The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-10

for the development 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 con ditions in many of the great farming re- glons are improving. Country homes gen. erally are improving in comfort, at tractiveness and healthfulness Many in stitutions, organizations and movements are actively contributing to the increasing welfare of the open country.
 There has never been time when the American farmer was as well off as he is today, when not only his earning power but the comforts and advantages he may secure are considered. There has been a complete and fundamental change in our whole economic system within the past century
 Yet, 1t is true, notwithstanding all this progress as measured by historical stan dards, that agriculture is not com- mercially as profitable as \ is entitled to be for the labor and energy that the farmer expends and the risks that he as- sumes, and that the social conditions in the open country are far short of their possibilities.
 Lack of Knowledge.
 Rural society is lacking chiefly in a huOMlSu6o Oll lH6 Poit OL thC AoA ihShS VI the exact agricultural conditions and pos- abilities of their regions, resulting in the widespread depletion of soils with the in- furious effect on rural life; in proper training for country life in the schools; in good highway facilities, and in organ ization for buying and selling.
 There Is an absence of any adequate system of agricultural credit, shortage of labor. sften complicated by intemper- ance among workmen; lack of institu- tions and incentives that tie the laboring man to the soil; the life of the farm wom- an is burdensome and narrow; there Is need of adequate supervision of public health.
 The farmer is handicapped by the specu- lative holding of lands, monopolstic con- trol of streams and forests, waste of our natural resources, and by restraint of trade
 Some of the remedies for the conditions set forth lie with the national govern ment, some of them with the states and communities in their corporate capacities, some with voluntary organizations, and some with individuals acting alone.
 All organized forces both in town and country should understand that there are country phases as well as city phases of our civilization, and that one phase needs help as much as the other. All these agencies should realize their responsibility to society. Many existing organizations and institutions might become practically cooperative or mutual in spirit, as for example, all agricultural societies, lib- raries Young Mems Christian associations and churches. All the organizations standing for rural progress should be federated in the states and nation.
 Great Principles.
 rrla 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 ble that farmers shall work together for their common interests and for the national welfare. If they do not do this no governmental activity, no leg isfation, not even better schools will greatly avail. The forces and insti- tutions that make for morality and spiritual ideals among rural people must be energized.
 There must be not only a fuller scheme of public education but a new kind of education adapted to the real needs of the farming people. The country sch ools are to be so redi- rected that they shall educate their pupils in terms of the daily life. Op- portunities for training toward the az ricultural cailings are to be multiplied and made broadly effective. This means redoubled efforts for better country sch hools and a vastly increased interest in the welfare of country boys and girls on the part of those who pay the school taxes. Education by means of agriculture is to be part of our regular public school work. Special agricultural schools are to be organized.
 The country people everywhere are asking for good roads. Everywhere too they want a parcels post and the ex- tension of the rural free delivery. Movements Approved. The commission has purposely avoid ed indorsing any particular hills now hefora Congress no matter what its