The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-02-12

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people are informed on the whole sub
1ect OF rural life, and until there Is an
awakened appreciation of the neces-
sity of giving this phase of our ma
tional development as much attention
as has been given to other phases or
interests; a quickened sense of re-
sponsibility, in all the ountr people,
to the community and the state in the
conserving of soil fertility, and in the
necessity for diversifying 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
have voice in the essential affairs OF
the community: a realization on the
part of the farmer that he has q dis
tinct natural responsibility toward the
lsborer in providing him with good
living facilities. and In helping him In
every way to be a man among men;
and q 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 q
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 PEG.
pie should recognize what these fun.
damental forces and agencies are.
Knowledge.-To improve any stu.
alton, the underlying facts must be un.
derstood. The farmer must have ex.
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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 abb,
to apply 1t to the best advantage be.
cause of lack OF knowledge of his OWL
soils. climate, animal and plant dis.
eases. markets. and other local facts
The farmer is entitled to know what
are the advantages and disadvantage
of his conditions and environment. A
thorough-going 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 a means of developing
our internal resources; we cannot de-
velop these resources until we know
exactly what they are.
Education.-Ther must be not only 8
fuller scheme of public education, but ,
new kind of education adapted Il
the real needs of the farming PEG.
pie. The country schools are to be Sc
redirected that they shall educate theii
pupils in terms of the daily life. OPP
portunities for training toward tn,
| agricultural colleges are to be multi.
piled and made broadly effective
Every person on the land, old oil
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Gated or illiterate, must have a chance
to receive the information necessary
for n successful business, and for q
healthful, comfortable. resource:ul life,
both in home and neighborhood. This
means redoubled efforts for better
| country schools. and a 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 a part
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
ject lesson. designed to reach every
| farmer and his family, at or near their
homes, with knowledge and stimulus
in every department of country life.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES must be a vast
enlargement of voluntary organized eff
fort among farmers themselves. 1t Is
indispensable that shall work
together for their common interests
and for the national welfare. If they
do not de this. no governmental activi-
ty, no legislation, not even better
| schools, will greatly avail. The farm
ers are nevertheless relatively unor-
ganized. We have only begun to de-
yelop business cooperation in Ameri-
40 IHA-rnarc do nnf inHiIAnnn IaRigla.
ton as they should. They need a more
fully organized social and recreative
l.fe.
Spiritual Forces.-The forces and
institutions that make for morality
and spiritual ideals among rural peo-
pie must be energized. We miss the
heart of the problem IL we neglect to
foster personal character and neigh
borhood righteousness. The best way
to preserve ideals for private conduct
and public life Is to build up the insti-
buttons of religion. The church has
great power Of leadership. The whole
people should understand that 1t is
vitality important to stand behind the
rural church and to help 1t to become
a great power in developing concrete
country life ideals. 1t is especially
important that the country church rec
ognize that 1t has a social responsible
ty to the entire community as well as
a religious responsibility to it's own
group of people.
Recommendation Of the Commission.
The commission recommends all the
correctives that have been mentioned
under the head of The nature of the
remedies" 1t does not wish to dis
eliminate between important meas
ures of relief for existing conditions.
1t has purposely avoided fndorsing
any particular bill now before con-
gress, no matter what It's value or OBJ
tect.
There are, however. in the opinion
of the commission, two or three great
movements of the utmost consequence
that should be set under way at the
earliest possible time. because. they
are fundamental to the whole problem of
ultimate permanent reconstruction; these
call for special explanation.
Taking Stock of Country Life
There should be organized. rs ex-
planned in the main report, under gov
ernmental leadership, a comprehensive
plan for an exhaustive study or survey
~ oil the conditions that surround the