Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-11
POINTS OUT IMPROVEMENTS
FOR COUNTRY COMMUNITIES
Special Message Of President of Utmost Inter-
est to Farmers.
Urges That Social Well Productive Side of Farm Life
Be Built Up--Work for the Federal
Department

Washington.-with the report OF
the country life commission President
Roosevelt sent the following mes
sage TO both houses OF congress:
To the Senate and House OF Represent
ativcs: I transmit herewith the report
OF the commission on country life. AZ
the outset desire to point out that not
a dollar OF the public money has been
paid to any commissioners for his work
on the commission.
The report shows the general condition
OF farming life In the open country, aud
points out Its larger problems: Il indi-
cntes ways In which the government. ma
uonal and state. may show the people
how TO solve some OF these problems: and
u EugEests continuance OF the work
which the commission began.
Judging by 30 public hearings, 20 which
farmers and farmers wives from 70
states and territories came and from
$1,000 answers TO printed questions sent
put by the department of agriculture.
he commission finds that the general
1cvel OF country life is high compared
Siih any preceding time or with any 9TH
T land. II II has In recent years slipped
town In some places. II has risen in more
elaces. Its progress has been general. IL
cot uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
pront or the satisfaction that II ought
to Yield. and may he made to Yield There
N discomfort In the country, and In places
encouragement Farmers as class do
aot magnify their calling. and the move
ment to the towns. though, ! am hnppy
" say, less than formerly, II still strong.
Under our system. II is helpful to pro-
note discussion OF ways In which the
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the farm
srs can help themselves. namely, better
farming. better business and better living
on the farm. The national department OF
agriculture. which has rendered service
equuled by no other similar department
In any other time or place: the state
departments Of agriculture: the state coll
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 lnfor-
nation. 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 coun-
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.
II country life IN Co become what II
should be. and what believe Il ultimate
ly will be-one of the most dignihed. de-
sirablc, and sought-after ways OF earn
a living the farmer must tnke advan-
tage not only of the agricultural knowl-
edge which is at his disposal, but OF the
methods which have raised and continue
NN.aN
telligence In other callings.
Those engaged In all other Industrial
and commercial callings have found Il
necessary. under modern economic con-
dtionE. TO organize themselves for mu-
tunl advantage and for the protection OF
their own particular interests in rela-
tion 20 other interests The farmers OF
every progreEslve EuroFsau country have
realized this essential fast 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. 10 is not within the sphere OF
any government 90 TeoTganiEe the farm
ers' business or reconstruct the social
life Of farming communities. II In. how
ever, quite within it's power 90 use It's
Influence and the machinery OF publicity
which Il can control for calling public at
tention TO the needs Of,the facts. For ex-
ample, II is the obvious duty of the gov
srnment 10 call the attention OF farmers
to the growing monopollEation OF water
power. The farmers, above all. should
have that power. on reasonable terms, for
cheap transportation. for lighting their
homes, and for inhumerable uses In the
daily tasks OF the farm.
Necessity for Cooperation.
II IS true that country life has improved
greatly In RttractiveneHS. health and COM
fort. and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life n
advancing even more rapidly. because OF
the greater attention which II being given
by the citizens OF the towns to their own
betierment. For Just this reason the In
PRODUCTION Of effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States IL
OF the first Importance. Where farmers
are organised comparatively they not
only avail themselves much more read
ily Of business opportunities and Inn
proved methods, but II iS found that the
organizations which bring them together
In the work OF their lives are used alao
for social and intellectual advancement.
Tho cooperative plan IL the best plan
~ organization wherever men have the
right spirit TO carry Il out. Under this
plan any business undertaking iH man
aged by a committee; every man has
one vote, and only one vote: and every
one gets profits according 20 what he
sells or buys or supplies. II develops In
diyidual responsibility and has a moral
an wen ns a financial value over any
other plan.
desire Only 10 take counsel with the
farmers as fellow-cltiEenA. II % not the
problem OF the farmers alone that am
discussing with them, but problem
which affects every city a. wen aa every
farm In the country. II n q problem
which lire working farmers will have 10
solve for themselves. but Il - n problem
which also Affects IN only less degree all
the rest OF us. and therefore II we can
render any help toward ita solution, Il IL
not only eur duty but our interest 70 DO
30.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission har tried 20 help the
farmers 70 nee clearly their own prob
lem and 20 see Il ~ a whole, 10 dlstin-
Kulah clearly between what the govern