Putnam patriot., 1909-02-12

Money For Expenses Asked.
The only Recommendation ! submit
Is that an appropriation of $4,000 he
provided 20 enable the commission TO
digest the material IL has collected
and TO collect and to digest much
more that Is within its reach and thus
complete Its work This would enable
the commission 10 gather in the har-
vest Of suggestion which Is resulting
from the discussion II has stirred up
The commissioners have served with
out compensation. and ! do Ne; recon-
mend anv appropriation for their serv-
ices. but only for the expenses that
win be required 20 finish the task that
they have begun.
To improve our system OF agrieul-
ture seems to me the most urgent Of
the tasks which lie before US. Sut 1t
cannot. I'm my Judgment be effected
by measures which touch only the ma
terial and technical side of the sub
jecf. The whole business and life of
the farmer must also he taken into
account. Such considerations led me
life. Our object should be to help de
velop in the country community the
great ideals of community life as we'll
as of personal character. One OF the
most important adiuncts TO this end
must be the country church. and In
vite your attention TO what the com
mission says of the country church
- AA ~ of
such work as that of the Young Mems
Christian association in country com
munities. Let me lay special emphasis
upon what the commission says at the
very end Of its report on personal
ideals and local leadership. Every
thing resolves itself In the end into
the question OF personality. Neither
society nor government can do much
. for country life unless there is volun-
tary response In the personal ideals of
the men and women who live in the
country.
Plea For Farmer Wives.
In the development of character the
home should be more important than
the school or than society nj large
When once the basic material needs
have been met. hich ideals may be
quite independent of income, but they
cannot be realized without sufficient
income to provide adequate founda
ton. and where the community NJ
large IS not financially prosperous 1t
h impossible to develop a high aver
: personal and community ideal. In
shert. The fundamental facts Of hui
man nature apply TO men and women
30 live in the country just as
they apply to men and women
who live n the towns. Given sufii-
Client foundation of material well be
ine the Influence of tie farmers and
farmers. wives on their children be.
comes the faeter ef first Importance
in determining the attitude of the next
genera ton toward farm life. The
farmer should realize that the person
who most needs consideration on the
farm Is his wife. | do not In the least
mean that she should purchase ease at
the expense Of duty Neither man nor
woman is really happy or really useful
save on condition OF doing his or her
duty. IF the woman shirks her duty
as housewife, as home keeper. as the
mother whose prime function II Is TO
bear and rear a sufficient number or
healthy children. then she is not en-
titled to our regard But II she does
her duty she is more entitled TO our
regard even than tire man who does
his duty. and the man should show
special consideration for her needs.
warn my countrymen that the
great recent progress made In city life
Is not IA full measure of our civiliza
ton. for our civilization rests AT bot
tom on the wholesomeness, the attrac-
tiveness and the completeness as well
as the prosperity of life in the country.
The men and women on the farms
stand for what is fundamentally best
and most needed in our American life
Upon tbs development of country life
rests ultimately our ability by meth
DDS of farming requiring the highest
Intelligence to continue to feed and
clothe the hungry nations. to supply
the city with fresh blood. clean bodies
and clear brains that can endure the
the development OF men In the open
country. who will be In the future. as
in the past, the stay and strength Of
the nation In time Of war and its guild
ing and controlling spirit IN time Of
peace.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. Feb Q. 1909.