The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-02-17

Roosevelt sent the following mes
sage to both houses OF congress-:
To the Senate aad House of Represent
atives: I transmit herewith the report
of the commission on country life. At
the outset I desire to point out that not
dollar of the public money has been
paid to any commissioner for his work
on the commission.
The report shows the general condition
Of farming life in the open country, and
points out its larger problems; it indi-
Gates ways in which the government, ma
tlonal and state. may show the people
now to solve some Of these problems; and
it suggests a continuance of the work
which the commission began.
Judging by 30 public hearings, to which
farmers and farmers wives from 40
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 9TH
err land. If it has in recent years slipped
down in some places, 1t has risen in more
places. It's progress has been general, IL
not uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that 1t ought
to yield, and may be made to yield. There
Is discomfort in the country, and in places
ENCOURAGEMENT. Farmers as class do
not magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns. though, am happy
to say, less than formerly. is still strong.
Under our system, 1t 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 living
on the farm. The national department Of
agriculture, which has rendered service
ofy,7i1o rtp
IN any other time or place; the state
departments Of agriculture; the state COL
leges Of agriculture and the mechanical
arts, especially through their extension
work: the state agricultural experiment
stations; the Farmers union; the Grange;
the agricultural press; and other similar
agencies; have all combined to place with
in the reach of the American farmer an
amount and quality of agricultural infor-
nation, which, If applied, would enable
him, over large areas, to double the
production of the farm.
For Better Business and Living.
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
If country life is to become what it
should be, and what believe it ultimate
ly will be-one of the most dignified, de-
sirable, and sought-after ways of earn
a living-the farmer must take advan-
tage not only of the agricultural knowl-
edge which is at his disposal, but of the
methods which have raised and continue
to raise the standards of living and in
telligence in other callings.
Those engaged in all other Industrial
and commercial callings. have found it
necessary, under modern economic con-
ditions. to organize themselves for mu-
tual advantage and for the protection of
their own particular interests in rela-
ton to other interests. The farmers OF
every progressive 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 to-
ward improving the practice Of agri-
culture, 1t Is not within the sphere of
any government to reorganize the farm
ers' business or reconstruct the social
life of farming communities. It u.s. how
ever, quite within its power to use its
influence and the machinery of publicity
which it can control for calling public at
tention to the needs Of the facts. For ex-
ample, it Is the obvious duty of the gov
eminent to call the attention of farmers
to the growing monopolization Of water
power. The farmers. above all, should
have that power, on reasonable terms, for
homes, and for innumerable uses in the
daily tasks Of the farm.
Necessity for Cooperation.
It is true that country life has improved
greatly in attractiveness, health and COM
fort, and chat the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life Is
advancing even moro 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 in
PRODUCTION Of effective agricultural CO.
operation, throughout the United States is
of the first Importance. Where farmers
are organized comparatively they not
only a3ail themselves much more read
lily of business opportunities and i'm
proved methods, but it is found that the
organizations which bring them together
In the work Of their lives are used also
for social and 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 man
aged by committee; every man has
one vote, and only one vote; and every
one gets profits according to what he
sells or buys or supplies. 1t develops in
dividuai responsibility and has a moral
as we'll as financial value over any
other plan.
desire only to take counsel with the
farmers as ow-citizens. It is not the
problem Of the farmers alone that I am
discussing with them, but a problem
which affects every city as we'll as every
farm in the country. 1t is a problem
which the working farmers will have to
solve for themselves; but 1t Is problem
which also affects in only less degree all
the rest Of us, and therefore If we can
render any help toward its solution. 1t is
not only our duty but our interest to do
80.
Work to Help the Farmers.
The commission has tried to help the |
farmers to see clearly their own prAb- |
Sem and to see 1t as a whole; to distin- |
guish clearly between what the govern
ment can do and what the farmers must |
do for themselves; and it wishes to bring |
not only the farmers, but the nation as |
whole, to realize that the growing of |
crops. though an essential part, Is only |
a part of country life. Crop growing is
the essential foundation. bat 1t Is no |
less essential that the farmer shall get |
an adequate return for what he grows; |
and 1t - no less essential-indeed, 1t is |
literally vitai-thnt he and his wife and |