Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-25
Rooseveit's Gospel of the Farm.


of country life; the creation of a new
interest in the farm home-these are
some of the objects of Former Presi-
dent Roosevelt's trip into the West He
is preaching the doctrine of progress to
the knights of the plow and the reaper,
and his words are full of common sense
and wholesome. liveable logic.
At Utica, n. Y. Tuesday, Col. Roose-
welt delivered an address which is of
more than passing interest to Maine
readers. 1t was devoted to conserva-
ton and rural life. In his characteris-
tic forceful manner the former Presi-
dent drove home his homely ideas for
the home of the granger.
He said the tendency had been for
the industrial leaders to 60 ahead while
the farmer had sagged behind, and the
reason was that the former had been
far more ready to accept technical
knowledge Big businessmen had
awaited themselves of college trained
experts and had listened to their ad-
vice. He said that farmers should bene
tit by the advice of technical men.
But the point which Col. Roosevelt
emphasized most was that the farmer
must make country life interesting for
himself, for his wife. and his sons and
daughters. He said that the people of
the United States should realize the in
finite possibilities of life in the country
and that every effort should be made
to make these possibilities more posi-
BILE and plain to the people.
Mr. Roosevelt declared that from the
beginning of time it had been the man
raised in the country who had been
most apt to render the services which
every nation most needs. He declared
bine effectively. He said he heartily
believed in farmers organizations; that
he was glad to address the Grange. He
said that through intelligent joint ac-
ton it would be possible to improve the
market just as much as the farm.
The former President argued that
country life should be as attractive as
city life: that people on the farms
should demand to work on equal terms
with city folk. They should be repre-
sented in commissions and councils in
plans for great enterprises affecting the
people. He declared as did the Jour
nal recently. that the man from the
country is apt TO have certain qualities
which the city man has lost.
He spoke of the church as the true
social center and should be encouraged
from q broad individual outlook The
school should be made a vital center
for economic, social and educational CO.
operation.
And in closing Mr.. Roosevelt put in
a strong recommendation for the well
fare of the wives of the farmer and
farm laborer. He declared that it was
every whit as important to introduce
new machines to economic her labor
within the house. as to introduce ma
chinery to increase the effectiveness of
the labor outside the house.
There is ona phase of country life
which we wish that Mr.. Roosevelt had
taken up and We hope that he may vet
cast the conclusions of his clear vision
upon 1.-THE fact that farmers daugh-
ters are so seldom taught to look for
ward with pride to becoming the life
partner of farmers son. She grows
to womanhood regarding life on the
farm az a career unworthy of her am
extent in Maine snd New England and.
we presume in the West. by the natural
farmward tendency in the last two
years.
The sons returning from agricultural
colleges to take the burden from faith
er's shoulders and introduce new meth
DDS and new machinery has gone long
way toward increasing the milkmaid's
respect for the true-hearted farmer
boy.
Half way around is true of the other
side-when the farmers son comes
home from the city school he discovers
new beauty in the form and features
and in the purity of the country girl
more pert and mentally brilliant sister
of the city. In the eyes of the whole
some maiden of the rural district he
discovers the light of truth and faith
and goodness which the pure air and
quiet surroundings of the country