The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-11

IN Special Message to Congress Pres
ident Roosevelt Urges That Social
as Well as Productive Side Of Farm
Life Must Be Built up--Recommen
dation Of Work That Should Be IN
dertaken by the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture.
Washington. accompanying the re-
port of the commission on country
life the president sent to congress a
special message on the subject. The
document follows:
| To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes; transmit herewith the
report of the commission on country
life. At the outset 1 desire to point
out that not a dollar Of the public
money has been paid TO any commits.
sioner for his work ON the commits
sion. sls>.a5E ar.,.
The report shows the general condi
ton of farming life in the open coun-
try, and points out its larger prob
lens; lit indicates ways In which the
government, national and state, may
show the people how to solve some
of these probiems; and it suggests a
continuance sof the work which the
commission began, a.. ...s.. ...
Judging by 80 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 leyel of country life
Is high compared with any preceding
time or with any other land. If it has
in recent years slipped down in some
places, it has risen in more places
Its progress has been general, II not
uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either
the profit Or the satisfaction that it
ought to yield, ana may be made TO
yield. There is discomfort in the
country, and in places discourage
ment. Farmers as a class do not
magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns, though, l am happy
to say, less than formerly, is still
strong. T' as ".-.. '1s
Under our system, it is helpful to
promote discussionl!of ways in which
the people can helpl3hemselves There
are three main directions in which
the farmers can fhelp themselves;
namely, better farming, better bust
ness, and better living on the farm.
The national department of agricul-
tuge. which has d rendered service
equalCd by no, other similar depart
ment i4 any other time or place; the
state departments Of agriculture; the
state, colleges of agriculture and the
mechanical arts, especially through
their extension work; the state agri-
cultural experiment stations; the
Farmers union; the Grange; the agri-
cultural press; and other similar
agencies; have all combined to place
within the reach of the American
farmer an amount and quality Of agri-
cultural information, 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
country 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 II country life is to be-
come what 1t should be, and what
believe it ultimately will be-one of
the most dignified, desirable. and
soaght.after ways Of earning living
the farmer must take advantage not
only of the agricultural knowledge
which is at his disposal, but of the
methods which have raised and con-
tinued to raise the standards OF liv-
Ing and of intelligence in other call
ings.
Those engaged in all other indus
trial and commercial callings have
found it necessary, under modern eco
nomic conditions, to organize them
selves for mutual advantage and for
the protection OF their own particular
interests in.reIation to other interests.
The farmers OF every progressive Eu-
ropean country have realized this es-
peatial fact and have found In the
cooperative system exactly the form
OF buGiness combination they need.
Now, whatever the state may do
toward improving the practice Of ag-
riculture. it is not within the sphere Of
any government to reorganize the
farmers business or reconstruct the
social life OF farming communities. It
is, however, quite. within its power
to use its influence and the machinery
OF publicity which IT. can control for
calling public attention TO the needs
OF the facts. For example, II is the
obvious duty OF the government to cali
the attention Of farmers to the grow
ing monopollzation OF water power.
The farmers. above ali, should have
that power. on reasonable terms. for
cheap transportation, for lighting their
homes, and for innumerable uses in
the daily tasks OF the farm.
II would be idle TO assert that life on
the farm occupies as good a position
IN dignity, desirability. and business
results az the, farmers might easily
give Il II they chose. One Of the chief