The Daily Missoulian., 1909-02-14
FARM LIFE REPORT
SUBMITTED
PRESIDENT TRANSMITS RESULTS
OF COUNTRY LIFE CON-
MISSIONS WORK.


has sent to congress message
the report of the country
life commission. After the document
had been read in the senate Mr.. Hep
burn moved that 1t be printed and lie
on the table, and this order was ac-
made.
The report Of the commission de-
scribes with some fulness the existing
of farm life and points out
the causes that may have led to its
present lack of organization. 1t sug-
gests methods for the redirection or
rural society for arresting the drift to
the city, for maintaining the natural
rights of the farmer and for the de-
velopment of an organized rural life
that will promote the prosperity of the
whole nation.
Broadly speaking, agriculture in the
United States is prosperous and the
conditions in many of the great farm
ing regions are improving. Country
homes generally are improving in
comfort, attractiveness and health
fulness. Many institutions. organiza-
tions and movements are actively con-
tributing to the increasing welfare of
the open country
There has never been a time when
the American farmer was as we'll off
as he is today, when not only his
advantages he may secure are con-
sidered. There has been complete
and fundamental change in our whole
economic system within the past CEN
tury
Not So Profitable.
Yet it is true, Notwithstanding all
this progress as measured by histori-
cal standards, that agriculture is not
commercially as profitable as it is
entitled to be for the labor and en-
ergy that the farmer expends and the
risks that he assumes, and that the
social conditions in the open country
are far short of their possibilities.
Rural society is lacking chiefly in
a knowledge on the part of the farm
ers of the exact agricultural condi-
tions and possibilities of their regions,
resulting in the widespread depletion
of soils with the injurious effect on
rural life; in proper training for coun-
try life in the schools; in good high
way facilities, and in the organization
for buying and selling.
There is an absence of any adequate
system of agricultural credit a short
age of labor often complicated by in
temperance among workmen; a lack
of institutions and incentives that tie
the laborng man to the soil; the life
of the farm woman is burdensome
and narrow; there is need of adequate
supervision of public health.
The farmer is handicapped by the
speculative holding of lands, monopo-
lists control the streams and forests,
waste of our natural resources, and by
restraint Of trade.
Some of the remedies for the condi-
tions set forth lie with the national
government, some of them with the
states and communities in their cor
porate capacity, some with voluntary
organizations, and some with individ-
uals acting alone.
All organized forces both in town
and country should understand that
there are country phases as well as
that one phase needs help as much as
the other. All these agencies should
realize their responsibility to society
Many existing organizations and in
stitutions might become practically
cooperative or mutual in spirit, as for
example, all agricultural societies. H.
braries, Young Mems Christian asso-
Citations and churches. All the organ
izations standing for rural progress
should be federated in states and ma
ton.
There are several great forces, or
principles, which must be utilized in
the endeavor to solve the country life
question.
There must be a vast enlargement
of voluntary, organized effort among
farmers themselves. It is indispensa-
BILE that farmers shall work together
for their common interests and for the
national welfare. If they do not de
this, no governmental activity, nt
legislation, not even better school.
will greatly avail. The forces and in
spiritual ideals among rural people
must be energized.
There must be not only fullel
scheme of public education, but a new
kind Of education adapted to the rea
| needs of the farming people. Th'
country schools are to be so redirectet
that they shall educate their pupils
in terms Of the daily life. Opportuni
ties for training toward the agricul
tural callings are to be multiplied ant
made broadly effective. This mean
redoubled efforts for better countr,
schools, and a vastly increased inter
est in the welfare of country boys an,
| girls on the part of those who pa,
| the school taxes. Education by mean
of agriculture is to be part of ou
regular public school work. Specia
agricultural schools are to be organ
| lied
The country people everywhere ar
asking for good roads. Everywher
they want parcels post and the ex
tension of the rural free delivery.
The commission has purposel
avoided indorsing any particular bi
now before congress, no matter wha
its value or object. In the opinion c
the commission, however, there ar
two or three movements of the utmos
consequence that should be set unde
way at the earliest possible time be
cause they are fundamental to tn
whole problem of permanent recor
struction. There should be organize
under government leadership a CON
| l. ,o;,