Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-06
TIM COUNTRY LIRE COMMISSION.

Much light ridicule. with occasionally
e. uugc of bitter sarcasm, has been I'm
obliged in boy the press concerning the
Investigations conducted hy the coun-
mission appointed by President
Roosevelt
Sow that the Commission has finish
ed its labors and transmitted lts report
10 Congress we can judge more calmly
and Approximately OF the value OF It's
work
Many Of the country people. women
as well as men. have resented the la
bors OF the Commission and have been
inclined TO ceusuro the entire proceed
ing
Tho spirit of the objections may be
Eeuoralizcd in a form OF complaint
romcvhlt ass foll7ws Many farmers
have said. iu fact. that they do not
need investigation, and that they OBJ
ject TO being scrutinized 'liko a bug
under "a microscope
Some one said. 'If thoy are keen
fo~ investigating. let them investigate
the dcnizens OF the city siums. They're
more 60 need OF 90 than we are We
know what we need. and we know what
we want but we do not require tho
services Of this Commission 10 toll US
what we should do"
These persons generally followed such
statements with recital Of wrongs
with which the farmer and his wife
had to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS returns for
crops. greedy middlemen bad roads.
poor schools no parcels post unjust
taxation. etc.
But az discerning people soon as
surcd them, they were entirely mis-
taken as 20 who or what was being in
vestigated "Hcss your heart" re-
marked the editor Of one farm paper.
"it wasn't you that tho life commits
sion tried % investigate. They desired
10 inform themselves Of conditions"
And tho findings Of the Commission
are ia no sense humillatinE Co the
farming communities. II reports that
the general level OF country life is
high compared with any preceding time
or with any other land. Tho commits
sion goes on 20 say that farming does
not yield tho profit that it ought TO
yield and may he made 20 yield But.
incidentally, tho President records his
belief that ultimately country life will
DO one Of .he most dignihed. desirable
and most sought after Of all tho vari-
Gus ways Of earning a living.
The Commission thinks that the
farmers should be shown how IN CO.
operatc-surely "A most excellent and
timely suggestion; while thu President
recommended a new kind and better
country schools. better means Of COM
munication including good roads and
parcels post. and cheaper transporta-
tion.
Some other recommendation of the
commission may be summarized az fol-
lows;
A system Of surveys to take stock
and collect facts which are import
ant 10 the farmer. economically and
scientifically;
tenn or extension work In rural CONE
munites;
A thorough going Investigation by
experts OF the middleman system Of
handling farm products.
An inquiry into the farmers disad-
vautages % respect 10 taxation. trans
portation rates. ana credit,
The establishing OF a highway en-
cheering service 20 work out effec-
tive and economical highway systems;
and of a system 1f parcels posts and
postal savings banks
other remedies recommended are;
careful attention 90 the farmers
Interests ln legislation on the tairf,
on regulation of railroads and cor
poiations OF speculation,
And providing such regulation as
VIII enable the states that do not per-
nit the sale % liquors TO protect them
selves from trafho from adjoining
states
Under the head OF Organization.
the settlement is made that farmers are
relatively uuorganized aud that farm
era do not influence legislation as they
should.
Altogether wc think that the invos
ueations conducted by the Commission
must result finally in great benefit d
the interests OF agriculture and b5
hoaIhfu reaction iu benefit 60 aii othei