The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-09

4
have the right spirit to carry it out.
Under this plan any business under
| taking is managed by committee:
tevery man has one vote and only one
vote; and everyone gets profits ac-
| cording to what he sells or buys or
| supplies. 1t develops individual re-
sponsibility and has moral we'll
| as a financial value over any other
plan
I desire only to take counsel with
the farmers as fellowcitizens. It is
not the problem of the farmers alone
| that I am discussing with them, but
a problem which affects every city
as well as every farm in the country.
| 1t is a problem which the working far
mers will have to solve for them
selves; but it is a problem which also
affects in only less degree all the rest
of us. and therefore if we can render
any help toward its solution, it is not
only our duty but our interest to do
SO.
Why 1t Was Done.
The foregoing will 1 hope make it
clear why 1 appointed a commission
to consider problems of farm life which
have hitherto had far too little atten-
ton, and the neglect of which has not
only held back life in the country, but
also lowered the efficiency of the whole
nation. The welfare of the farmer is
of vital consequence to the welfare of
the whole community. The strengthen
ing of country life. therefore, is the
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to see 1t as a whole: to dis
tinguish clearly between what the gov
ernment can do and what the farmers
must do for themselves; and it wishes
to bring not only the farmers but the
nation as a whole to realize that the
growing of crops, though an essential
part, is only a part of country life.
Crop growing is the essential founda-
ton; but it no less essential that the
farmer shall get an adequate return
for what he grows; and it is no less es-
sential-indeed it is literally vital
that he and his wife and his children
shall lead the right kind of life
For this reason. it is of the first i'm
portance that the United States de-
partment of agriculture, through which
as prime agent the ideas the commits
sion stands for must reach the people,
should become without delay in fact a
department Of country life, fitted to
deal not only with crops, but also with
all the larger aspects of life in the open
country.
From all that has been done and
learned three great general and inlme-
diate needs of country life stand out:
First, effective cooperation among
farmers, to put them on a level with
the organized interests with which they
do business.
Second, a new kind of schools in the
country. which shall teach the children
as much outdoors as indoors and per-
haps more, so that they will prepare
for country life, and not as at present,
mainly for life in town.
Third. better means of communica-
ton, including good roads and a par
GELS post, which the country people are
everywhere, and rightly. unanimous in
demanding.
To these may well be added better
saIlitationS for easily preventable dis
eases hold several million country peo-
pie in the slavery of continuous i'll
health.
The commission points out, and I
concur in the conclusion. that the most
important help that the government.
whether national or state, can give is
to show the people how to go about
these tasks of organization, education,
and communication with the best and
quickest results. This can be done by
the collection and spread of informa-
ton. One community can thus be in
formed of what other communities
have done, and one, country of what
other countries have done. Such help
by the peoples government would lead
to a comprehensive plan of organiza
ton, education. and communication,
and make the farming country better
to live in for intellectual and social
reasons as well as for purely agricul-
tural reasons.
The government through the depart
ment of agriculture does not cultivate
any mans farm for him. But it does
put at his service useful knowledge
that he would not otherwise get. In
the same way the national and state
governments might put into the peo- |
pies hands the new and right knowl-
edge of school work. The task of
maintaining and developing the schools
would remain, as now, with the people |
themselves.
Asks for $4,000.
The only recommendation 1 submit |
is that an appropriation of $4,000 be |
provided, to enable the commission to |
digest the material it has collected,
nd fn iOa Tnf1
more that is within its reach. and thus
complete its work. This would en-
able the commission to gather in the |
harvest of suggestion which is result |
ing from the discussion it has stirred |
up The commissioners have served |
without compensation. and L do not |
recommend any appropriation for their |
services but only for the expenses |
that will be required to finish the task |
that they have begun.
To improve our system of agricul- |
ture seems to me the most urgent of
the tasks which lie before us. But it |
by measures which touch only the |
material and technical side of the !
subject; the whole business and life
of the farmer must also be taken into
account. Such considerations led me |
to appoint the commission on country |
life Our object should be to help |
develop in the country community the |
great ideals of community life as well
as of personal character. One Of the
most important adjuncts to this end
must be the country church, and in
vite your attention to what the COM
mission says of the country church |
and of the need of an extension of
such work as that of the Young Mems
Christian association in country COM
munities. Let me lay special en-
phasis upon what the commission says
at the very end of its report on per-
sonaI ideals and local leadership.
Everything resolves itself in the end |
into the question of personality.
Neither society nor government can do |
much for country life unless there is
II