New-York tribune., 1909-02-10

great farming regions are improving
homes generally improving IN com 9..,or.
+rsctiveness and heaIthfuIness. Many insttu'io.S'
oreanizatIons and movements are actiVeiE -
trfbuting 10 the Increasing welfare OF tne 0p
country .-.-scau
There has never been time when the go, 80.
farmer was as well or as he Is to-day "ho "A
Cnly his earning power but the coIhlo -, hos
1-sntap=s he NAV secure are considered inc -
been complete and Fundamental snts.,,r,-
whole economic system within the laSt 0. .. ~
Vet i+ is true Notwithstanding all this pros 80.
measured by historical standards that aeI =.
g. not commercially as profitable as 1t Is enu"s "
be for the labor and energy that lle ~. +b
pends and the risks that he assumes anu e. ,a,
social conditions in the open country oi' -
OF their possibilities. ,.sua
Pal sociat,- "a lacking chiefly in a kno"ieuse
on the part Of the farmers Of the exact aer
ural conditions and possbtlites OF '"0i ttb
resulting in the widespread depletion OK SUM -,
the Injurious effect on rural life; in proper -
,p for country life In the schools; in sood HlSn-
"a, facilities and in organization for buying ana
selling. .. -.
There is an absence of any adequate system u
ofc,,,+,,raf credit shortage Of labor OFTEN COIL
I;oo+ad b,, in1en,Derance among workmen; a lack
OF institutions and incentives that tie the laoorlns
man to the soil; the life of the farrh "oI1, 80
ourdensore and narrow: there is neea OF Hu04u"''
supervision OF public health -
The farmer is handicapped by the specuia'Ae
holding of lands nlonopoHstic control or streams
and forests waste OF our natural resources "Hu
by restraint of trade
Some Of the remedies for the conditions set forth
lie with the national government, some OF tle"'
with the states and communities In their cor
porate capacities. with voluntary ofganlA1
lions 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 olheI. -"
these agencies should realize their TespohSloll'S
To society. Many existing organizations ana III
t{oa1l1y
or mutual in spirit. es, for example all aeFlcui'
uraI societies libraries, Young Mems CHRISTIAN
Associations and churches. All the organisations
standing for rural progress should be feoe aeeo III
states and nation.
There are several great forces, or rrinc'pIeS'
which must he utilized in the endeavor 10 solve the
country life question.
There must be vast enlargement Of voluntary
organized effort among farmers themselves II Il
Indispensable that farmers shall work togetLler 4o
their common interests and for the national Wei
fare IF they do this. no governmental ae''N
fty no legislation. not even better schoois' "''
greatly avail The forces and institutions that
make for morality and spiritual ldeas among '"i al
people must be eneTgized.
EDUCATION FOR FARMERS
There must he not only a full scheme OF public
education but a new kind of education adapted to
the real needs of the farming people The couhIEE
schools are To be redirected that they shaH euu
cate their pupils III OF the daily life OppoT-
tlInitieS for framing ioNtiIu te stS -i
ara TO be multiplied and made broadly effective.
This means redoubled efforts for better country
schools and vastly increased interest IN tho wei
fare Of country boys and girls the part Of those
who nay the school taxes. Education by means or
agriculture is ae a part of our regular public
school work Special agricultural schools are TO be
organized.
The country people everyw here are asking for
good roads Everywhere. too. they want parcels
post and the extension of the rural free delivery
The commission has puTposely avoided indorsing
any particular bill before Congress- no matter
what its value or object. In the opinion or the
commission. however there are two or three move
meuts of the utmost consequence that should be
set under way at the earliest possible time, because
they are fundamental TO the whole problem OF per
rnanent reconstruction. There should be organ
lied, under government leadership, coTnprehe1l-
sIve plan for exhaustive study or survey of all
the conditions that surround the business Of farm
ing aud the people who live in the country, in
order to take stock Of resources and to supply
the farmer with knowledge.
Each state college OF agriculture should organize
as soon as practicable complete department Of
college extension. Local, state and even national
conferences on rural progress, designed to unite
the interests Of education, organization and re-
ligton, should he held.
There is need for young people Of quality. energy.
capacity, aspiration and conviction. who will live
| in the open country as permanent residents on
farms teachers. or IN other useful fields. and
who, while developing their business OF affairs
to the greatest perfection will still have unselhsh
interest In the welfare Of their communities. The
farming country is by means devoid Of leaders,
and is not lost or incapable Of helping Itself but
1t has been relatively overlooked by persons who
are seeking great fields Of usefulness. It will be
well for rs people if we recognize the oppor-
tuniy for usefulness in the open country and con-
sider that there is n call for service.
| The suggestions OF the commission only outline
general plan whereby the strong resident forces
| In the open country may themselves build up a
new and better rural social structure To accom-
| piish this the entire people be aroused. The
! time for this is hand.