The Raymer enterprise., 1910-11-10
SOLVE THE RURAL PROBLEM
President Barrett Points Out Ways In
Which Farmer Can Improve Con-
dltIons by Cooperation.
CBy C. 8. BARRETT.)

By C. g. BARRETT.)
To the Officers and Members Of the
Farmers Union:
/ have pointed out upon several re-
cent occasions that the organized
farmer Is facing the most progressive
era In American history. and that the
keynotes OF this era were to be those
OF business methods and OF genuine
cooperation.
There is but one way to hasten and
make National the benefits OF that
step forward-and that Is in every
farmer In America, whether or not
he Is affiliated with the Farmers
Union. constituting himself mission.
airy for the improvements Of condi.
tons In his own locality.
The soundest thinkers In America
are agreed that the rural problem Is
the greatest one today facing the
country. and that upon Its proper
solution must depend largely the safe.
guarding of prosperity and OF ad.
vancement.
Each farm In America presents a
rural problem today. Every farmer
in America, whether the Lord OF 1000
acres. or the poorest "cropper' In the
southern states must be an individual
solver Of that problem as It applies
to himself and to his friends and his
families.
For though the National govern
ment and philanthropists and con.
scientious publicists may spend mil
lions In the country districts, their
united efforts will be futile unless the
individual farmer goes about the work
OF betterment as though he were re.
sponsible for the whole job.
Let that creed be adopted as ma.
tional slogan. and the next ten years
will see rural America offering les
sons and models in prosperity and
living conditions to every nation un.
der the sun.
To promote this end. It is ind!s
pensable that every farmer should
make up his mind to the fact. and
act upon 1t, that he is his brothers
keeper.
First, look about improving the
lot Of your own family, for better
ment like charity always begins at
home. Then when you have adopted
such methods as will make your land
return maximum OF its products.
when you have introduced science
instead OF guess work. and given the
sQuarest sort OF deal In recreation.
education. refinement. and social
pleasures to your wife and children.
you can turn TO and help your neigh.
Dor with his burden.
Don't get too easily out OF patience
with the man next door. whom you
may think Is a quarrelsome. conten.
tious fellow. Bear with him, maybe
his pessimism and sour looks are due
to conditions you can help to remove.
| Anyway, don't forget that every
growler In community. every knock.
er or back.blter. Is standing In the
way OF progress not only for him.
self, but for yourself, your wife and
your family.
| II you insist upon more and better
schools. more and better roads. more
and better social facilities and social
organizations, and Increasing OF the
rural free delivery service. more ware.
houses for the storing OF your cot.
ton. more cooperative farmers enter.
prises OF every nature, and do your
share in getting them. others will be
led to follow the same program.
II you see that only competent and
faithful officials are chosen to ad.
minister the public business OF your
community you will be building an
addition TO the superstructure OF gen.
eral advancement.
These things | have outlined may
be n trihe difficult for you 10 under
take, II you have been going along
on the theory that progress takes
care of Itself and that you have no
personal responsibility In the prem.
ises.
But promise that only as every
farmer In America views the solution
OF the little problem at his door as
part Of his own business. will the
country population OF this country
reach those improved conditions upon
which the highest destiny OF this ma.
ton depend.-Texas Farm Co.Opera
tor.