The Carlisle independent., 1910-03-10
SOLUTION OF RURAL PROBLEM
try Life to Increase Production Is Vital Question.

Farmers Institute Specialist of the United States department of agricult ure, said among other things:
 The rural problem is the great prob lem. In every country it is receiving more attention than any other. How to strengthen and improve country life so as to increase production Is the question statesmen, philanthropists and scientists in every country are now asking. The high price for food, which is only another term for scar city of food, that now prevails in all civilized countries directs public at tention to a question fundamental in civilization, that of food supply. The rural problem is in the main the prob lem of existence, not of physical exist ence only, but of civil, commercial and even religious as well. Its solution is found in the education and organiza- tion of rural people. It is to the sec ond of these-the organization of rural people, that I desire to direct your attention.
 That organization is an advantage lO d SlSdt oOdlCcly dulhlIo of discussion in these days when con- bination is in evidence on every side. Experience shows that lack of organi- zation in business leaves the individu- al not only at the mercy of every band of raiders who combine to plum der, but it also invites attack espe- cially when the individuals in ques- tion are possessed of property that men generally desire. The natural cupidity of mankind is so intense as to drive portable wealth to seek shell ter within steel vaults, behind armed police, or to hiding in recesses away from the knowledge of men. It is so every man carries a gun to protect himself against it. Society is com pelled to organize in self-defense This is the primary reason and sufficient justification for men combining.
 Business advantage is another req son why individuals do and ought to combine. Cooperation in buying and selling, in inspecting, packing and shipping, in storing and holding has prevented glutted markets, has inn proved the quality and appearance of products, has lessened expense, and has increased profits. Fertilizers, seeds, implements and well-bred ami mals are items respecting which CO., operation in purchasing is practiced with advantage. Cooperation in han ding, sorting, holding and selling fruit, cotton, grain and tobacco has now be- come so common as to excite no re- mark and has been of great advan- tage to producers of these important crops.
 Self-improvement is third reason why country people particularly should combine. Population in the country is scattered and rarely meet except at church or the country store. The telephone and the rural mail de- livery have relieved rural life of two great inconveniences. Neither, how ever, can take the place of personal contact through the neighborhood meeting at which questions of inter est to the residents are discussed by experts and where free exchange of opinion can be- had respecting the To- cal problems that country people have to meet
 These are advantages the direct re- suit of combination and are of benefit chiefly to the individual Fully as great benefits from associated effort come to the country at large, to the state and to the nation. While it is true that whatever renders the indi- vfdual more efficient or betters his condition is indirectly of advantage to the state, yet combination of the right kind and properly directed pro- notes the public good directly by en- couraging peace and by strengthening the civil, moral and religious forces of the state, enabling these interests to act freely and unitedly in promoting any great movement for the better ment of society. Commerce, although made up of many units, Is in its large sense only an aggregation of business interests which the state or nation as whole utilizes in trading with other states and nations. Boards of trade, combinations of capital, the com modity called labor, public corpora tions as railroads, telegraph and tele- phone companies, express companies, and similar organizations affect di- rectly the nation as whole, in it's wealth, its progress and political in- fiuence. Government itself is simply great organization established and conducted for the general good. The great forces in society are organized forces and as such they in large meas ure control government, indicate it's policy, direct it's legislation, and SUD- port and enforce its laws. Although farming people in this country con- pose over one-third of our population and represent interests far greater than those of any other class. they have for the most part remained un- organized and consequently have had less influence in the administration of public affairs than any other class of citizens.
 Organization, therefore, just now. if not their most important need is certainly the most urgent for the req