Putnam patriot., 1909-02-12
FARM LIFE
MESSAGE.
President Tells Of
Country Needs.
COMMISSIONS REPORT.
More Profit and Satisfaction to
Farmers Should Result
From Its Work.

Washington. Feb O. - President
Roosevelt sent to congress today a
sreeial message transmitting the re-
port of the country life commission.
appointed by him TO investigate the
conditions of life on the farms OF the
country and TO make recommendations
of ways and means whereby farm life
may be made more remunerative and
attractive.
In the message the president lays
stress upon the fact that the farmers
and their families are the stay and
strength of the country and that what
ever tends to make their lives less
burdensome or unattractive Is neces-
sarv to the interests of the nation.
He praises the work of the members
of the commission. who, as he says
have labored without pay and do not
now ask compensation for their work
The only recommendation in the mes
sage is the request for an appropria-
ton of $4,000 to enable the commits
sion to digest the material 1t has col
lected and put il in such shape that
n will he available for the nation.
In an appendix to the message. pre-
ceding the report of the commission,
the president comments on the replies
made by Missouri farmer To the dues-
tions asked by the commission. TO
the question. is the supply OF farm Ia
Dor in your neighborhood satisfacto.
ryr the answer is, No. because the
people have gone out of the baby bust
ness and when asked as to the RENE
DIV he answers. Give pentloh te
every mother who gives birth 10 seven
living boys ON American soil.
The presidents message is as fol
lows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentattves:
l transmit herewith the report OF the
commission On country life. At the
outset | 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 eondi-
ton of farming life In the open coun-
try and points out its larger problems.
1t indicates ways in which the govern
ment, national and state. may show
the people how TO solve some of these
problems. and ii suggests a continu-
ance of the work which the commits
sion began.
Methods of the Commission.
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 Ii has
In recent years slipped down In some
places, it has risen in more places.
Its progress has been general. IL not
uniform.
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
class do not magnify their calling.
and the movement to the towns.
though. ! am happy to say. less than
formerly. is still strong.
How Farmers Can Help Themselves.
Under our system 1t is helpful to
promote discussion of ways In which
the people can help themselves. There
are three main directions in which
.
namely. better farming. better bust
ness and better living on the iar1n.
The national department of agricul-
ture. which has rendered services
equaled by no other similar depart
ment in any other time or place: the
state departments OF agriculture. the
state colleges Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts. especially through their
extension work; the state agricultural
experiment stations, the Farmers I'M
ion the grange. the agricultural press
and other similar agencies have all
combined to place within the reach
af the American farmer an amount
and quality Of agricultural informa
ton which II 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
eali his attention TO the opportunities
for better business and better living
on the farm. If country life Is to be-
come what II should be and what
believe IL ultimately viii be-one OF
the most dignified. desirable and sought
after ways of earning 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
False the standards of living and OF
intelligence in other caIiings-
Those engaged in all other Industrial
and CONNER ial eallinss have found
II necessary under modern economic
coalitions TO organize themselves fof
mutual advantage and for the profee-
ton Of their own particular interests
Ia relation 10 other interests The
farmers Of every progressive Eure-
pean country have realized this essen
taal fact and have found In tue co
rafiye system exactly tne form q
h4s5aess combination they Need
Now. Whatever tire state m1y DO 70.
wani IsaEsssvinS the praeiAe Of asT.
| sAlsare. il l. nj within the sphere u
aAy government "a r.eeEganlze Ilas
farmers lassness OK reconstruct IL
| $500 life II farsasns ee1aasaziisse.
i Ia huEssses 9aEEe within - i,SNs-
|