The Prescott daily news., 1909-02-09

But city life Is advanclng even more rapidly because of the greater atten- tion 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 1t 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 committed Every man has one vote and only one vote, and every one gets profits &C., cording to what he sells or buys or supplies. It develops individual re- sponsibility and has moral as well as financial value over any other plan.
 Farmers Problems the Whole Country's l desire only to take counsel with the farmers as fellow citizens. 1t is not the problem of the farmers alone that 1 am discussing with them, but problem which affects every city as well as every farm in the country. It is problem which the working farm CTS will have to solve for themselves 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.
 The foregoing will, 1 hope, make it clear why I appointed commission to consider problems of farm life which have hitherto had far too little atten- tion 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 whole, to distin- guiSh 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- tion, but IL is no less essential that tho 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 im- 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 learned three great general and imme diate needs of country life stand out:
 First.-Eifective cooperation among farmers to put them on level wi h 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 perhaps more, so that they will prepare for country life and not, as at present, mainly for life in town.
 Third.-Bctter means of communicc- ton. including good roads and par cels post, which the country people are everywhere, and rightly, unani- nous in demanding.
 To these may well be added better sanitation. for easily preventable dis eases hold several million country peo- pie ih the slavery of continuous i'll health.
 Organization Is Necessary. The commission points out-and l concur in the conclusion-that the most important help that the govern ment. whether national or state, can give is to show the people how to go about these tasks of organization, ed ucation and communication with the