Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-25
ROOSEVELT TELLS FARMERS
WHAT THEY OUGHT TO DO
Agriculturists Should Consult the Scientist Cul
tivate Land lntensively, Improve Conditions
of the Laborer and Brighten His Life

Istolidy refuses to profit by the know
ledge OF the day who treats any effort
at Improvement as absurd on It's face re-
fuses to countenance what he regards as
new tangled IDEAS and contrivances. and
jcers ut all book farming
81 wish could take representatives, of
this type Of farmer down to Long island,
where I live. to have them see what has
been done, not as philanthropy but as n
plain business proposition. by men CON
nected with the Long Island railroad, who
believe II pays 10 encourage the develop
ment of arms along the line of that rail
way. They have put practical mon in
charge of experimental farms. cultivating
them intensively. and using the best
modern methods not only In raising
crops. but In securing the best mark erf Tor
the crops when raised. The growth has
been astounding. and land only 30 miles
from New York, which during our entire
national life time has heen treated
worthless, has within the last three or
, four years been proved to possess n really
high value.
: BEST MEN FROM COUNTRY.
1.-The farmer, however, must not only
make his land pay, but he must make
country life Interesting for himself and
Our people as a whole should realize the
infinite possibilities Of life in the country;
and every effort should be made to make
these possibilities more possible. From
the beginning of time Il has been the man
raised In the country, and usually tho
man born in the country. who has been
most apt to render the services which
every nation most needs, Turning 70 the
list OF American statesmen. 1t Is extraor-
g binary to see how large q proportion
q started farm boys. But II Is rather
l sad to tina. In recent years most OF
D those same boys have ended their lives
as men living IN cities.
1T often happens that the good condi-
. tons of the past can be regained, not by
y going back. but by going forward. We
; cannot recreate what Is dead; we cannot
y stop the march of events; but we can di-
r rect this march, and out Of the new con-
n ditions develop something better than the
g past knew. Henry Clay was farmer
who lived all his 1ifo In the country:
h Washington was farmer who lived and
= died In the country; and we of this nation
g ought to make It our business to see that
h the conditions are made such that farm
= life in the future shall not only develop
: men of the stamp Of Washington and
y Henry Clay hut shnll be attractive
5 that these men may continue as farmers;
J. for remember that Washington and
n Henry clay were successful farmers.
p II hope that things will 50 shape them
g selves that the farmer can have great
d career and vet end his life as farmer;
$ so that the city man will look forward to
y living In the country rather than the
d country man living in the city.
! believes IN THE GRANGE.
$ Farmers should learn how TO COM
k bine effecti,el as has been done in in
V dustry. I am particularly glad TO speak
= to the Grange for heartily believe in
n farmers organza lions; and we should all
a welcome every step taken towards an in
4 creaslng cooperation among farmers
The Importance of such movements cam
not be overestimatcd: and through such
intelligent joint action it will be possible
II to Improve the market just as much as
:, the farm.
: Country life should be as attractive as
q city life. and the country people should
"a insist upon having their full representa-
:. ton when II comes TO dealing with oil
q great public questions. In other words,
. country folks should demand that thoy
a WoTh On eQudI ttTlpS WIN CITY IOlhS IN
"a all guch matters. They should have their
share In the memberships of commissions
"a and councils; In short, OF all the organ
,e tied bodies for laying plans for great en-
n terprises affecting all the people.
r Il am glad to see on such bodies the
n names that represent financial interests
If but those interests should not have the
A right OF way. and in all enterprises and
/ movements IN which the social condition
le Of the country is involved, the agri-
a cultural country, the open country
N should DE well represented as the city
RS The man In the open country Is apt tc
lie have certain qualities which the city mar
ct has lost. These qualities Offset those
which tho city man has and he himsel,
n has not. The two should be put on equa
c. terms. and the country talent be giver
" the same opportunity as the city talent
M to express itself and TO contribute 10 III,
n, welfare of the world in which we live
c. CENTERs OF COUNTRY LIFE.
''rhe country church should be made &
true social center alive TO every need Of
~ the community, standing for broad In.
- dividual outlook and development, taknl
the lead In work and in creation, carnl
more for conduct than for dogma, NOR,
"a LOT etnlcht spiritual, practical bettermen
a. than for merely formal piety The coun
or try fair offers far greater possihlitie,
is FOR continuous and healthy usefunes.
ed than II at present affords. The country
al school should be made vital center fo
" economic, social, and educational co
n. operation: II Is naturally fitted to be sucl
n Il center for those engaged in commercial
I'D farming. for those who live on and b,
an the small farms they themselves own.
u 1.-The problem of tho farm is really
In the problem OF the family that lives OF
of the farm. on all these questions there 1!
n. need Of Intelligent study, such rs mark
go the books of Professor Bailey of Cor
lis nell and of Horace Plunkett's book OF
of the Rural Problems OF the United States.
CO zone feature OF the problem should b,
lie recognized by tho farmer at once, an,
u an effort made to deal with It. II Il
al our duty and our business to consider tn,
EN- farm laborer exactly as we consider tn,
farmer No country life can be satisfac
RS tory when the owners Of farms tend
n for Whatever reason, to 20 away to liv
In In cities instead of working their farms
IS. ana. moreover, II cannot bo really salts
no factory when the labor system is S,
~. managed that there is for part OF tn
re year demand for labor which cannot b.
ne met, and during another part OF the yea
&C. no demand for labor at all 70 that tn
Ey1( N<.nA