Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-11
PRESIDENT SUBMITS DOCUMENT
TO CONGRESS, TOGETHER WITH
SPECIAL MESSAGE RECON-.
MENDiNG APPROPRIATION.
COOPERATION HELD
THE CHIEF NEED
COMMISSION DECLARES THAT
LACK OF BUSINESS METHODS
MAKES THE FARMER DO BUSI-
NESS AT BIG LOSS.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 8. =
President Roosevelt today sent
special message to congress &C
companying the report of the
country life commission. This
commission he had appointed
some time previously to thorough
ly investigate conditions in the ag-
ricultural districts and make any
recommendations it saw fit, to
better conditions. The chief report
Of the commission is the need OF
cooperation among the farmers
for their mutual improvement in
bushes SWAY. The parcels post is
also recommended The president
asks an appropriation of $4,000
in order that the commission may
continue its investigation from
the wealth of material already Sc
cured None Of this money is to
be used in paying salaries to mem
bers of the commission, as they
have all volunteered to serve
without compensation.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The text of the presidents message
follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
transmit herewith the report of
the commission on country life. At
the outset l desire to point out that
not dollar of the public money has
been paid to any commissioner for his
work on the commission.
The report shows the general con-
dition Of farming life in the open coun-
try, and points out its larger prob
lens; it indicates ways in which the
government national and state, may
show the people how to solve some of
these problems; and 1t suggests a
continuance of the work which the
commission began.
Judging by thirty public hearings,
to which farmers and farmers wives
from forty states and territories came,
and from 10000 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 other land If 1t has
in recent years slipped down in some
places, 1t has risen in more places. It's
progress has been general, if not uni
form.
Yet farming does not yield either
the profit or the satisfaction that 1t
ought to yield and may be made to
yield There is discomfort in the
country, and in places encouragement
Farmers as a class do not magnify
their calling. and the movement to the
towns, though am happy to say, less
than formerly, is still strong.
Favors Cooperation System.
The object Of the commission on
country life is not to help the farmer
raise better crops, but to call his atten
ton to the opportunities for better
business and better living on the farm
If country life Is to become what 1t
should be. and what l believe it ulti
mately will do-one of the most dig
nified, desirable, and sought-after
ways of earning a living-the farmer
must take advantage not only of the
agricultural knowledge which Is at his
disposal, but Of the methods which
have raised and continue to raise the
standards of living and of intelligence
in other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found II
necessary, under modern economic
conditions to organize themselves fol
mutual advantage and for the protec
ton Of their own particular interests
in relation to other interests. The
farmers of every progressive European
country have realized this essentia
fact and have found in the co-opera
tive system exactly the form Of bust
ness combination they need.
The cooperative plan Is the best
plan of organization wherever mef
have the right spirit to carry it out
Under this plan any business under
taking is managed by committee
every man has one vote and only one
vote; and everyone gets profits accord
| ing to what he sells or buys or sup
plies. 1t developes individual respon
sibility and has moral as we'll as {
| financial value over any other plan.
| The commission has tried to hell
| the farmers to see clearly their owl
problem and to see 1t as a whole; t
distinguish clearly between what thu
government can do and what the farm
ers must do for themselves; and i
wishes to bring not only the farmers
| but the nation as who'll to realizs
that the growing Of crops, though al
essential part, is only part Of coun
try life. Crop growing is the essentia
foundation; but it is no less essentia
that the farmer Shall get an adequate
return for what he grows; and it Il
no less essential-indeed 1t is LITERAL.
| vital-that he and his wife and hi
children shall lead the right kind o
life.
| The Three Great Needs.
For this reason, it is of the frs