The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-09
mental OF most needed al the present

mental or most needed az the present /
time.
Congress can remove some OF the
hhndicaps OF the farmer, and II can
also set some kinds of work in motion,
such as:
The encouragement Of system Of
thorough-going surveys of all agricul.
tural regions in order to take stock
and to develop scientifically and
economically sound country life;
The establishing Of a nationallzed
system Of extension work In rural
communities through all the land
grant colleges with the people at their
homes and on their farms;
A thorough-goi Investigation by
experts Of the middlemah system OF
handling farm products, coupled with
general inquiry into the farmers
disadvantages in respect to taxation,
transportation rates, cooperative or
ganizatiohs end credit, and the gen.
eral business system;
An inquiry into the control and use
of the streams OF the United states
with the object of protecting the peo-
pie IN their ownefshlp and of saving
to agricultural uses such benefits as
should be reserved for these purposes;
The establishing Of a highway en-
gineering service, or equivalent organi.
zatlon. to be at the call of the states
in working out effective and econom-
ical highway systems;
The establishing of a system of
parcels posts and postal savings
banks;
And providing some means or
agency for the guidance of public
opinion toward the development of a
real rural society that shall rest di-
rectly on the land.
other remedies recommended for
consideration by congress are:
The enlargement of the United
| states bureau of education, to enable
It to stimulate and coordinate the ed
ucational work Of the nation;
Careful attention TO the farmers
interests In legislation on the tariff,
on regulation of railroads, control or
regulation of corporations and of spec
tiladon, legislation in respect to riv.
ers, forests, and the utilization Of
swamp lands;
Increasing the powers OF the fed,
eral government In respect to the
supervision and control Of the public
health;
Providing such regulations as will
enable the states that do not permit
the sale of liquors to protect them
selves from traffic from adjoining
states.
In setting all these forces in motion,
the cooperation of the states will be
necessary; and in many cases definite
state laws may greatly aid the work.
Remedies of more general nature
are: A broad campaign Of publicity,
that must be undertaken until all the
people are informed on the whole sub.
ject OF rural life, and until there is an
awakened appreciation OF the neces
sity of giving this phase of our ma
tional development as much attention
as has been given TO other phases OF
interests; a qulckened sense of re
sponslbillty IN all the country people
TO the community and the state in the
conserving of soil fertility, and in the
necessity for diyerslfylng farming IN
order To conserve this fertility and tc
develop better rural society, and
also In the better safeguarding Of the
strength and happiness OF the farm
women; a more widespread conviction
of the necessity Of organization, moi
only for economic but for social pur
b poses, this organization to be more OF
I less cooperative, so that all the people
may share equally In the benefits anC
have voice In the essential affairs o.
the community; a realization on The
part of the farmer that he has a dis
: tlnct natural responsibility toward the
laborer In providing him with gooC
living facilities. and In helping him II
every way to be a man among men
and a realization on the part of al
the people of the obligation to protec
) and develop the natural scenery anC
+ attractiyeness OF the open country
Certain remedies lie with voluntar!
organizations and Institutions. All OF
7 ganlzed forces, both in town and coun
T, try, should understand that there ar,
: country phases as well as city phase
of our civilization, and that one phas,
needs help as much as the other. Al
7 these agencies should recognize thei
p responsibility TO society. Many exist
Ing organizations and institution
= might become practically co-operativ
or mutual in spirit, as, for example, al
. agricultural societies, Libraries, Youn
. Mems Christian associations, AM
2 churches All the organizations stand
5 Ing for rural progress should be fec
! Grated, In state and nation
) Underlying Problem Of Country Life
a The commission has pointed out
!. number of remedies that are extreme
[ ly important; but running through al
/ OF these remedies are several grea
e forces, or principles, which must b
utilized in the endeavor to solve tn
problems OF country life. All the PEE
!. pie chOuld recognize what these fur
: damental forces and agencies are.
Knowledge.-T improve any situi
a tioD, the underlying facts must be VI
derstood. The farmer must have e,
act knowledge OF his business and {
the particular conditions under whlc
he Wnrlc The ITnftad Cfafao danar