The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-11


time
Congress can remove some OF the
handioaps Of the farmer. and It can
also set soTpe kinds OF work in motion.
such as:
The ENCOURAGEMENT OF system OF
thororgh-going surveys OF all agricul-
tural regions in order to take stock
and TO develop q scientifically and
economically sound country life;
The establishing Of a nationalized
system or extension work in rural
rcommunities through all the land
| grant colleges with the people at their
homes and on their farms:
| A thorough-going investigation by
experts OF the middleman system Of
handling farm products, coupled with
q general inquiry into the farmers
disadvantages In respect to taxation.
transportation rates. cooperative or
ganizattons and credit, and the gen.
eral business system;
An inquiry into the control and use
OF the streams Of the United States
with the object of protecting the peo-
pie in their ownership and OF saving
TO agricultural uses such benefits as
should be reserved for these purposes;
The establishing of highway en-
| cheering service, or equivalent organi-
zation, to be at the call of the states
In working out effective and econom-
ical highway systems; ls....E
The establishing of system Of
parcels posts and postal savings
| banks;
2 And providing some means or
| agency for the guidance of public
| opinion toward the development OF a
real rural society that shall rest d.
rectly on the land. .-
other remedies recommended for
consideration by congress are:
The enlargement of the United
States bureau Of education, to enable
it to stimulate and coordinate the ed
ucational work Of the nation;
Careful attention to the farmers
interests in legislation on the tariff,
on regulation of railroads, control or
regulation of corporations and of spec
ulation, legislation in respect to riv-
ers, forests, and the utilization Of
swamp lands;
Increasing the powers of the fed
eral government in respect to the
supervision and control of the public
health;
Providing such regulations as will
enable the states that do not permit
| the sale Of liquors to protect them
selves from traffic from adjoining
| states.
In setting all these forces in motion,
the cooperation Of the states will be
necessary; and in many cases definite
state laws may greatly aid the work.
| Remedies of more general nature
are: A broad campaign of publicity,
that must be undertaken until all the
people are informed on the whole sub
ject of rural life. and until there is an
awakened appreciation of the neces.
sity Of giving this phase OF our ma
| tional development as much attention
| as has been given to other phases or
interests; a quickened sense of re-
sponsibility, in all the country people,
| to the community and the state In the
conserving of soil fertility, and In the
necessity for diVersifying farming in
order to conserve this fertility and to
develop "a better rural society, and
also in the better fe-guarding of the
strength and happiness of the farm
women: q more widespread conviction
Of the necessity Of organization, not
only for economic aut for social pur-
poses, this organization to be more or
less cooperative, SO that all the people
may share equally In the benefits and
have voice In the essential affairs Of
| the community; a realization on the
| part of the farmer that he has a dis
| tinct natural responsibility toward the
laborer in providing him with good
living facilities, and in helping him in
every way to be man among men;
and realization on the part of all
| the people of the obligation to protect
and develop the natural scenery and
attractiveness Of the open country.
| Certain remedies lie with voluntary
organizations and Institutions. All or,
ganized forces, both in town and coun-
try, should understand that there are
country phases as well as city phases
4 of our civilization, and that one phase
needs help as much as the other. All
these agencies should recognize their
responsibility to society. Many exist
ing organizations " and institutions
might become practically cooperative
or mutual In spirit, as, for example, all
agricultural societies, libraries, Young
Mems Christian associations, and
churches. All the organizations stand
ing for rural progress should be fed
Grated, in state and nation.
Underlying Problem OF Country Life.
The commission has pointed out a
number of remedies that are extreme
ly important; but running through all
of these remedies are several great
forces, or principles, which must be
utilized In the endeavor to solve the
Iproblems of country life. All the peo-
Pile should recognize what these fun
damental forces and agencies are.
knowledge. TO improve any situa-
Ition, the underlying facts must be un-
derstood. The farmer must have ex-
act knowledge o; his business and Of
the particular conditions under which
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