The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-17


The National Congress Of Mothers, con
vening to-day in Kew Orleans for the
annual session. wiz have much to say
this year on the uplift movement inau-
guyated By the President for the farmers
Of the country. Here especially VII the
congress take up the question Of the
mother and the child on the farm. and
see what can be done through the infiu-
ence Of its members 10 give help and en-
enlargement where it is most, needed.
This work wiz be done not SO much on
that b0dy's own initiative as on invita-
son Of some Of the people Of louisiana
who appreciate the power Of the con
gress.
II Is believed that the isolation Of the
average farmers home can be partially
removed By modern invention il the
farmer and his wife can be brought 10 a
knowledge Of the existence Of beneficial
things and Of their goods The telephone.
the rural free delivery or mails. and the
Capitalization OF schoolhOuses have in
thousands OF iocgIiti made farm life
more attractive shd have brought its
people closer 10 the advantages offered
By cities Through the rural South, how
ever, the standard OF nteraCy Is generally
low due IN part 20 the large negro pOpu-
latiOn. and intelligent thinkers are evolv-
Ing means OF raising this standard
Whether il VIII be by wise legislation, by
awakening public sentiment. or by a spe-
eial campaign set on foot by nation, OF
Commonwealth. OF organization, win be
revealed within the next few years
Since the President appointed his farm
commission and invited suggestions from
ali points as 10 the best means Of pro-
noting the good Of the farmer and his
family. there have been many meetings
held and many plans offered. Addressing
the members Of the rural commission the
President said last fail. The farm grows
the raw material for the food and cloth
ing 90 all our citizens. it supports directly
almost Edlf Of them and nearly half the
children Of the United States are born
and brought up on farms. How can the
lie Of the farm family be made less soil
tary. fuller Of opportunity, freer from
drUdgery. more comfortable happier and
more attractive2 Such a result Is most
earnestly to be desired. How can life on
the farm be kept on the highest level. and
where it Is not already on that level be
20 awaken and keep alive the pride and
loyalty of the farmers boys and girls. Of
the farmers wife and Of the farmer him
SELF How can a compelling desire 20 live
on the farm be aroused in the children
that are born on The farm2 We hope ulti-
mately 10 double the average yield OF
wheat and corn per acre II viii be q
great achievement; but Il IS even more i'm
portant 10 double the desirabiIity. CON-
fort, and standing Of the farmers life"
On the request OF the President. a com
mittee from the National Congress or.
Mothers met with the rural commission
last December to confer with the men in
regard 10 uplift work as related 20 farm
women and children From suggestions
and ideas offered, the committee has
planned a campaign in the interest Of che
rural mother
The movement is rather general. local
and state organizations having proved
their interest in the past few months by
hearing reports from special agents. 1T
a country life meeting. held in Boston in
me late fall, an agent. who Travelled ex-
tensiveiy through New England farm
regions in the interest Of grange work,
suggested thar 1t was the duty Of the
state u provide Institutes for farmers
wives and daughters, where they could
meet and be instructed as 10 the better
ment Of home life. She argued that do
nestle science be taught in al 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 10 other fields. a concerted ef-
fort should be made 10 put farm work
on q better paying basis
Another investigator in farm cOndi-
tons claims that there Is a lack Of neigh
aor1iness among the New England rural
folk that there is autagonism toward
the foreigner. fact that initiates
against complete living in the South (
and West the opposite IS true. for the
farmers wives are deeply grounded IN /
the innate gospel OF helpfuiness. and the
sDIrit Of altruism is regnant, even when 1
me farms are far apart. This same
worker declares that the national De
r,artnnent of Agriculture should have (
mora women on its staff: that there are /
not enough bulletins issued in the inter
est OF tie women Of the farms
educate the men Of the farm first" 4
argues one woman. 50 that when they
see the reed OF modern farm tools, they
v-ill also see the need OF improved meth I
o5s Of indoor work stu another argues /
.ba. the emancipation Of the farm woman
from an endless round Of heavy duties 4
lies through the doors Of club life, +
through the organization Of clubs that
viii give education and recreation at the I
same time. Cooperative lsundries and b
bakeries have been tried in occasional 7
communities Tyith the same success that
has attended the establishment Of CO. /
lucrative creameries, and this. in the 4
opinior OF many. would be one OF the .
biggest factors in the solution o. the
question Of overwork Of the farmers /
wife.
The Presidents interest n the improve
ment Of farm life, and the investigations /
made BY his commission. have awakened /
great interest and provoked a wide cor
respoldenCe among the rural dwellers
The -etteTs are usually extremely clever
sensible. and rich in practical sugges-
tons 4 woman Of the West writes:
Several years ago my mother and I /
thought OF q scheme by which the lives
Of farm women might be made more
beanable We thought that il might be
possible TO run bakeries and laundries. IN
connection with the cheese factories and /
cretmeries Of the different communities.
As the steam engines were already in
stalled Il ought 10 Be possible. a. very
little eSpense. 10 add the other necessary
equipment and in the laundry II IS al
WHY'S so much easier. 10 get men than
women 20 work she strikes the key
nfe Of many failures in improving the
aFersge small farmers life when she Z
Quotes the governor Of the State as say
hg thar ne saw no practical difficulty
- 90