The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-02-11
FARM life
MESSAGE.
President Tells of
Country Needs.
COMMISSIONS REPORT.
More Profit and Satisfaction 10
Farmers Should Result
From Its Work.
COMMISSIONS REPORT.

washington Feb. 0. - President
Roosevelt sent to congress today a
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
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-
sary TO the interests of the nation.
He praises the work Of the members
Of the commission, who, as be 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 It has col
lected and put II In such shape that
It will be 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 ques-
tions asked by the commission. ITO
the question. rs the supply of farm Ia
Dor In your neighborhood satisfacto-
ryp the answer is, No, because the
people have gone out Of the baby busi-
ness and when asked as to the RENE
dy he answers. Give pention to
every mother who gives birth to seven
living boys on American soil.'"
The presidents message Is as fol
lows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
transmit herewith the report Of the
commission on country life. At the
outset I 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 condi-
ton of farming life in the open coun-
try and points out It's larger problems.
II indicates ways In which the govern
ment, national and state, may show
the people how to solve some OF these
problems, and It 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. II 1t has
In recent years slipped down In some
places, II 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 1t ought
to yield and may be made to yield
There is discomfort in the country and
In places encouragement. Farmers as
a 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 tC
promote discussion of ways In which
the people can help themselves. Their,
are three main directions In which
the farmers can help themselves
namely, better farming, better bust
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; thu
state departments Of agriculture, thu
state colleges of agriculture and tn,
mechanic arts, especially through thei
extension work; the state agriculture
experiment stations, the Farmers un
Ion, the grange, the agricultural pres
and other similar agencies have al
combined to place within the reacl
Of the American farmer an amour
and quality OF agricultural informa
tion which II applied would enabl
him over large areas to double tn
production OF the farm.
The object Of the commission o
country life, therefore, is not to hel
the farmer raise better crops, but (
call his attention to the opportunitie
for better business and better livin
on the farm. If country life is to b'
come what 1t should be and what
: believe 1t ultimately will be-one {
the most digniied. desirable and sougt
after ways of earning llving-th
: farmer must take advantage not onl
r OF the agricultural knowledge whic
e Is at his disposal. but OF the method
a which have raised and continue