The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-09


pupils in terms of the daily life. OPP
portunities for training toward the
agricultural callings are to be multi
piled and made broadly effective.
Every person on the land, old or
young. I'm school or out of school, edu-
Gated or illiterate, must have a chance
to receive the information necessary
for successful business, and for a
healthful. comfortable, resourceful life,
both in home and neighborhood. This
means redoubled efforts for better
country schools, and vastly increased
interest in the welfare of country boys
and girls on the part of those who
pay the school taxes. Education by
means OF agriculture is to be q part
OF our regular public scnool work
Special agricultural schools are to be
organized. There is to be well-de
veloped plan of extension teaching
conducted by the agricultural colleges,
by means OF the printed page, face-to-
face talks, and demonstration or oh.
iect lesson, designed to reach every
farmer and his family, at or near their
homes. with knowledge and stimulus
in every department of country life.
Organization. There must be vast
enlargement OF voluntary organized ef-
fort among farmers themselves. II is
indispensable that farmers shall work
together for their common interests
and for the national welfare. II they
do not do this, no governmental activi-
IT, no legislation not even better
schools, will greatly avail The farm
ers are nevertheless relatively unor-
ganized We have only begun to de-
velop business cooperation in Amerl.
ca. Farmers do not influence legisla-
tion as they should. They need a more
fully organized social and recreatlye
life.
Spiritual Forces.-The forces and
institutions that make for morality
and spiritual ideals among rural peo-
pie must be energized. We miss the
heart of the problem If we neglect to
foster personal character and neigh
borhood righteousness. The best way
to preserve ideals for private conduct
and public life is to build up the insti.
tutlons of religion. The church has
| great power of leadership. The whole
| people should understand that II Is
Wtally important to stand behind the
! rural church and to help It TO become
a great power In developing concrete
! country life Ideals IL is especially
important that the country church rec
! ognize that It has social Responsible
| ~ to the entire community as well as
q religious responsibility to its own
group of people.
Recommendation Of the Commission.
The commission recommends all the
correctiyes that have been mentioned
under the head of The nature OF the
remedies" II does not wish to dis
crlminate between important meas.
ures OF relief for existing conditions.
II has purposely avoided indorsing
any particular bill now before con
gress, no matter what its value OF OBJ,
iect.
There are, however, in the opinion
of the commission two or three great
movements of the utmost consequence
that should be set under way at the
earliest possible time, because they
are fundamental to the whole problem
OF Ultimate permanent reconstruction
these cali for special explanation.
Taking Stock of Country Life
There should be organized as ex
planned In the main report, under gov
ernment leadership, a comprehensive
plan for an exhaustive study or survey
of all the conditions that surround the
business of farming and the people
who live in the country, in order tC
take stock of our resources and Il
supply the farmer with local knowl
edge. Federal and state governments
agricultural colleges, and other educa
tional agencies, organizations OF vari
GUS types, and individual students o.
the problem, should be brought into
cooperation for this great work of in
yestigating with minute care all agri
cultural and country life conditions.
NationaIized Extension Work -Eacl
state college Of agriculture should b,
empowered to organize as soon al
practicable a complete department o
college extension, so managed as /,
reach every person ON the land In III
state, with both information and Ia
spiration. The work should includ,
such forms Of extension teaching al
lectures, bulletins, reading courses
correspondence courses, demonstra
tion, and other means of reaching tn,
people at home and on their farms. /
should be designed to forward no
only the business OF agriculture. bu
sanitation. education, home making
and all interests of country life.
Call for Leadership.
We must picture to ourselves a ney
/ rural social structure, developed from
the strong resident forces OF the opel
country; and then we must set a
work all the agencies that will tend L
. bring this about. The entire peopl
! need TO be reused to this avenue O
! usefulness. A new race Of teachers |
/. TO appear in the country A new rura
clergy is 10 be trained. These leader
Z will see the great underlying probleI
!. OF country life, and together they vii
' work. each in his own field, for tn
one goal OF new and permanent rurS