Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-16


Des Moines. Nov. 13.-with the Y.
NJ. c. A. auditorium packed to the
doors the National Grange association
Thursday afternoon held the second
and last open session during the ten
days of its stay here. The remainder
of the sessions of the grange Will pc
behind closed doors.
The principal speaker of the atter-
noon and the one responsible Tor the
large attendance was Sir Horace
Plunkett. celebrated all over the world
as an agriculturist and the first secre-
tary of the Irish department of agrl-
culture. He spoke on ireland ana the
Problems of Country Life
Urging the combination of the farm
ers on tie same basis as at preseHI
followed in the other walks OF lie ana
the hating of the movement OF the
rural nonulation to the cities, he spoke
as follows:
Corporation is Necessary.
sit was our view that the chief dit
ference between the business methous
of agriculturists on the one hand ana
of those who conduct all other import
ant industries on the other, Is that the
farmer does not understand, or AT any
rate does not know how to apply the
principles Of combination. 1t is rec
ognized as a, condition of success in all
commercial and industrial undertake
ines under, modern conditions that
those engaged in any particular occu-
patton must combine together for mu-
tual advantage, for protection of their
particular interest in its relation 10
other interests and also in order TO pc
POLITICALLY influential where economic
legislation or administration afectlns
that interest is in question.
raaconc for combination are SO
convincing that it is worth while TO
consider why farmers remain the SOLE
exception to what is an accepted law
and the universal practice of modern
business. The failure of farmers to
combine is in my Judgment due TO
three principal causes. First, the farm
ers calling does not lend itself to asso-
ciative action. He lives apart: most of
his time is spent in the open air; and
in the evening of the working day
physical repose Is more congenial than
mental excitement. Domesticlty IS pre-
ferred to social activity.
Second the farmer is everywhere
the most conservative and tndlVldual-
istic of human beings. He disl1kes
changes of methods: he venerates the
traditions which have come down to
him from his fathers father. He does
not wish to interfere with anybody
else's business and he is fixedly de-
termined that no one else shall pry in
to or interfere with his.
Thirdly, the kind of combination
which is suitable to the condition of
other callings does not meet the re-
quirements of the farmers industry.
Power in Politics.
"While agricultural cooperation was
chosen as the foundation of COM
plete scheme of agricultural develop
ment the moment our farmers were
sufficiently we'll organized to apprec-
tate and take full, advantage of state
Insurance. we found that our organized
farmers had developed new political
influence Backed by them we who
were heading the movement were able
TO persuade the government to do their
part In promoting better farming. Aft
err an agitation of pure reason in which
there was an unprecedented union OF
all creeds, classes and interests we
won for Ireland ten years ago, just as
you claim to have won for the United
States long before, department of
agriculture and technical instruction
for the furthering of all the economic
of the country, mainly those
to agriculture and the sub
sidiary industries.
Il was myself the working head of
this department for it's first seven
years. during which 1 outraged all the
of political life by appoint
ing the best men | could get to fill the
posts requiring expert qualifications.
of the party to which they
might belong. And even this does not
exhaust the tale of my iniquities. AS
we had had no means of training men
for expert work in Ireland / had to
bring them in from England and Scot
land. In due time ! was fired out but
| had got together a splendid staff Of
wcrkmen. / have the satisfaction of
knowing that these men have set up
practical education so effective that in
filling the many vacancies that must
constantly occur in a department with
such multifarious functions, the diff
Guilty will not be to find competent
lrlshmen but to select among the num-
erous qualified applicants.
"There remains the third ingredient
of our Irish prescription for country
life-better living. An improved SOCIAL
life in the open country is, to my mind,
speaking generally, the most import
ant of the three parts Of the policy. We
have always looked upon the problem
of rural life in Ireland as being but one
small corner of the problem co-exten-
sive with our western civilization.
Everywhere we hear the cry that all
that is most hopeful and most helpful
in the rural population is being drawn
away Dy the lure OF lfIe CITY. nave
already explained the distinguishing
features of our rural exodus. But when
we come to construct rural life which
will keep our people at home our
problem is inwardly and spiritually as
like yours as in its material aspects it
is different. We have a many sided
scheme for Frightening rural life and
several organizations engaged in the
work.
The City's Appeal.
There are two human attributes to
which the city appeals irresistibly,
quite apart from the better opportunity
it affords of material advancement
the gregarious instinct and the love of
excitement. Improved locomotion and
means for communicating thought
from eye to eye and from ear to
ear. the organization of social func-
tions in rural centers, and lectures il
Illustrated by the moving life of the Gin
ematograph-to take the latest addi-
ton to the mechanical aids to exposi-
tion-will all help. But their influence
may be centripetal with some, centri-
fugal with others. No conceivable de-
vice by which the country may gain
some share of the enjoyment of the
town can destroy the lure of the city,
The farmers calling is one of constant
and unremitting toll. No process of ev-
olution will evolve cow which will
consent to do without milking on Sun
day. A modest standard of physical