Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-10
REPORT ON COUNTRY LIFE
President Sends to Congress Conclu-
sions of Farm Commission.
Discomfort IN FARMING CLASS
More Co-Operation, Better schools
and Improved Social OppOrtuni-
ties and Means of CommunI-
cation Are Urged.

WASHINGTON. Feb. s--The president to-
day sent to congress a message transmitting
the report of the country life commission.
After the document had been read in the
senate Mr.. Hepburn moved that it be
printed and lie on the table and this order
was accordingly made. The president s
message transmitting the report is as fol-
lows:
ITO the Senate and House of REPRESENTA-
tives
Il transmit herewith the report of the
commission on Country life. At the out
set desire to point out that not dollar
Of the public money has been paid to any
commissioner for his work on the COM
mission.
The report shows the general condition
of farming life in the open country, and
points out its larger problems; it indicates
ways In which the government, national
and state. may show the people how to
solve some of these problems; and 1t sug-
gestS a continuance of the work which the
commission began.
Judging by thirty public hearings, to
which farmers and farmers wives from
forty states and territories came and from
10000 answers to printed questions sent
out by the Department of Agriculture. the
commission finds that the general level of
country life is high compared with any
preceding time or with any other land.
II is has in recent years slipped down in
some places, 1t has risen in more places
Its progress has been general IL not uni
form.
yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that it ought to
yield and may be made to yield. There is
discomfort in the country, and in places
encouragement. Farmers as a class do
not magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns. though, / am happy to
say. less than formerly is still strong.
Three Ways OF improvement.
Under our system 1t is. helpful to pro-
mote discussion of ways in which the peo-
Pile can help themselves. There are three
main directions in which the farmers can
help themselves; namely, better farming,
better business and better living on the
farm. The national Department of Agri-
culture. which has rendered services
equaled by no other similar department in
any other time or place; the state depart
ments of agriculture, the state colleges of
agriculture and the mechanic arts, espe-
cially through their extension work; the
state agricultural experiment stations the
Farmers union, the Grange, the agricul-
tural press and other small agencies have
all combined TO place within the reach of
the American farmer an amount and quail
ty OF agricultural information whics7 if
applied would enable him, over large areas,
to double the production of the farm.
1.-THE object of the Commission on Coun-
try Life, therefore, is not to help the
farmer raise better crops, but to call his
attention to the opportunities for better
business and better living on the farm. II
country life is to become what 1t should
be, and what believe it ultimately will be
-one OF the most dignified. desirable and
sought-after ways of earning lving-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 call
ings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found it
necessary, under modern economic condi-
tions. to organize themselves for mutual
advantage and for the protection of their
own particular interests in relation to
other interests The farmers of every pro-
gressive European country have realized
this essential fact and have found in the
cooperative system exactly the form of
business combination they need.
Now whatever the state may do toward
improving the practice of agriculture It is
not within the sphere of any government
to reorganize the farmers business or re-
construct the social life of farming COM
munities. 1t is. however, quite within its
power to use its influence and the ma
chinery OF publicity which 1t can control
for calling public attention to the needs and
the facts. For example. 1t is the obvious
duty of the government to call the atten-
tion OF farmers to the growing monopoliza-
tion of water power The farmers above
all should have that power on reasonable
terms, for cheap transportation, for light
ing their homes and for innumerable uses
in the daily tasks on the farm.
Social Advantages Lacking.
'It would be idle to assert that life on
the farm occupies as good a position in
dignity, deslrability and business results
as the farmers might easily give 1t If they
chose. One OF the chief difficulties is the
failure OF country life, as it exists at pres
ent. to satisfy the higher social and intel
lectual aspirations Of country people.
Whether the constant draining away of so
much of the best elements in the rural
population into the towns is due chiefly
to this cause or to the superior business
opportunities OF city life may be open to
question. But no one at all familiar with
farm life throuhgout the United States can
fail to recognize the necessity for building
up the life of the farm upon its social as
well as up its productive side.
1T is true that country life has improved
greatly in attractiveness. health and COM
fort, and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life is
advancing even more rapidly, because of
the greater attention which is being given
by the citizens OF the towns to their own
betterment. For just this reason the intro
duction of effective agricultural co-opera-
ton throuhsout the United States is of
the first Importance. Where farmers are
organized comparatively they not only
avail themselves much more readily of
business opportunities and improved meth
ods but 1t is found that the organizations
which bring them together in the work OF
their lives are used also for social ana
intellectual advancement.
'The cooperative plan is the best plan
Of organization wherever men have the
right spirit to carry it out Under this
plan any business undertaking Is managed
by committee; every man has one vote
and only one vote; and overyona RetS