to help
the farmers to see clearly their own
problem and to see 1t as a whole; to
distinguish clearly between, what the
government can do and what the farm
ers must do for themselves; and II
wishes to bring not only the farmers
but the nation az a whole, to realize
that the growing Of crops, though
an essential part, 10 only a part OIL
country life. Crop growing is the es
sential foundation; but It is no less es
sential that the farmer shall get ar
adequate return for what he grows;
and It is no less essential-indeed, 1t |:
literally vital--that he and his wife
and his children shall lead the right
kind Of life.
For this reason, 1t is of the first i'm
portance that the United States de
partment of agriculture, through
which as prime agent the ideas the
commission stands for must reach the
people, should become without delay
in fact department Of country life
fitted to deal not only with crops
but also with all the larger aspects o
life In the open country.
From all that has been done ant
learned three great general and imue
date needs Of country life stand out
First, effective cooperation ,amonl
farmers, to put them on a level will
the organized interests with which
they do business.
Second, new kind Of schools in thu
country, which shall teach the chil
dren as much outdoors as indoors ant
perhaps more, SO that they will pre-
pare for country life, and not as a
present, mainly for life in town.
Third, better means Of communica
ton, including good roads and a par
cells post, which the country people ar
everywhere, and rightly, unanimous II
demanding.
To these may well be added bette
sanitation; for easily preventable dis
eases hold several million country pee
pie in the slavery Of continuous Il
> health.
Duty Of the Government.
The commission points out, and
concur in the conclusion, that the mos
/. important help that the government
? whether national or state, can give |
, to show the people how to go abou
these tasks Of organization, educatio
and communication with the best an
quickest results. This can be don
: by the collection and spread OF II
2 formation. One community can thu
: be informed Of what other commun
I ties have done, and one country 9
r what other countries have done. Sue