Putnam patriot., 1909-02-12


and the facts. For example. ii is the
obvious duty of the government 10 call
the attention of farmers 10 the grow
ing menopolization of water power.
The farmers above all. should have
that power. on reasonable terms. fer
cheap transportation. for lighting their
homes and for innumerahle uses In
the daily tasks on the farm
Farmers Own Work Needed.
liz would DE idle TO assert that life
on the farm occupies as good posi-
ton in dignity. desirability aud bust
ness results as the farmers might
easily give 1t If they chose. One Of
the chief difficulties is the failure of
country life as it exists at present TO
satisfy the higher seci9i and intellec-
tuaI aspirations of country people
Whether the constant draining away
of SO much Of the best elements il the
rural population into the towns IS due
chiefly TO this caaSe or to the superior
business opportunities ef city life may
be enen TO question En- 10 one 1t
all familiar with farm lie THROUGHOUT
the United States cssn fail IL reeosnize
the necessity for building up The life
of the farm upon its social as we'll as
upon lis productive side.
II is true that country life has i'm.
proved greatly in attraetiveness. health
and comfort and that the farmers
earnings are higher than they were.
But city life Is advancing even more
rapidly because of the greater atten-
ton which is being given by the citi-
zens of the towns to their own better
ment For just this reason the intro
duction 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 readily of business opportunities
and improved methods, but 1t is found
that the organizations which bring
them together In the work OF their
lives are used also for social and In
tellectual 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 under
taking is managed by a committee.
Every man has enc vote and only one
vote. and every one gets profits ae-
cording to what he sells or buys or
supplies. II develops individual re
sponsihility and has moral as well
as a financial value over any other
plan.
Farmers Problems the Whole Country S
desire only IL take counsel with
the farmers as fellow citizens. II Is
net the problem of the farmers alone
that | am discussing with them. but
a problem which affects every city as
we'll as every farm in the country. 1t
is problem which the working farm
ers will have to solve for themselves,
but II Is a problem which also affects
In only less degree all the rest of us,
and therefore if we can render any
help toward its solution it Is not only
our duty but eur interest to do so.
The foregoing will. | hope, make Ii
clear why l appointed a commission tc
consider problems of farm life which
have hitherto had far too little atten-
ton and the neglect of which has not
only held back life in the country, but
also lowered the efficiency of the whole
nation. The welfare of the farmer is
of vital consequence to the welfare OF
the whole community. The strength
ening of country life. therefore. is the
strengthening of the whole nation.
The commission has tried to help the
farmers to see clearly their own prob
lem and to see 1t as whole. to distin-
guish clearly between what the gov
eminent can do and what the farmers
must do for themselves. and it wishes
to bring not only the farmers. but the
nation as a whole. TO realize that the
growing of crops. though an essential
part, is only part of country life.
Crop growing is the essential founda-
ton. but it Is no less essential that the
farmer should get an adequate return
for what he grows. and it is no less
essential-indeed, II is literally vital
that he and his wife and his children
shall lead the right kind of life.
For this reason IT is Of the first i'm
portance that the United States depart
ment of agriculture. through which as
prime agent the ideas the commission
stands for must reach the people.
should become without delay In fact a
department of country life, fitted to
deal not only with crops. but also with
all the larger aspects of life In the open
country.
Three Needs Of Country Life.
From all that has been done and
learned three great general and imme-
date needs OF country life stand out:
First-Effectiye cooperation among
farmers TO put them on a level with
the organized interests with which
they do business.
Second.-A new kind Of schools in
the country. which shall teach the
children as much outdoors as indoors.
and perhaps more, so that they will
prepare for country life and not. as at
present. mainly for life In town.
Third.-Better means OF communities
ton. including good roads and a par
celS post, WHICH the Souuih9 DbtS
are everywhere, and rightly. unani-
nous I'm demanding
To these may well be added better
sanitation. for easily preventabie dis
eases hold several million country PEG
pie In the slavery Of continuous Ill
health.
Organization Is Necessary.
The commission points ont-and !
concur In the conclusion-that the
most important help that the govern
oent. whether national or state. can
give is to show the people how TO go