Gilpin observer., 1909-02-11

4tOOsSfell ScHI Luc IOllOWluS meS-
sage to both houses of congress:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives: l transmit herewith the report
of the commission on country life. At
the outset l desire to point out that not
dollar of the public money has been
paid to any commissioner for his work
on the commission.
The report shows the general condition
of farming life in the open country, and
points out its larger problems; it indi-
Gates ways in which the government, ma
tonal and state, INDY show the people
how to solve some of these problems; and
it suggests continuance of the work
which the commission began.
Judging by 80 public hearings, to which
farmers and farmers wives from 40
states and territories came and from
10000 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 9TH
er land. If it has in recent years slipped
down in some places, it has risen in more
places. Its progress has been general. If
not uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that IL ought
to yield, and may be made to yield. There
| Is discomfort in the country, and in places
discouragement Farmers a class do
not magnify their calling, and the move
to say. less than formerly, is still strong.
Under our system, it is helpful to pro-
mote discussion of ways in which the
people can help themselves. There are
| three main directions in which the farm
ers can help themselves; namely. better
farming. better business and better living
on the farm. The national department of
agriculture, which has rendered service
equaled by no other similar department
in any other time or place; the state
departments of agriculture: the state col
leges of agriculture and the mechanical
arts. especially through their extension
| work; the state agricultural experiment
| stations: the Farmers union: the Grange;
the agricultural press: and other similar
agencies: have all combined to place with
in the reach of the American farmer an
| amount and quality of agricultural infor-
nation. which. II applied would enable
him, over large areas, to double the
production of the farm.
For Better Business and Living.
| try 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.
| If country life is to become what II
| should be. and what believe it ultimate
ly will be-one of the most dignfed. de-
! sirable. and sought-after ways of earn
| living-the farmer must take advan-
tage not only of the agricultural knowl-
edge which is at his disposal but of the
methods which have raised and continue
| TO raise the standards of living and in
| telligence in other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found it
| necessary, under modern economic con-
ditions to organize themselves for mu-
| tual advantage and for the protection of
| their own particular interests in rela-
ton to other interests. The farmers of
| every progressive European country have
realized this essential fact and have
= found in the cooperative system exactly
/ the form of business combination they
! need.
Now, whatever the state may do to-
ward improving the practice OF agri-
culture. II is not within the sphere OF
any government to reorganize the farm
ers' business reconstruct the social
| life of farming communities. 1t is, how
ever, quite within its power to its
! influence and the machinery of publicity
which 1t can control for calling public at
tention to the needs of the facts. For eN
| ample, II is the obvious duty of the gov
ernment to call the attention of farmers
| to the growing monopolization of water
power. The farmers, above all. should
have that power. on reasonable terms. for
cheap transportation, for lighting their
homes. and for innumerable uses in the
daily tasks OF the farm.
Necessity fer Cooperation.
1t is true that country life has improved
greatly in attractiveness. health and com
fort. and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life is
advancing even more rapidly because of
the greater attention which is being given
by the citizens of the towns to their own
betterment For just this reason the In
PRODUCTION of effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States is
of the first Importance. Where farmers
are organized comparatively they not
only avail themselves much more read
lily of business opportunities and i'm
proved methods. but 1t is found that. the
organizations which bring them together
in the work of their lives are used also
for social and intellectual advancement
The cooperative plan is the best plan
Of organization wherever men have the
right spirit to carry 1t out. Under this
plan any business undertaking is man
aged by n committee: every man has
one vote. and only one vote and every
one gets profits according to what he
sells or buys or supplies. 1t develops in
dividual responsibility and has n moral
as we'll as a financial value over any
other plan.
desire only to take counsel with the
farmers as fellow-citizens. 1t Is not the
problem OF the farmers alone that I am
discussing with them. but a problem
which affects every city as well as every
farm In the country. 1t Is problem
which the working farmers will have to
solve for themselves: but 1t is problem
which also affects in only less degree all
the rest of us. and therefore II we can
render any help toward its solution. II Is
not only our duty but our interest to do
so.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
IAvv. md IN aaa 4 no tbn1a t1 IlRttV
guish clearly between what the govern
ment can do and what the farmers must
do for themselves; and It wishes to bring
not only the farmers, but the nation ns
n whole. to realize that the growing OF
crops. though an essential part is only
n nart of country life. Crnn growing La