The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-10

the farmers a. fellow-citizens. 1t is
not the problem of the farmers alone
that | am discussing with them, but a
problem which affects every city as
well as every farm in the country.
1T is a problem which the working
farmers will have to solve for them
selves; but it is a p. oblem which also
affects in only less degree all the rest
of us, and therefore If we can render
any help toward it's solution. 1t is not
only our duty but our interest te do so.
The foregoing will | hope, make 1t
clear why appointed a commission to
consider problems of farm life which
have hitherto had far too little atten-
tion, and the neglect of which has not
only held back life in the country, 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 tn whole
nation
The commission has tried to help
the farmers to see clearly between
what the government can do and what
the farmers must do for themselves:
and it wishes to bring not only the
farmers but the nation as whole to
realize that the growing of crops,
Though an essential part. is only
part of country life. Crop growing is
the essential foundation; but it is no
less essential that the farmer shall get
an adequate return for what he grows;
and it is no less essential-indeed 1t Is
is literally vital-that he and his wife
III. 1T
kind of life.
For this reason, it is Of the first i'm.
portance that the United States De-
nartment 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 OF life
in the open country.
! From all that has been done and
learned three great general and i'm
mediate needs of country life stand
out:
First, effective cooperation among
farmers, to put them on a level with
I tie organized interests with which
they do business.
/ Second. ner- kind of schools in the
country. which shall teach the children
Jas much outdoors as indoors and per-
haps more, SO that they will prepare
] for country life, and not as at present,
mainly for life in town.
/ Third. better means of communica-
ton. including good roads and a par.
GELS post, which the country people
are everywhere. and rightly, unani
nous in demanding.
To these may well be added better
sanitation: for easily preventable dis.
eases hold several million country peo
lrle in the slavery of continuous i'll
health.
/ The commission points out. and ]
concur in the conclusion, that the most
2 important help that the government
whether national or state, can give is
to show the people how to go about
these tasks of organization, education
and communication with the best and
quickest results. This can be done BY
the collection and spread of informa
ton. One community can thus be in
formed of what other communities
have done. and one country Of what
other countries have done Such heir
BY the peoples government would
lead to a comprehensive plan of or
ganization. education, and communica
ton, and make the farming country
better to live in, for intellectual an6
social reasons as well as for purely
agricultural reasons
The government through the de
partment of agriculture does not cul
tivate any mans farm for him. But
oS t,s-
edge that he would not otherwise get
In the same way the national and state
Il governments might put into the PEG
4 pies hands the new and right knowl
edge of school work The task O
maintaining and developing the
lschools would remain. as now, witt
the people themselves.
The only recommendation / submit
is that an appropriation of $4,000 BIZ
provided. 10 enable the commission tt
Idigest the material 1t has collected
and to collect and to digest much NOR
that is within its reach, and thus com
tplete its work This would enable the
commission to gather IN the harvest O.
suggestion which is resulting from the
! discussion it has stirred up. The com
lmissioners have served without com
lpensation, and do not Recommend
any appropriation for their services
hut only for the expenses that vii
be required to finish the task tha
they have begun.
To improve our system of agricul
ture seems to me the most urgent o
the tasks which lie before us. But /
can not in my judgment. be effected
by measures which touch only the ma
tarial and technical side of the sub
lject. the whole business and life Of
the farmer must also be taken into ac
count Such considerations led me t.
,appoint the commission on country
life Our object should be to help de
Yelop In the country community the
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