The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-02-12
WOULD BETTER
COUNTRY LIFE
is THE SUGGESTION OF PREsI-
DENTS COMMISSION.
Many Changes Suggested that Would
Contribute to the Happiness and
Prosperity of the Rural Population
Good Roads and Good schools. :

Prosperity of the Rural Population
Good Roads and Good Schools. :
The report of the commission APP
pointed recently by President Roose-
welt to investigate the conditions of
country life, how the country people
live, thier occupations, incomes, ETC.,
has been made public. Summarized
the report is as follows:
Broadly speaking, agriculture in
the United tSates is prosperous and
the conditions in many of the great
farming regions are improving
Country homes generally are improv-
ing in comfort, attraetiveness and
healthfulness. Many institutions, or
CARNATIONS and movements are ac-
lively contributing to the increasing
welfare of the open country.
There has never been a time when
the American farmer was as we'll off
as he is today, when not only his
earning power but the comforts and
advantages he may secure are con-
sidered. There has been complete
and fundamental change in our whole
economic system within the past CEN
tury
Yet it is true, Notwithstanding all
this progress as measured by histori-
cal standards. that agriculture is not
commercially as profitable as it is en-
titled to be for the labor and energy
that the farmer expends and the risks
that he assumes, and that the social
conditions in the open country are
far short of their possibilities.
Rural society is lacking chiefly in
knowledge on the part of the far
lions and possibilities of their reg
ions, resulting in the widespread
depletion of soils with the spurious
effect on rural life; in proper train
ing for country life in the schools; in
good highway facilities, and in organ
ization for buying and selling.
There is an absence of any ade-
quate system of agricultural credit, a
shortage of labor, often complicated
by intemperance among workmen; a
lack of institutions and incentives
that tie the laboring man to the soil;
the life of the farm woman is burden
some and narrow there is need of ade-
quate supervision of public health.
The farmer is handicapped by the
speculative holding of lands, mon
opolistic control of streams and for
ests, waste of our natural resources,
and by restraint of trade.
Some of the remedies for the con-
ditions set forth lie with the national
government and communities in their
capacities, some with volun-
tary organizations, and some with
individuals acting alone
All organized forces both in town
and country should understand that
there are country phases as well as
city phases of our civilization, and
that one phase needs help as much
as the other. All these agencies
should realize their responsibility to
society. Many existing organizations
and institutions might become prac-
tically cooperative or mutual in spir-
it, as, for example, all agricultural
societies, Libraries, Young Mems |
Christian Associations, and churches.
All the organizations standing for
rural progress should be federated in
states and nation.
There are several great forces, or
principles, which must be utilized in
the endeavor to solve the country life
question.
There must be vast enlargement
of voluntary, organized efforts among
farmers. 1t is advisable that farmers
should work together for their COM
mon interests and for their national
welfare. If they do not do this, no
government activity, no legislation,
not even better schools, will greatly
avail The forces and institutions
that make for morality and spiritual
ideals among rural people must be
energized.
There must be not only a fuller
scheme of public education, but a
new kind of education adapted to the
real needs of the farming people The
country schools are to be so redirect
ed that they shall educate their pu-
pills in terms of the daily life OPP |,
pOrtunities for training toward the
agricultural callings are to be multi
piled and made broadly effective. This
means redoubled efforts for better
country schools, and vastly in
creased interest in the welfare of