The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-02-12

the country life commission President
Roosevelt sent the following mes
sage to both houses of congress:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives: i 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
OF the commission.
The report shows the general condition
of farming life in the open country, and
points outfits larger problems; 1t indi-
Gates ways In which the government, ma
tional and state, me show the people
how to solve some of these problems; and
1t suggests a continuance of the work
which the commission began.
Judging by 80 public hearings, to which
farmers and farmers wives from 40
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 9TH
err land. II 1t has in recent years slipped
down in some places, 1t has risen in more
places. It's progress has been general, II
not uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that II ought
to yield, and may be made to yield. There
10 discomfort in the country, and In places
encouragement. Farmers as a class do
not magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns, though, I am happy
to say. less than formerly, is still strong.
Under our system, it is helpful to pro-
mote discussion of ways In which the
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the farm
ers can help themselves; namely. better
farming, better business and better living
on the farm. The national department of
agriculture, which has rendered service
equaled by no other similar department
in any other time or place; the state
departments of agriculture: the state col
leges 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 combined to place with
In the reach of the American farmer an
amount and quality of agricultural infor-
nation, which, IL applied. would enable
him. over large areas, to double the
production of the farm.
For Better Business and Living.
The object Of the commission on coun-
try life. therefore, Is not to help the
farmer raise better crops, but to call his
attention to the opportunities for better
business and better living on the farm.
II country life Is to become what II
should be, and what 1 believe it ultimate
Iy will be-one of the most dignifed, de-
sirable, and sought-after ways OF earn
n living-the farmer must take advan-
tage not only of the agricultural knowl.
edge which is at his disposal. but OF the
methods which have raised and continue
to raise the standards Of living and In
telligence In other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found II
necessary, under modern economic con-
ditions. to organize themselves for mu'
tual advantage and for the protection OF
their own particular interests in rela'
ton to other interests. The farmers OF
every progressive European country have
realized this essential fact and have
found in the cooperative system exactly
the form OF business combination the,
need.
ward improving the practice of agri
culture, It is not within the sphere o.
any government to reorganize the farm
ers' business or reconstruct the socla
life of farming communities. 1t Is, how
ever, quite within it's power to use 1t.
influence and the machinery of publicit!
which 1t can control for calling public at
tention to the needs of the facts. For ex
ample, it is the obvious duty of the gov
eminent to call the attention OF farmer
to the growing monopolization of waite
power. The farmers, above all, SHOULD
HAVE tHdl pOWCit vi ShH'S ~
cheap transportation, for lighting thei
homes, and for innumerable uses In tn
daily tasks of the farm.
Necessity for Cooperation.
II Is true that country life has improves
greatly in attractiveness. health and com
fort, and that the farmers earnings ar
higher than they were. But city life !
advancing even more rapidly. because o
the greater attention which is being give
by the citizens of the towns to their owl
betterment. For just this reason the In
PRODUCTION of effective agricultural co
operation throughout the United States !
of the first Importance. Where farmer
are organized comparatively they nc
only avail themselves much more read
lily of business opportunities and I'm
proved methods, but It is found that tn
organizations which bring them togethe
in the work Of their lives are used ais
for social and intellectual advancement
The cooperative plan is the best pla
of organization wherever men have tn
right spirit to carry II out. Under thi
plan any business undertaking is mar
aged by a committee; every man ha
one vote, and only one vote; and ever
one gets profits according to what h
sells or buys or supplies. 1t develops ir
dividual responsibility and has a mori
as we'll as a fnancia value over an
other plan. T,
I desire only to take counsel with tn
farmers as fellow-citizens 1t is not tn
problem of the farmers alone that I al
discussing with them. but a problei
which affects every city as we'll as ever
farm in the country. It is a problel
which the working farmers Will have
solve for themselves: but 1t is a problel
which also AFFECTS in only less degree a
the rest of us. and therefore II we ca
render any help toward its solution, 1t
not only our duty but our interest to 4
so.
Work to Help tho Farmers.
The commission has tried to help II
farmers to see clearly their own prol
lem and to see 1t as a whole; to distil
guish clearly between the govern
ment can do and what the farmers mu
A for themselves., and IL wishes to brir