The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-02-19
COMMISSIONS REPORT SENT
BY PRESIDENT TO
CONGRESS.
o.,o Of the ChiefDrawbacks Point
Cd Out Is Lack of Organization.
Extension of Agricultural Col
,ooe Work Would Help Good
Roads a Factor.

r,,, conf TO congress a message TRAILS
I ';++ino the report of the country life
,,,r,ission, After the document hao
IOl pn road in the senate Mr.. Hepburn
w I'D that it be printed and lie on the
InJo and this order was made. The
'"D Of the commission describes
.;th some fullness the existing condi'
,;ans Of farm life and points out the
'l nnsas that may have led to its present
lock of organization.
Broadly speaking, agriculture in the
United States is prosperous, and the
aonditions in many Of the great farm
mo regions are improving.
Tot if is true, Notwithstanding all
.1,;s nrooress. as measured by historical
,+ordards. that agriculture i not COM
,norciallv as profitable as it is entitled
70 he for the labor and energy that the
farmer expends and the risks that he
assumes. and that the social conditions
in fine omen country are far short of
their possibilities.
Rural society is lacking chiefly in a
knowledge on the part Of the farmers
Of the exact agricultural conditions and
possibilities of their regions, resulting
in the widespread depletion of soils
with the injurious effect on country
life: in proper training for courtrv
life in the schools; in good highway
facilities and in organization for buy
inc and selling.
The Drawbacks
There is an absence of any adequate
system of agricultural credit, a short
age of labor, often complicated by in
temperance among wOrkmen; lack of
institutions and incentives that tie the
laboring man to the soil; the life of
the farm woman is burdensome and
narrow; there is need Of adequate su-
pervision of public health.
The farmer is handicapped by the
speculative holding of our natural re-
sources and by restraint of trade.
There are several great forces, or
principles, which must be utilized in
the endeavor to solve the country life
problem.
There must be a vast enlargement Of
voluntary, organized effort among far
mers themselves 1t is Indispensable
that farmers should work together for
their common interests and for the
national welfare. If they do not do
this, no governmental activity, mo legis-
lation, not even better schools, will
greatly avail The forces and institu-
tons that make for morality and spir-
itual ideals among rural people must
be energized
New Education Needed
There must be not only a fuller
scheme of public education, but new
kind of education adapted to the real
needs of the farming people. The
country schools must be so redirected
that they shall educate their pupils in
terms of daily life. Opportunities for
training toward the agricultural call
lngs are to be multiplied and made
broadly effective This means redou-
bled efforts for better country schools
and vastly increased interest in the
welfare OF country boys and girls on
The part OF those who pay the school
taxes Education by means of agricul-
lure must be a part of our regular
school work. Special agricultural
schools should be organized.
The country people everywhere are
asking for good roads Everywhere,
eoo' they want a parcels post and the
extension of rural free delivery.
Inc commission has purposely avoid
eu lndorslng any particular bill now
oeiore congress, no matter what it's
value or object. In the opinion of the
commission, however, there are two or
'liree movements of the utmost conse-
guence that should be set under way at
'iie earliest possible time, because they
are fundamental to the whole problem
VI reconstruction. There should be
organized under government leadership
comprehensive plan for an exhaustive
S.uuy or survey of all the conditions
'iia' surround the business of farming
anu the people who live in the country,
IL order to take stock of our resources
edge.
Extend Agricultural College Work
Each state college of agriculture
aiould organize as soon as practicable
oonplete department of college ex-
@nsion. Local, state and even national
ttonlefences on rural progress, designed
W unite the interests of education, or
e"r III and religion, should be held.
ora aie Is need of young people of
q sua energy, capacity, aspiration
o1 1u convection, who will live in the
fa p1n country as permanent residents on
A., illS or as teachers or in other useful
o1r -uS' and who, while developing their
nona business or affairs to the greatest
t 70 will still have unselfish in
t;a 0s' IN the welfare of their communi-
mes The farming country is by no
or r' a: devoid of leaders and is not lost
bas Incapable of helping itself. but it
s Sons peen relatively overlooked by per-
usa af VINO are seeking great fields of
noo ,uiness. 1t will be well for us as a
f Srople If we recognize the opportunity
consis sei ulness in the open country and
0noluor that tboro 80 - Ill e.. .o-xX;<,<,