The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-09
President Tells of
 Country Needs.
COMMISSIONS REPORT.
More Profit and Satisfaction to Planners Should Result
 From Its Work.

Washington, Feb. g. - Presiden Roosevelt sent to congress today { special 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 etress upon the fact that the farmers and their families are the stay and strength of the country and that what bprdensome or unattracttve is neces- sary to the interests of the nation He praises the work of the members pf 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- yage is the request for an appropria- lion of $o5,O00 to enable the commits sion to digest the material it has col leeted and put 1t In such shape that It will be available for the nation. sssIn an appendix to the message, pre- reding the report of the commission, the president comments on the replies made by a Missouri farmer to the Ques- lions asked by. the commission. 'To the question. 'Is the supply of farm la- bor In your neighborhood satisfacto- A Na AI~ hn people have gone out of the baby busi- ness and when asked as to the rsne- ny he Answers, Give . pention to pvery mother who gives birth to seven living boys on American soil.'"
 The presidents message is as fol lows:
 Go the Senate and House of Repre-
 sentatives: y..-.-
 transmit herewith the report of the commission on country life. At the Dutset desire to point out that not . dollar of the public money has been paid to any commissioner for his work Dn the commission.
 The report shows the general condi- ton of farming life in the open coun- ry and points out its larger problems. tt indicates ways in which the govern ment national and state, may show the people how to solve some of these probiems, and it suggests a continu- ance of the work which the commits sien began.
 Methods of the Commission.
 Judging by thirty public hearings. to "a oy~A Rn from forty states and territories came, and from 10000 answers to printed usestions sent cut blythe department Df 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 ln recent years slipped down in some places, it has risen in more places. Its progress has been general, if not uniform.
 Y0t farming does not yield either the profit or the satisfaction that 1t ought 10 yie.d and may be made to yield. There is discontent 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 eormeriy, is still strong.
 ttfow Farmsrs Can Heip Themselves.
 Under our system 1t is helpful to promote discussion of ways in which xhe people can help themselves. There are three main directions in which the farmers can help themselves uamely, better farming, better busi- ness and better living on the farm. 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 un- lon, the grange, the agricultural press and other similar agencies have all combined to place within the reach of the American fxrmer an amount and quality of agricultural informa- ton 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 better business and better living on the farm. If country life is to be- come what it should be and what I believe 1t ultimately will be-one of the most dignifed, desirable and sought after ways of earning a living-the farmer must take advantage not only of the agricultural knowledge which Is at his disposal. but of the methods Th5ch a rha hsvs Eaisfd snh Jh u rnnsir Su to intelligence in other caIlings.
 Those engaged in all other tndustria. and commercial callings have found 1t necessary under modern economic conditions to organize themselves foi mutual advantage and for the protec ton of their own particular interestt in relation to other interests. The farmers of every progressive Euro pean country have realized this essen f1ai fact and have found in the co operative system exactly the form O, business combination they need.
 Now, whatever the state may do to ward improving the practice of agri pr1Ifnro if is nof within the sphere of