Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-02-18
REPORT ON COUNTRY LIFE
Agricultural Conditions Pros
perou---sFarmers Better off
Than Ever.

y
Report of the Commission on
Country Life" sent out by President
Roosevelt on a tour of inspection of
the agriculture conditions throughout
the nation, has been made to the
chief executive and that report has
been laid before Congress. They
report agriculture in the United
States more prosperous than ever be-
fore, and the American farmer is bet
ter off today than he is has ever
been, yet the Commission finds that
agriculture is not as profitable as
it is entitled to be for the amount
of labor expended by the agricultur-
ist. The reason assigned for this con
dition is lack of knowledge on the
part of the farmers of the agricultur-
al conditions and possibilities of
their regions, resulting in the deple-
ton Of the soil, lack of training for
country life in the schools, in good
highways and organizations for buy
ing and selling. Moreover, shortage
of labor, complicated by intemper-
ance among the workmen; burden
some life of the farm woman; handi-
cap of the farmer by monopolistic
holdings of lands, streams and for
ests; waste of natural resources and
restraint of trade are additional rea-
sons assigned for failure of the agri-
culturist to reap highest possible re-
ward for his industry
AS remedies for these conditions
the Commission recommends that the
people should more fully understand
that there are two phases of life,
city and country, and that they mus1
cooperate more fully than they have
heretofore done. There must be an
enlarged, voluntary organized effort
among the farmers themselves by
demanding better schools and moro
extensive education along the Ines
of industrial callings, with organiza-
tions of special agricultural schools.
Added must be better roads, parcel
post, and rural free delivery extern
sions.
In the broader scope of agricultural
uplift the Commission recommends
local, state and national conferences
on rural progress, designed to unite
the interests of education, organiza-
ton and religion.
These recommendations contain
much food for thought among all
classes of men. The greatness of
this nation still lies with the agr.-
cultural classes, despite the fact that
we are a great commercial and manu-
featuring nation. Legislation often
sentiment for the farmer
and substantial enactment for the
big commercial and industrial organ
cations of the country, but the far
mer cannot flourish as he should on
legislative sentiment. The Orator
praises the farmer and kisses his
baby for political effect, and forth
with ties himself up with the inter
ests that often have little consider
alton for the agricultural classes.
What we need in this country is
general uprising in behalf of the
a sentimental campaign
or oratorical uplift with praises as
the peroration, but a substantial get
ting behind him and his activities
in the work of general uplifting al
along the line, in which the farmer
would quickly be found joining for
betterment of his condition.
This nation, however it may boast,
owes its real greatness or at least
the underlying foundation for its
greatness to. the industrial classes,
and the perpetuity of that greatness
hinges upon a great unity of pur-
poses of all classes and all condi-
tions of men to help in the great
work of uplifting the agricultural
classes to a still higher plain of ac-
tivity.