The Ordway new era., 1909-02-26
FARM NOTES

SprOut, and the winter work is com
pleting, and the county is dividing,
etc, etc, let us take a moment to
port" and see how well IT has been
done. Prof. Bailey and his corps Of
able assistants, who are all well verscd
in country life from years OF expert
ence have certainly worked hard, and
rapidly, too, to have completed their
work so soon. Now, when we remcm-
ber that this has been labor of love,
as no salary was given and no appro-
priatiOn even for expenses was made,
we certainly will not accuse anyone OF
graft. The report rests upon not only
their own country experience, but
upon evidence collected from nearly
million farmers who have answered
their letters Of inquiry. In this brief
letter can only touch upon one or
two OF the most important articles OF
the report.
First, The Commission would have
farmers, and farm laborerS, organized
into state and national unions, as
other labor unions are, so that we can
obtain political and other advantages.
and no surer method could be devised
of lessening the effects OF the I'D
"party whip" which has been lashing
us so numerically for near hundred
years. | quote, "many existing or
ganizations and institutions might
become practically cooperative or
mutual in spirit. as, for example, all
agricultural societies, libraries, Y. NJ.
c. AS. and churches. All the organ
izati0ns standing for rural progress
should be federated in state and
nation"
or course, some Of them are feder-
atcd as Y. NJ. G. a. and most church
cs. 1t Is the agricultural societies
that need it. The Commission sug-
gests that all agricultural colleges
have extension courses for farmers.
Something OF this sort is done in
Colorado, but IL is too expensive for
our farmers to 60 to Fort Collins.
Better have Il ten days school each
winter at Ordway, or even n three
days institute. Then the Commission
urges that our public schools be
brought into closer touch with cuun-
try life. This last point seems more
important to the writer than all else.
The state OF Minnesota is leading our
great land in this matter. AT Albert
Lee and Candy, Minnesota, Il farm is
attached to each school and the actual
One boy sold the product of his
5x 10 foot farm for $40. Other towns
In that state are catching the fever"
and it will probably sweep the state.
The great advantage Is in interest
ing our boys and girls in farm life,
and we will not have to fight this
"leave home" evil, which has been
the devastation OF our farm life in the
last twenty-five years.
Second, The Commission lays great
emphasis upon cultivating and en-
couraging the social forces which give
enjoyment to country life, and chief
among them is the church. l again
quote, "Wc miss the heart OF the
problem If we neglect to foster per-
sonal character and neighborhoUd
righteousness. The best way to pre-
serve ideals for private conduct and
public life is to build up the ins,itu.
tions OF religion. The Church has
great power OF leadership. The whole
people should understand that 1t is
vitality important to stand behind the
rural church and to help IL to become
a great power in developing concrete
Iuntry life ideals. 1t Is especially
important that the country church
recognize that it has a social resp"ns'.
bility to the whole community as well
as n religious responsibility to its own
group of people"
| This should mean much to our Ord
way churches. Our work Is not only
| to teach religion. but to swceten up
the whole social function. Don't
leave the work OF entertaining the
young people to the club or society
clique. II we have no special room to
use for their meetings. open the main
body of the church and make IL the
scene of j0yousness and glce at times.
AS well as for funerals and sacred
functions. There are certain periods
of life when the feet and hands keep
time to music and laughter rcigns
supreme; and the church that ignores
these natural phenomena and con.
ditions will find its young people
driven to other entertainments.
The report is meaty and instructive
| and is worthy Of our full consideration.
The Independent closes an editorial