The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-02-12
FARM LIFE THE TOPIC
CONTINUED From Page ODe.I

ton of their own particular interests
in relation to other interests. The
farmers of every progressive Euro
pean country have realized this essen
tial fact and have found in the CO.
operative system exactly the form or
business combination they need.
Now, whatever the state may do to-
ward improving the practice of agri-
culture. it is not within the sphere OF
any government to reorganSze the
farmers business or reconstruct the
social life of farming communities.
1t is, however, quite within its power
to use its influence and the machinery
of publicity which it can control for
calling public attention to the needs
and the facts. For example, it is the
obvious duty of the government to call
the attention of farmers to the grow
ing monopolization of water power.
The farmers, above all, should have
that power, on reasonable terms, for
cheap transportation, for lighting their
homes and for innumerable uses in
the daily tasks on the farm.
Farmers Own Work Needed.
1t would be idle to assert that life
on the farm occupies as good posi-
Ion in dignity, desirability and bust
ness results as the farmers might
easily give it if they chose. One Of
the chief difficulties is the failure of
country life as it exists at present to
satisfy the higher social and intellec-
tual aspirations of country people.
Whether the constant draining away
of so much of the best elements in the
rural population into the towns is due
chiefly to this cause or to the superior
business opportunities of city life may
be open to question. But no one at
all familiar with farm life throughout
the United States can fail to recognize
the necessity for building up the life
of the farm upon it's social as well as
upon it's productive side.
1t is true that country life has i'm
proved greatly in attractiveness, health
and comfort and that the farmers
earnings are higher than they were.
But city life is advancing even more
RAPIDLY because of the greater atten-
ton which is being given by the citi-
zens of the towns to their own better
ment For just this reason the intro
duction of effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States
is of the first Importance. Where
farmers are organized comparatively
they not only avail themselves much
more readily of business opportunities
and improved methods, but it is found
that the organizations which bring
them together in the work of their
lives are used also for social and in
tellectual advancement.
The cooperative plan is the best
plan of organization wherever men
have the right spirit to carry it out.
Under this plan any business under
taking is managed by a committee.
Every man has one vote and only one
vote. and every one gets profits &C
cording to what he sells or buys or
supplies. 1t develops individual re-
sponsbility and has a moral as well
as q financial. value over any other
plan.
Farmers Problems the Whole Country's
/ desire only to take counsel with
the farmers as fellow citizens. 1t is
not the problem of the farmers alone
that | am discussing with them, but
a problem which affects every city as
well as every farm in the country. 1t
is problem which the working farm
ers will have to solve for themselves,
but it is q 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.
The foregoing will, I hope, make 1t
clear why l appointed 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 strength
ening of country life, therefore. is the
strengthening of the whole nation.
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to see it as a whole, to distin-
guish clearly between what the gov
eminent 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 part of country life.
Crop growing is the essential founda
ton, but it is no less essential that the
farmer should get an adequate return
for what he grows, and it is no less
essential 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 depart
ment of agriculture, through which as
prime agent the ideas the commission
stands for must reach the people,
should become without delay in fact
department of country life, fitted to
deal not only with crops, but also with
all the larger aspects of life in the open
country.
Three Needs of Country Life.
From all that has been done and