Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-19


vening today in New Orleans for the an
nual session, will have much to say this
year on the uplift movement inaugurated
by the president for the farmers of the
country. More especially will the con-
gress take up the question of the mother
and the child on the farm and see what
can be done through the influence of its
members to give help and encouragement
where 1t is most needed. This work will
be done not so much on that bodys' own
initiative as on invitation of some of the
people of Louisiana who appreciate the
power of the congress.
$50
1t is believed that the isolation of the
average farmers home can be partially
removed by modern invention, If the
farmer and his wife can be brought to
knowledge of the existence of beneficial
things and of their good. The telephone,
the rural free delivery of mails and the
Capitalization of school houses, have, in
thousands of localities made farm life
more attractive and have brought its peo-
pie closer to the advantages offered by
cities. Through the rural south, however,
the standard of literacy is generally low
due in part to the large negro popula-
ton, and intelligent thinkers are evolving
means of raising this standard Whether
it will be by wise legislation, by awaken
ing public sentiment, or by special cam
paign set on foot by nation, or common
wealth, or organization will be reaveled
within the next few years.
50
Since the president appointed his farm
commission and invited suggestions from
all points as to the best means of promot-
ing the good of the farmer and his family,
there have been many meetings held, and
many plans offered Addressing the mem
bers Of the rural commission the president
said last fall: THE farm grows the raw
material for the food and clothing of all
our citizens; II supports directly almost
half of them; and nearly half the chill
dren OF the United States are born and
brought upon farms. How can the life
of the farm family be made less solitary,
fuller of opportunity, freer from drudgery
more comfortable, happier and more at
tractive? Such a result is most earnestly
to be desired. How can life on the farm
be kept on the highest level, and where 1t
is not already on that level, be so i'm
proved, dignified( and frightened as to-
awaken and keep alive the pride and 10y
atty of the farmers boys and girls, of the
farmers wife, and of the farmer himself?
How can a compelling desire to live on
the farm be aroused in the children that
are born on the farm? We hope ultimate
" to double the average yield of wheat
and corn per acre; it will be great
achievement; but it is even more import
ant to double the desirability, comfort and
standing of the farmers life" %
On the request of the president, COM
mittee from the National Congress Of
Monthers met with the rural commission
last December, to confer with the men in
regard to uplift work as related 20 farm
women and children. From suggestions
and ideas offered the committee has
planned a campaign in the interest of the
rural mother.
The movement is rather general, local
and state organizations having proved
their interest in the past few months b.
hearing reports from special agents. At
a country life meeting held in Boston in
the late fall, an agent, who travelled eX-
tensively through New England farm re-
gions in the interest of grange work,
suggested that 1t was, the duty of the
state to provide institutes. for farmers
wives and daughters, where they could
meet and be instructed as TO the better
ment of home life. She argued that do
nestle science be taught in all the schools
of the land, and she makes the pertinent
point that since money is the great lure
that calls the boy or girl from the farm
to other fields, a concerted effort should
be made to put farm work on a better
paying basis. -.....
Another Investigator in farm conditions