Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-02-11

complete It's work. This would en-
able the commission to gather IN the
harvest d suggestion which Is result
ing from the discussion II has stirred
up. The commissioners have served
without compensation, and ! do not
recommend any appropriation for
their services, but only for the ex-
penses that will be required to finish
the task they have begun.
To Develop Country Community.
To improve our system OF agricul-
ture seems to me the most urgent Of
the tasks which lie before us. But
II cannot, in my judgment, be effected
by measures which touch only the ma
terial and technical side Of the sub
feet !; the whole business and life ofthe
| farmer must also be taken into &C
count. Such considerations led me to
appoint the commission on country
life. Our object should be to help de-
veIop in the country community the
great ideals OF the community life as
well as Of personal character. One OF
the most important adjuncts to this
end must be the country church, and
l invite your attention to what the
commission 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 empha-
sis upon what the commission says
At the very end Of its report on per
sonal ideals and local leadership.
Everything resolves itself in the end
into the question Of personality. Meth
or society nor government can do
much for country life unless there Is
volvntary response in the personal
ideals Of the men and women who
live in the country. In the develop
ment Of character, the home should
be more important than the school. or
than society at large. When once
the basic material needs have been
met. high ideals may be quite indie
pendent Of income; but they cannot
be realized without sufHcient income
to provide adequate foundation; and
where the community at large is not
financially prosperous 1t is impossible
to develop high average personal and
community ideal. In short, the
fundamental facts of human nature
apply to men and women who live in
the country Just as they apply to men
and women who live in the towns.
Given SUFFICIENT foundation OF ma
terial well being, the influence OF the
farmers and farmers wives on their
children becomes the factor Of first
importance In determining the attitude
Of the next generation toward farm
life. The farmer should realize that
the person who most needs considera-
ton on the farm is his wife. i do
not in the least mean that she should
purchase ease at the expense OF duty.
Neither man nor woman is really
happy or really useful save on condi-
ton Of doing his or her duty. II
the woman shirks her duty as house
wife, as home keeper, as the mother
whose prime function is to bear and
rear sufficient number Of healthy
children. then she is not entitled to
our regard. But II she does her duty
she is more entitled to our regard
even than the man who does his duty;
and the man should show special CON
sideration for her needs
Welfare Of Nation at Stake.
warn my countrymen that the
great recent progress made In city life
is not full measure Of our civiliza
ton; for our civilization rests on the
wholesomeness, the attractiveness, and
the completeness. as well as the pros
perity, Of life in the country. The
men and women on the farms stand
for what is fundamentally best and
most needed In our American life
Upon the development of country life
rests ultimately our ability, by meth
DDS Of farming requiring the highest
intelligence, to continue to feed and
clothe the hungry nations; to supply
the city with fresh blood, clean bod
les, and clear brains that can endure
the terrific strain of modern Afe; We
need the development Of men In the
open country, who will be in the fu
ture, as In the past, the stay and
strength Of the nation In time Of war
and it's guiding and controlling spirit
In time Of peace.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, February y, lSW.