Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-10
REPORT on COUNTRY iiFE
CONTINUED from First Page.)

| magnify their calling. and the move
ment to the towns though. | am hap
DIV to say. less than formerly, is still
, strong.
!, Under our system. II Is helpful tC
lpromote discussion OF ways In which
the people can help themselves
There are three main directions IN
which the farmers can help them
selves namely. better farming. bet
ter business and better living on the
farm The National Department OF
Agriculture which has rendered ser
vices euualed by no other similar de-,
partmrnl in any other time or place a:
the state department. of agriculture:
the state colleges of agriculture and
the mechanic arts. especially through
their extension work: the state agrl-
cultural experiment stations: the
Farmers Union: the Grange: The az
| r.cultural press: and other similar
| agencies: have all combined to place
within the reach of the American
| tanner an amount and quality of as-
ricultural information which. If ap-
piled would enable him. over !arS"
arras. to do"blr tn" production OF
the farm
THE object of the Commits sion on
| Country Life therefore. is not tn help
! The farmer raise better crops. but
to call his attention to the OppOrtnni-
! ties for better business and better
living on thu farm. If country life is
20 become what it should be. and
what believe it ultimately will be
one Of the most dienifield. desirable,
! Ia Of inU a
| ;iying-.he farmer must take advar
| tagc not only of the agriculture
Iknuwlcdcc which is at his disposal
! but of the methods which have raised
! and continue TO raise tie standards
OF living and Of intelligence in other
! callngs.
Those engaged in all other IN
lustrial and commercial callinsS have
found i. necessary. under modern
economic conditions. to OrSani,"
themselves for mutral advantage and
for the protection OF their own par
ticular interests IN relation TO other
interests The farmer OF every pro
2rcSsiv" European country have
realized this essential fac and have
f0uni in the cooperative system exact
they need.
Now whatever the state may do
toward improving tho nractivc Of ag-
riculiurc. it is not within tn" sphere
OF any government to organi2" IN"
farmers business or reconstruct tn"
social life of farmin" communities.
II is however. Guitc within its pow
or to US" its influence and the ma
chincrv of publicity which it can CON
troll for calling public attention 10 the
needs and the facts. For example.
il is tho obvious duty of the Govern
merit to call the attention of farmers
to the growing m0nOpG!iZaflon oil
water mower. The farmers above all
should have that power. on reasonable
terms. for cheap transportation. for
lighting their homes. and for innum-
cradle uses in the daily tasks on the
farm.
Social Side Lacking.
at would be idle to asset mat life
on the farm occupies as good posi-
tion in dignity dcsirability. and bust
ness results as the farmers might
easily give it If they chose. One OF
the chief difficulties is the failure OF
country life. as il exists az present.
to satisfy the higher social and in
tellcctral aSDir:tiOns Of country peo-
pie. Whether the constant draining
away of So much Of he best elements
in the rural population into the
towns is due chiefly to this cause or
to the superior bushes opportunities
OF CITY life NAV be open to question.
PIT no one at all familiar with farm
life throughout the United States can
| fail to recognize the necessity for
building mp the life of the farm upon
/ tive side.
1t is true that country life has i'm
aroved Greatly in attractivcness.
| health. and comfort and that the
farmers earnings are higher than
they were. But city life is aivancin:
even more RAPIDLY. because OF the
greater Gttention which is !"ing Civ
en- By the citizens of the towns tn
their own bettermert. For just this
| reason the introduction OF effective
agricultural cooperation throughout
! the United States is of the first I'M
pOrtanc where farmers are organ
lied comparatively they not only avail
themselves much more readily of buSl-
ness. oppor ,unities and improved
| met hOds. hut il is found that the or
CARNATIONS which bring them ,Os"th-
, or in the work of their lives are used
, for social and intellectual advance
mcr'
The Coopcrativ" Plan is the hest
rlan Of organization wherever men
have the right spirit 10 carry il ont.
Under this plan any business under
| taking is managed by committee:
| every nan has one vote and Cnlv on"
vote: and everyone gets profits ac-
| cordinc TO what ne sells or buys or
SUPPLE II develops ind: Hidual r.
.aorsihili;y and has = moral as we'll
49, financial ra'u" over any other
plan
Y desire only 20 fakc counsel with