The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-09

LIE Must Be Built Up-Recommen
dalton Of Work That Should Be un.
eertaken by the United States De-
Partment Of Agriculture.
Washington. Accompanying the re,
port Of the commission on country
life the president sent to congress a
special message on the subject The
document follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes: l transmit herewith the
report of the commission on country
life. At the outset | desire to point
out that not dollar of the public
money has been paid to any commits.
sioner for his work on the commits.
sion.
The report shows the general condi-
tion of farming life in the open coun.
try, and points out its larger prob
lens; II indicates ways in which the
government, national and state, may
show the people how to solve some
OF these problems; and II suggests
continuance Of the work which the
commission began.
Judging by 30 public hearings, to
which farmers and farmers wives
from 40 states and territories came,
and from 1900 answers to printed
questions sent out by the department
Of agriculture, the commission finds
that the general level of country life
Is high compared with any preceding
time or with any other land. II It has
IN recent years slipped down in some
places, II has risen in more places.
It's progress has been general, II not
uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either
the profit or the satisfaction that It
ought to yield, and may be made to
yield. There is discomfort ia the
country, and in places discourage.
ment Farmers as a class do not
magnify their calling and the move
ment to the towns, though | am happy
to say, less than formerly, Is still
strong.
Under our system, II is helpful to
promote discussion of ways in which
the people can help themselves. There
are three main directions in which
the farmers can help themselves;
namely, better farming, better bust.
ness, and better living on the farm.
The national department OF agricul-
ture, which has rendered service
equaled by no other similar depart.
ment In any other time or place; the
state departments Of agriculture; the
state colleges OF agriculture and the
mechanical arts, especially through
their extension work the state agTi-
cultural experiment stations; the
Farmers union; the Grange; the agri
cultural press; and other similal
agencies; have all combined TO place
within the reach OF the American
farmer an amount and quality of agri.
cultural information 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
country life, therefore, is not to help
the farmer raise better crops, but to
call his attention to the opportunities
for better business and better living
on the farm. II country life Is to be-
come what It should be, and what
believe II ultimately will be-one OF
the most dignified, desirable, and
sought.after ways of earning living
the farmer must take advantage not
only OF the agricultural knowledge
which is at his disposal, but of the
methods which have raised and con
tinued to raise the standards Of liy.
ing and Of intelligence in other call
lngs.
Those engaged in all other indus
trial and commercial callings have
found Il necessary under modern eco
nomic conditions, to organize them
selves for mutual advantage and foI
the protection OF their own particular
interests In relation to other interests
The farmers of every progressive Eu
ropean country have realized this es
Bential fact and have found In the
cooperative system exactly the form
Of business combination they need.
Now, whatever the state may dc
toward improving the practice Of ag
riculture, IL is not within the sphere ot
any government to reorganize the
farmers business or reconstruct th'
social life of farming communities. i
is. however, quite within its power
10 use its influence and the machinery
Of publicity which it can control fol
calling public attention TO the needi
Of the facts. For example. II is tbs
obvious duty OF the government to cal
the attention OF farmers to the grow
ing monopollzation OF water power
The farmers, above ali, should hav'
that power, on reasonable terms, fol
cheap transportation, for lighting thei
homes, and for innumerable uses II
the daily tasks of the farm.
n would be idle TO assert that life OF
the farm occupies as good a position
hi dignity, desirability, and business
results as the farmers might easil!
give II II they chose. One OF the chic
difficultles is the failure OF countr.
NE. as It exists at present. to satisf.
The higher social and intellectual az
plrations of country people. Whethe
the constant draining away OF 80 mucl
Of the best elements In the rural por
alatloa into the towns Is due eh!ehl