Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-02-11


fort among farmers themselves. It l
indispensable that farmers shall worl
together for their common interest
and for the national welfare. II the,
do not do this, no governmental activi
ty, no legislation, not even bette
schools. viii greatly avail. The farm
ers are nevertheless relatively unoI
ganized. We have only begun to de
velop business cooperation In Ameri
ca. Farmers do not influence legisla
ticn as they should. They need q mor'
fully organized social and recreativ'
life.
Spiritual Forces.--The forces ant
institutions that make for morality
and spiritual ideals among rural peo
pie must be energized. We miss til,
heart Of the problem II we neglect t.
foster personal character and neigh
borhood righteousness. The best way
to preserve ideals for private conduct
and public life is to build up the instl
tutions Of religion. The church has
great power Of leadership. The whole
people should understand that It Il
vitality important to stand behind thu
rural church and to help It to become
a great power In developing concreta
country life ideals. II Is especially
important that the country church rec.
ognize that It has q social responsible.
ty to the entire community as well a.
a religious responsibility to It's own
group Of people.
Recommendations Of the Commission.
The commission recommends all the
correctives that have been mentioned
under the head Of The nature Of the
remedies" It does not wish to dis.
criminate between important meas.
ures Of relief for existing conditions.
It has purposely avoided indorsing
any particular bill now before con-
gress, no matter what its value or OBJ
ject.
There are, however, in the opinion
Of the commission, two or three great
movements Of the utmost consequence
that should be set under way at the
earliest possible time, because they
are fundamental to the whole problem
Of Ultimate permanent reconstruction;
these call for special explanation.
Taking Stock Of Country Life
There should be organized, as ex-
planned in the main report, under gov.
ernment leadership, a comprehensive
plan for an exhaustive study or survey
Of all the conditions that surround the
business of farming and the people
who live In the country, in order to
take stock OF our resources and to
supply the farmer with local knowl.
edge. Federal and state governments,
agricultural colleges, and other educa,l
tional agencies, organizations OF yari-
GUS types. and individual students Of
the problem, should be brought into
cooperation for this great work Of In
vestigating with minute care all agri.
cultural and country life conditions.
Nationalized Extension Work Each
state college Of agriculture should be
empowered to organize as soon as
practicable a complete department Of
college extension, so managed as to
reach every person ON the land in it's
state, with both information and In
spiratlon. The work should include
such forms Of extension teaching az |
ectures, bulletins, reading courses,
courses, demonstra-
ion, and other means Of reaching the
)eople at home and on their farms. II |
Ihould be designed to forward not
'nly the business Of agriculture, but
Ianitatlon, education, home making,
md all interests Of country life.
Call for Leadership.
We must picture to ourselves a new
ural social structure, developed from
be strong resident forces Of the open
ouhtry; and then we must set at
VoFk AL the agencies that will tend TO
ring this about. The entire people
ICED to be reused 70 this avenue Of
sefalness. A new race Of teachers IL
. appear in the country. A new rural |
lsrky Is 10 be trained. These leaders
IN see the great underlying problem
I country life, and together they viii
ToFk. each in his own aold, for the
ne goal Of a new and permanent rural
lvfIlzation. On the development Of
his distinctively rural civilization
ssts ultimately our ability. by Meth
ds Of farming requiring the highest
Intelligence, to continue TO feed and
Iothe the hungry nations; to supply
ie city and metropolis with fresh
lood, clean bodies, and clear brains
lat can endure the strain Of modern
rban life; and to preserve a race Of
len in the open country that. IN the
lfpra eg.In The past. win be tne sssS
I'd strength of the nation In the time {
war, and its guiding and controlling I
,irit IN time Of peace. L
Il Is to be hoped that many young I
EN- and women, fresh from our 1
,hools and institutions Of learning, /
ID quick With smhttien md trVlpod I
telIlgence. WIN feel . new &hd stfohg 1
III TO service.
FOR Security Of Life at Sea.
Washington. Feb. 9.-Presldent ]