Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-09
COMMISSION HEARD
ON COUNTRY LIE
President Sends Report and
Message Regarding lnvesti-
cations Of Commission
-oReAnlzg," SAYS REPORT
SAYS REPORT
Commission Favors Bringing Country
People Into Closer Relations for Self
Help Schools Needed to Teach Pu-
/ pills About Things Out of Doors =
Good Roads and Parcels Post
epecial to Times-Republican.

.sts Good Roads ana Parcels roS&
Special to Times s-Republican.
washington, Feb. 9. = Presldent
Roosevelt today transmitted to con-
Sress the report Of the special commits
sion appointed some time ago to inves-
8tigate conditions of country Life and
suggest methods Of Improvement.
Accompanying the report OF the
commission Is special message from
the president, approving the recon-
mendtions Of the commission and en-
phasizing some OF the facts developed.
The report Of the commission de-
gscr,hes with some fullness the existing
\ conditions Of farm life and points out
t the causes that may have LED 70 'ts
present LACK Of organization. 1t suS-
gests methods for the redlrection -
r,1ral society, for arresting the drift 10
the city, for maintaining the hatulai
rights Of the farmer and for the devel-
opment OF an organized rural NE thae
will promote the prosperity OF tue
whole nation.
4 Broadly speaking, agriculture IN tile
United States is prosperous and tne
conditions in many of the great 1arrl-
ing regions are improving. country
homes generally are improving IN
comfort, attractiveness and heaienIui-
ness Many institutions. organlzauons,
and movements are actively contrlout-
ing to the increasing welfare OF the
open country.
Never So Well-to-Do.
There has never been time Wnen
the American farmer was as well on
as he is today, when7 not only MS
earning power but the comforts ana
advantages he may secure are consld-
cred. There has been q complete anu
fundamental change in our whole
economic system within the past CEN
tury.
Yet Il Is true, notwithstanding all
this progress as measured by historical
standards, that agriculture Is not com
mercially as profitable as It Is entitled
to be for the labor and energy tnat
the farmer expends and the risks that
he assumes, and that the Social con-
.ditions in the open country are 1ar
short Of their possibilities.
Rural society is lacking chiefly IN
knowledge on the part of the farmers
( Of the exact agricultural conditions
ana possibilities of their regions, re-
sulting in the widespread depletion OF
soils with the Injurious effect on rural
life: In proper training for country life
IN the schools; in good highway faciii-
ties and in organization for buying and
selling.
There is an absence Of any adequate
system of agricultural credit, short
age OF labor, often complicated by in
temperance among workmen; lack
Of institutions and incentives that tie
the laboring man to the soil; the life
OF the darn woman is burdensome and
narrow: there is need of adequate su-
pervision OF public health.
Where He is Handicapped.
The farmer is handicapped by :he
epeculative holding of lands, monopo-
listic control Of streams and forests,
waste OF our natural resources, and by
restraint Of trade.
Some OF the remedies for the con-
ditions set forth lie with the national
government, some Of them with the
states and communities in their cor
tporate capacities, some with voluntary
organizations. and some with individ-
uals acting alone.
!. All organized forces both In town
and country should understand that
there are country phases as well as
city phases Of our civilization, and
that one phase needs help as much as
the other. All these agencies should
realize their responsibility to society.
Many existing organizations and insti-
tutions might become practically CO.
operative or mutual in spirit, as for ex-
ample, all agricultural societies, libra
ries, young Mems christian associa-
ltions, and churches. All the organiza-
tions standing for rural progress should
be federated In states and nation.
More Cooperation Needed.
4 There are several great forces. or
principles, which must be utilized in
the endeavor to solve the country life
question.
There must be vast enlargement of
voluntary, organized effort among
farmers themselves. It Is Indispensable
that farmers shall work together for
their common interests and for the ma
tional welfare. If they do not do this,
no governmental activity no legisla-
greatly avail. The forces and institu-
tions that make for morality and spir-
itual ideals among rural people must
be energized.
There must be not only a fuller
scheme of public education, but a new
kind Of education adapted to the real
needs of the farming people. The coun-
try schools are to be SO redirected that
they shall educate their pupils in terms
of the daily life. Opportunities for
training toward the agricultural call
ings are to be multiplied and made
broadly effective. This means redoubled
efforts for better country schools, and
q vastly increased interest in the well
fare of country boys and girls on the
part of those who pay the school
taxes. Education by means Of agricult-
lre is to be a part Of our regular pub !
~ school work. Special agricultural