The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-09
ON A HIGH PLANE.
Country Life Shows Up Well
Compared With Past.
President Roosevelt Submits
Report of the Commission.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE
Accompanies Document EmbOdy.
ing Recommend datiOns.
Ask for an Appropriation of
$25, 900 for the Work.


Roosevelt today transmitted to con-
gress special message accompanying
the report of the country life commits
sion. The message follows:
70 the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
l transmit herewith the report of
the commission on country life. At
the outset l desire to point out that
not a 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
country, and points out its larger
problems; it indicates ways in which
the government, national and state,
may show the people how to solve
some of these problems; and it sug-
gests 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 120, 900 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 it has
in recent years slipped down in some
places. it has risen in more places. Its
progress has been general, if not uni
form.
Yet farming does not yield either
the profit or the satisfaction that it
ought to yield and may be made to
yield. There is discomfort in the
country, and in places discourage
ment. Farmers as a class do not
magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns, though. 1 am
happy to say, less than formerly, is
still strong.
Three Main Ways.
Under our system. it is helpful to pro-
diSPnSSiOn n w oh t1Q
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the
farmers can help themselves; namely,
better farming better business and
better living on the farm. The ma
tional department of agriculture, which
has rendered services equaled by no
other similar department in any other
time or place; the state departments
of agriculture: the state colleges 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 COM
bined to place within the reach of the
American farmer an amount and quail
ity of agricultural information which, if
applied, would enable him, over large
areas, to double the production of the
farm.
The object of the commission on
country life therefore is not to help the
farmer raise better crops. but to call his
attention to the opportunities for bet
ter business and better living on the
farm. If country life is to become what
it should be- and what 1 believe it ulti-
mately will be-one of the most dig
nified desirable and sought-after ways
of earning nving-the farmer must
take advantage not only of the agricul-
tural knowledge which is at his dis
posal, but of the methods which have
raised and continue to raise the stand
other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found it
necessary under modern economic
conditions, to organize themselves for
mutual advantage and for the protec-
ton of their own particular interests
in relation to other interests. The farm
ers of every progressive European
country have realized this essential fact
and have found in the cooperative Sys-
tenn exactly the form of business COM
bination they need.
Now whatever the state may do to-
ward improving the practice of agri-
culture. it is not within the sphere of
farmers business or reconstruct the
social life of farming communities. 1t
is, however, quite within its power to
use it's influence and the machinery of
publicity which it can control for call
ing public attention to the needs and
the facts. For example, it is the OBJ
vious duty of the government to call
the attention of farmers to the grow
ing 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 on the farm.
Could Be Better.
1t would be idle to assert that life
on the farm occupies as good posi-
ton in dignity, desirability and busi-
ness results as the farmers might cas-
lily give it if they chose. One of the
chief difficulties is the failure of coun-
try life, as it exists at present, to sat
isfy the higher social and intellectual
aspirations of country people. Wheth-
er the constant draining away of so
much of the best elements in the ru-
raj population into the towns is due
chiefly to this cause or to the super
ior business opportunities of city life
may be open to question. But no one
at all familiar with farm life through
out the United States can fail to rec
ognize the necessity for building up
the life of the farm upon its social as
well as upon its productive side.
1t is true that country life has inn
proved greatly in attractiveness,
health and comfort. and that the far
mer'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
of effective agricultural
throughout the United
states is of the first Importance
ativeIy they not only avail themselves
much more readily of business op-
portunities and improved methods
but it is found that the organizations
= A..