The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06
BACK TO THE FARM
SLOGAN GROWING
Government Is Using Influence
to Advance Movement
WILL CELEBRATE CANAL
AZ Least Three Great Fairs VIII Be
Held i'm Honor of the Opening of
the Big Ditch to the Worlds
Commerce
WILL CELEBRATE CANAL
by RALPH NJ. wHITEsmE


/ Washington, February 5-(specia1.)-
This Back to the Farm slogan is
Growing in volume and it would not
surprise me to see it crystalline into a
concrete movement, backed by the
Strongest influences In the country with
the United States government doing all in
ks power to advance 1T.
Close students of economics are coming
- believe that the rapid urbanization of
ne United States is to blame for many
Of the evils which afflict the country,
the high food prices among them. Hence
II is necessary to take some action which
will not only stop the flow into the cities
but start it the other way.
The consensus is that the main trou-
be has been the isolation of the farm
and the lack of amusement in the coun-
try districts. Much has been done in
the past few years to correct these evils.
The introduction of the telephone, the
automobile and the photograph have all
helped. Rural free delivery has done it's
share in the good work and no small
share either, but the cityward flow con-
tinues.
Many of the brightest minds in the
country have this great question under
consideration and the proper solution will
In good time be reached.
Secretary Knox believes that the con-
gestion of population in great cities is
caused in large part by the lack of good
roads. He recently declared that the
reason France is the richest agricultural
country in the world is because she
has had good roads so long. Said he:
''rhe agricultural population of France
does not have to spend its money in re-
pairing vehicles and their harness ev-
cry winter. think it has improved the
attractiveness of rural life. l think 1t has
caused the population to remain on the
soil more than in any other country.
You do not find that tendency to urban
population in France and England that
you do in this country"
When Senator Elkins is at home, and
under the eyes of the constituents he is
a regulr attendant at Sunday services
at the Presbyterian church. Nothing de-
ters the rotund statesman from his de-
votional duties. not even politics. One
/ Sunday morning the senator had hardly
finished his breakfast when delegation
Of his political friends called to make
sqhe request of the director of the des-
THY of West Virginia.
Senator Elsins didn't get mad, or at
least he didn't show 1t, but with his
sweetest smile said: Now boys, you
know this is Sunday, and I always go to
church. OF course l want to hear what
you have to say, and am sure l will help
you, but can't you come around tomor-
row? Now, that's good boys"
Uncle Sam intends to send his delegates
to the next pan-American conference in
style. Not only is it planned to send the
delegates in a warshp but ! under
stand tht Secretary Meyer will have the
Atlantic cruiser squadron accompany
them nominally on a cruise but really as
In escort, and to do special honor to the
ssbnference.
The feeling is strong here that former
President Roosevelt and former Senator
lcCreary should be appointed as two OF
The delegates and it is possible they may
be.
Tie pan-American conference of 1910
Mill have many important subjects to
discuss. the first of which is the prepar-
htion for the celebration of the opening
DC the Parma canal in 1918. Although
This is the project of the United States,
1t is to be an occasion for mutual con-
Eratulation among all the North and
South American countries, and 1t. is eX-
bected to be another means of linking
Ill of>|Latin America.
The opening of the Panama canal will,
BY the way be celebrated in great style
BY this country AT least three worlds
fairs are already projected to honor the
; = emit, one at New Orleans, one at San
Francisco and one at Washington. There
> IRE peculiar reasons why each of these
bites should rejoice at the completion
liz the big ditch and they propose to do it,
1t is stated by officials of the postof-
flee department that millions of l cent
loins annually are taken by the rural
letter carriers from letter boxes for the
payment of postage on mail matter de-
bosited
Complaints against the practice have
become so widespread that the postoffice
department has issued instructions to all
nostma sters at rural delivery offices, that
.,fter February 15,> rural letter carriers
will not be required to take loose coins
from mail boxes for the purchase of
,tamps or money orders.
The Tennessee Central railway proposes
10 see il 1t can be wiped off the railroad
map because it refuses to pay bills al
ieged to be due the Southern railway
ind the Illinois Central which it claims
Il does not ligtimately owe. The inter-
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