The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-02-09

rOpean country have realized this eS-
sential fact and have found in the CO.
operative system exactly the form of
business combination they need.
Now whatever the State may do to-
ward improving the practice of agri-
culture, it is not within the sphere of
any government to reorganize the far
cial life of farming communities. 1t is
however, quite within it's power to use
, it's influence and the machinery of pub
licity which it can control for calling
public attention to the needs and the
facts. For example, it is the obvious
duty of the Government to call the at
tention of the farmers to the growing
monopolization of water power. The
farmers above all should have that
transportation, for lighting their
homes, AMI for innumerable uses in
the daily tasks ON the farm.
1t would he idle to assert that life
on the farm occupies as good posi-
tion in dignity, desirability and bust
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 its exists at present, to sal
isfy the higher social and intellectual
aspirations of country people. Wheth-
much of the best elements in the ru-
raj population into the towns is due
chiefly to this cause or to the superior
business opportunities of city life may
be open to question. But no one at all
familiar with farm life throughout the
United States can fail to recognize the
necessity for building up the life of
the farm upon it's social as well as up
On it productive side.
ic hr-1ro hot i'm
proved greatly in attractiveness,
health, and comfort, and that the farm
er's earnings are higher than they
were. But city life is advancing ev
en- more rapidly, because of the great
er attention which is being given by
the citizens of the towns to their own
betterment. For just this reason the
introduction of effective agricultural
cooperation throughout the United
States is of the first Importance.
Where farmers are organized cooper
atively they not only avail themselves
much more readily of business oppor
tunities and improved methods, but it
is found that the organizations which
bring them together in the work Of
their lives are used also for social and
intellectual advancement.
The cooperative plans is the best
pian of organization wherever men
have the right spirit to carry it out.
Under this plan amy business under
taking is managed by a committee;
every man has one vote and only one
vote; and everyone gets profits ac-
cording to what he sells or buys or
supplies. 1t developes individual re-
sponsibility and has a moral as well
as a financial value over any other
plan.
1 desire only to take counsel with
H. Il, f~lI t.,
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 farm
ers will have to solve for themselves;
but it is a problem which also affects
in only less degree all the rest of us,
and therefore if we can render any
help toward its solution, it is not only
our duty but our interest to do so.
The foregoing, will, l hope make it
clear why appointed commission TO
consider problems of farm life which
have hitherto had far too little atten-
ton, 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 far
mer is of vital consequence to the wei
fare of the whole community. The
Strengthening OF country life, therefore
is the Strengthening of the whole na-
tion.
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to see it as whole; to dis
tinguiSh clearly between what the
Government can do and what the far
mers must do for themselves; and it
wishes to bring not only the farmers
but THE Nation as a whole to realize
that the growing crops, though an es-
sential part is only part of country
life. Crop growing is the essential
foundation; but it no less essential
that the farmer shah get an adequate
return for what he grows; and it is
no less essentialIindeed it is literally
vital-that he and his wife and his
children shall lead the right kind of
life.
For this reason. it is OF the first i'm
portance that the United States De-