Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-09

tnlC the general loVel OF country lie
is high compared with any preceding
time or with any other land. If it has
in recent years slipped down i'll 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 it ought
10 yield and may be made to yield.
There is discomfort in the country and
in places Encouragement. Farmers as
class do not magnify their calling,
and the movement to the towns,
though. l am happy to say, less than
formerly. is still strong.
How Farmers Can Help Themselves.
Under our system it 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 services
! cqualed by no other similar depart
!
state departments Of agriculture. the
state colleges Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts, especially through their
extension work; the state agricultural
experiment stations, the Farmers IN
ion, the grange, the agricultural press
and other similar agencies have all
combined to place within the reach
of the American farmer an amount
and quality of agricultural inforina.
ton which if applied would enable
him over large areas to double the
production OF the farm.
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. If country life is to be-
come what it should be and what l
believe 1t ultimately will be-one Of
the most diGnifed, 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 -aised and continue ia
raise the standards of living and OF
intelligence in other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found
it necessary under modern economic
conditions to organize themselves fol
mutual advantage and for the protec
ton of their own particular interests
In relation to other interests. The
farmers of every progressive Euro
! pean country have realized this essen
tial fact aud have found in the co
operative system exactly the form OF
:, business combination they need.
Now, whatever the state may do to
ward improving the practice of agri
culture, it is not within the sphere OF
any government to reorganiZe Tux
farmers business or reconstruct the
social life of farming communities
It is, however. quite within it's power
TO use fits influence and the machinery
Of publicity which 1t can control fol
calling public attention to the need!
and the facts. For example. it is the
obvious duty of the government to cal
the attention of farmers to the grow
ing monopolization of water power
The farmers, above all, should have
that power. on reasonable terms, fol
cheap transportation, for lighting thei
] homes and for innumerable uses II
the daily tasks on the farm.
, Farmers Own Work Needed.
It would be idle to assert that lif
on the farm occupies as good posi-
: ton in dignity, desirability and bust
ness results as the farmers nigh
easily give it If they chose. One o
the chief difficulties Is the failure o
country Life as 1t exists at nresent t