Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-02-10
OPPORTUNITIES
OF THE FARMERS
IL Special Message President
Surveys Conditions Of
Country Life
RESULTS OF STUDY
BY COMMISSION
By United Press Leased Special wire

discussed In a special message sent toI
Congress yesterday transmitting the re-
port OF the comission on County Life, APP
pointed by the President last summer.
The President recommends the continu-
ance Of the commission by act of Con-
gress. and an appropriation for its ex-
penses. The message In part follows:
ITO the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives.
Il transmit herewith the report OF the
Commission on Country Life. AT the out
set I desire TO point out that not a dollar
of the public money has been paid &c 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 IL sug- /
gests 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 Agrlcul- /
ture. the commission finds that the gem
eral level Of country life Is high COM
pared with any preceding time or with
any other land II II has In recent years
slipped down In some places. It has risen
in more places. Its progress has been gem
eral. II not uniform.
yet farming does not YIELD either the
profit or the satisfaction that Il ought 10
yield and may be made to yield. There is
discomfort in the country, and In places
discouragement 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 stili strong.
Under our system, II Is helpful TO pro-
mote discussion OF ways IN which the
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the farm
/ ers can help themselves; namely. better
/ farming, better business. and better lv-
/ ing on the farm. The National Depart
ment OF Agriculture. which has rendered
services equaled by no other similar de-
partment IN any other time or place: the
state departments Of agriculture; the
State colleges of agriculture and the me-
chanic arts. especially through their ex-
tension work the State agricultural ex-
pertinent stations; the Farmers Union;
the Grange the agricultural press; and
other similar agencies; have all combined
10 place within the reach OF the Ameri-
can farmer an amount and quality OF ag-
ricuturai information which, II applied
would enable him. over large areas. TO
double the productinm Of the farm.
1.-The object OF the Commission on Coun-
try Life therefore Is not TO help the farm
er raise better crops. but to call his at
tention to the opportunities for better
business and better living on the farm. II
country life is 70 become what II should
be. and what I believe II ultimately viii
be-one OF the most dignifed. desirable.
and sought-after ways of earning a liv-
ing the farmers must take advantage
not only OF the agricultural knowledge
which is at his disposal. but OF the meth
DDS which have raised and continue TO
raise the standards OF living and of in
telligencc IN other callings.
Those engaged in all other Industrial
and commercial cailings have found It nee
essary. 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-
this essential fact and have found IN the
cooperative system exactly the form Of
! business combination they need.
Now whatever the State may do to-
ward improving tho practice Of agricul-
ture II Is not within the sphere Of any
government 10 recognize the farmers bus.
mess or reconstruct the social life OF
farming communities II IS. however
quite within its power 10 use its influence
and the machinery Of publicity which II
can control for calling public attention "a
the needs and the facts For example, il
is the obvious duty OF the Government Il
call the attention Of farmers to the grow.
ing monopolization OF water power Tho
farmers above all should have that power
on reasonable terms, for cheap transpor.
Z tation. for lighting their homes. and FOR
innumerable uses in the daily tasks on the
farm.
1T would be idle TO assert that life OF
the farm occupies as good a position IL
dignity. desirabiity and business result,
as the farmers might easily give Il n they
chose. One OF the chief difficulties is Tho
failure Of country life. as II exists at pres
emit to satisfy the higher social and intel
,, lectual aspirations Of country people
Whether the constant draining away Of s,
much Of The best elements in the rura
population into the towns IS due chiefly
70 this cause or 10 the superior business
, opportunities Of city life may be open 4,
I question. But no one at all familiar witt
I farm life throughout the United State
! can fail 10 recognize the necessity fo
: building up the life Of the farm upon IL
social as well as upon its productive side.
1T is true that county life has i'm
proved greatly I'm attractiveness, health
!, and comfort, and that the farmers earn
ings are higher than they were. But cit,
] life is advancing even more RAPIDLY he
s cause Of the greater attention which g.
s being given by the citizens Of the towns Z,
o their own betterment. For Just this reasoi
the introduction Of effective agriculture
2 cooperation throughout the United State
Is OF the first importance Where farm
ers are organized comparatively they no
only avail themselves much more readil,
Of business opportunities and improves
methods. but II is found that the organi
zations which bring them together IN III
work Of their lives are used also for so
sial and intellectual Advancement
THE cooperative plan Is the best nlai
Of organization wherever men have IN
right spirit to carry Il out Under thi
; plan any business undertaking is man
aged by a committee; every man has on
vote and only one vote; and everyon
gets profits according 10 what he sells o