Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-19
farm NATIONS HOPE,
ASSERTS ROOSEVELT
In Special Message Sent to Con.
gress Needs of Rural Resi-
dents Are Urged.
COOPERATION IS GREAT BOON.
Commission Of Inquiry Reports
Results Of It's Recent
Investigation.

The farmers opportunity for an
easier life Is pointed out IN the report
Of the country life commission, submit
ted to Congress by the President Tues
cay.
The President points out that the
| commissioners have served, and VIII
serve. without pay. but $25,0OO is asked
to defray expenses of gathering and
compiling facts,
"If countr life" said tho President.
| In a message accompanying the report.
"is to become what 1t should be- and
what I believe it ultimately will be-
one Of the most dignified and desirable
ways of earning a living-the farmer
must take advantage not only Of the
agricultural knowledge which is at his
disposal, but of the methods which
have raised and continue to raise the
standards of living and Of intelligence
In other caliings.
Growing Crops Only
The commission has tried to he'll
the farmers to see clearly their own
problem and to see it as a whole; TO
distinguish clearly between what the
government can do and what the farm
ers 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 a part of coun-
try life. Crop growing is the essen
tial foundation, but 1t Is no less es-
sential that the farmer shall get an
adequate return for what he grows,
and it is no less essentiai-indeed, It
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 Inn
portance that the United States Do
partment of Agriculture, through which
as prime agent the ideas the commits
sion 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 b
| open country.
Immediate Needs Pointed Out.
From all that has beer done and
learned, three great general and imme-
date needs Of country life stand out:
First. effective 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 coun-
try life. and not, as. at present, mainly
for life in town.
Third, better mcr1 Of communication,
including good roads and n parcels post,
which the country people are everywhere,
and rightly. unanimous in demanding.
etc these may well be added better
sanitation, for easily ~preventable dis
eases hold several million country peO-
pie in the slavery of continuous III
health"
Organization t o secure for the coun-
try the things that are the country's
Is the central theme of the commits
sion's report.
Farmers Must Help Themselves
"There must be a vast enlargement
Of voluntary organized effort among
farmers themselves" say the commits
SlOueTS. IL IS IlOISpeIlSdulc ludL luEA
ers shall work together for their ON
mon interests and for the national well
fare. If they do not do this, no gov
ornamental activity, no legislation, not
even better schools, will greatly avail.
"The forces and institutions that
make for morality and spiritual ideals
among rural people must be energized.
We miss the heart of the problem If we
neglect to foster personal character and
neighborhood righteousness. The best
way to preserve ideals fer private con-
duct and public life is to build up the
institutions of religion.
1.-THE church has great power of
leadership. The whole people should
understand that it is vitality important
to stand behind the rural church and
to help it become a great power in de-
veloping concrete country life ideals.
It is especially important that the
country church recognize that it has
a social responsibility to the entire COM
munity as well as a religious RESPONSE