The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-31
Lever AIDS COLLEGES.
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS AND
EXPERIMENT STATIONS
BENEFIT.
Congressman From This District Re-
CARDS Passage Of Act as His Most
Important Work.


the agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations In the several States
This measure. to which Mr.. Lever
hsd devoted several years Of study
and preparation. completes an agri-
cultural educational system which had
its beginning with the passage Of the
hrst Morrill, act In 1859. augmented
by the Hatch act rs. years later. Un-
der these anactments stores Of agri-
cultural information and facts have
been accumulated. but the one defect
In the national system. until the Lever
bill. has been the fact that Its prac-
tical and local application has not
reached the actual farmer. These
scientific agricultural facts. gathered
by the experiment stations and dis
seminated by tho agricultural colleges.
have reached only limited numbers
In proportion to the total rural popu-
lation; and the passage Of the Lever
bill. having as its main purpose the
direct dissemination among agricul-
turists OF this accumulated knowledge
appertatning to agriculture and home
econon les. through such agencies as
Held instruction. demonstrations, pub
lications and the like. will forge the
last link OF the chain In a complete
system OF national agricultural edu-
cation.
Under the appropriating section of
the Lever bill 1t Is provided that an
initial sum of $4,000 per year shall
go to each State Internationally. an
additional appropriation Of $500. 600
Is appropriated for the first fiscal year
and an annual increase Of this ap-
proprition OF 100000 "a year. over
the preceding year. for period of
nine years Is provided until the to-
tai amount OF additional appropria-
tions will be $4,000. 300 annually: but
that no state shall be entitled to any
part OF these additional sums until its
legislature shall have appropriated a
similar amount for extension work.
As a matter OF local interest. the State
Of south Carolina. under the proper
tion Its rural population bears to the
rural population of the country.
would be entitled to receive annually
the sum OF s7s,soo from the federal
government: conditioned. Of course,
upon the appropriation Of a like sum
by Its state legislature for agricultural
extension work. Any lesser amount
the legislature might see fit to apply
to extension work would be dupli-
Gated from the funds Of the national
treasury.
The bill places the disbursement
Of these funds and the control Of the
work to be conducted under it's pro-
visions. because II was believed that
each State had Its own individual ag-
ricultural problems which could best
be worked out under local environ
met The system II will work out
seeks To do In a larger measure what
is now being accomplished In sections
through the Farmers Cooperative
Demonstration work.
Possibly no measure this session
certainly none Of an economic nature
has become more ger lily discussed
or more widely advertised thhn the
Lsver extension bill. 1t has been en-
Enthusiastically supported by leading
agricultural thinkers I'm every section
Of the United States. the rural press
business organization. agricultural as
sociations. agricultural college pres
idents and experiment station di.
rectors. President Taft In his address
at the Kansas City Conservative con.
,sre1 strongly supported the idea. and
Gov. Wilson In his speech OF accept.
ance Of the nomination for the pres.
idency said:
There Is another duty which the
Democratic party has shown itself
great enough and close enough to the
people to perceive. the duty OF the
government to share In promotins
agricultural. Industrial. vocationa
education In every way possible with
In It's constitutional powers"
The Democratic platform at Balti
more urges federal appropriation
''for such training and extension
teaching I'm agriculture In coopera
tioo with the several states"
Mr. Lever. OF course. is enthusiast,
over the outcome OF his long and con
tinued efforts In perfecting and work
ing for the passage Of this measure