The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-12
POINTS OUT IMPROVEMENTS
FOR COUNTRY COMMUNITIES
Special Message Of President Of Utmost Inter-
est to Farmers.
Urges That Social Well Productive Side of Farm Life
Be Built Up---Wor< for the Federal
Department

the country life commission President
Roosevelt sent the following mes
sage to both houses Of congress:
To the Senate and House OF Represent
atives: l transmit herewith the report
of the commission on country life. AT
the outset j desire to point out that not
dollar OF the public money has been
paid to any commissioner for HIS work
on the commission.
The report shows the general condition
Of farming life in the open country, and
points out its larger problems; It Indi-
Gates ways IN which the government, ma
tional and state, may show the people
how to solve some OF these problems; and
II suggests a continuance of the work
which tho commission began.
Judging by 30 public hearings, to which
farmers and farmers wives from 10
states and territories came. and from
10000 answers TO printed questions sent
out by the department of agriculture,
the commission finds that the general
level OF country life IL high compared
with any preceding time or with any 9TH
er land. II II Inns In recent years slipped
down In some places, II has risen In more
places. Its progress has been general. IL
not uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that II ought
to yield, and may be made TO yield. There
is discomfort In the country. and In places
encouragement. Farmers us a class do
not magnify their calling. and the move
ment to the towns. though, / am happy
20 say less than formerly Is stiil strong.
Under our system, II Is helpful to pro-
moto discussion Of ways in which the
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the farm
hnlts anf hgt PAR
farming better business and better living
on the farm. The national department OF
agriculture. which has rendered service
cqualed by no other similar department
In any other time or place: the state
departments OF agriculture: the state coll
leges OF agriculture and the mechanical
arts, especially through their extension
work the state agricultural experiment
stations the Farmers union. the Orange:
the agricultural press: and other similar
agencies: have all combined to place with
In tho reach OF the American farmer an
amount and quality OF agricultural infor-
matioa which, II applied. would enable
him. over large areas. to double the
production OF the farm.
For Better Business and Living.
The object OF the commission on coun-
try life. therefore. is not to help the
attention TO the opportunities for better
business and better living on the farm.
II country life Is TO become what II
should be, and what believe II ultimate
~ win be--ono OF the most dignined. de-
sIrable, and sought-after ways OF earn
n living-tho farmer must take advan-
tage not only OF tho agricultural knowl-
edge which is at his disposal, but OF the
methods which have raised and continue
.uNe lg ufa IN eIu Uf 10 nd IN
teliigence I'm other calllngs
Those engaged in all other Industrial
and commercial callings have found II
necessary. under modern economic con-
dltions. TO organize themselves for mu-
tual advantage and for the protection Of
thcir own particular interests in rela-
ton to other interests The farmers OF
every progressive European country have
realized this essential fact and have
found in the cooperative Bystem exactly
the form Of business combination they
need.
Now. whatever the state may do to-
ward improving the practice OF agri-
culture. 1t is not within the sphere OF
any government TO reorganize the farm
ers' business or reconstruct the social
life of farming communities. II is. how
ever. quite within Its power to use Its
influence and the machinery OF publicity
which II can control for calling public at
tentlon TO the needs OF the facts. For ex-
ample. II Is the obvious duty of the gov
eminent to call the attention of farmers
10 the growing 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 OF the farm.
Necessity for Cooperation.
II Is true that country life has improved
greatly In attractivcness. health and COM
fort, and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life is
advancing even more rapidly, because OF
the greater attention which is being given
by the citizens of the towns TO their own
betterment. For just this reason the in
PRODUCTION of effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States IN
OF the first Importance. Where farmers
are organized comparatively they not
only avail themselves much more read
fly OF business opportunities and i'm
proved methods. but II Is found that the
organizations which bring them together
for social and Intellectual advancement.
Tho cooperative plan Is the best plan
of organization wherever men have the
right spirit TO carry II out. Under this
plan any business undertaking Is man
aged by committee: every man has
one vote. and only one vote; and every
one gets profits according to what he
sells or buys or supplies. 1t develops In
dividual responsibility and hes a moral
an well as financial value over any
other plan.
desire only TO take counsel with the
farmers us fellow-citizens. II IL not the
problem OF the farmers alone that am
discussing with them. but problem
which Affects every city as well as every
farm in the country. II In problem
which the working farmers will have to
solve for themselves: but 1t Ia a problem
which also Affects IN only iess degree all
the rest OF US. and therefore II we can
render any help toward Its solution, II Is
not only our duty but our interest to do
Co.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to SEQ II as whole: to distin-
guish clearly between what the govern
ment can do and what tho farmers must
do for themselves: and n wishes to bring
not only the farmers, but this nation as
a whole. to realize that the growing of
crops. though an essential part. IL only
a part OF country life. Crop growing In
the essential foundation. but II II no
iess essential that the farmer shall got
an adequate return for what he grows:
A.. - - IA Il