The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-31
THE TELEPHONE AS FIRST AID
FOR THE FARM AND FARMER.

4O1 4AAG = 14A@4 14s0 4 EAA14G0.
William Jennings Bryan. who
frequently lays aside politics for the
/ discussion o. other questions Of equals
" absorbing interest, delivered be-
fore the Conservation Congress, re-
Gently held in Kansas City. a most in
I teresting address on Conservation
and the Improvement Of Farm Ii e, Z
which makes an appeal that all who
take to heart their eountrys future
prosperity and that of their posterity
will do well to heed. There are those
who cherish Mr.. Bryan's views on
! political topics and those who do not.
The questions of the conservation d
our natural resources and the develop
ment Of farm life are essentially SO
devoid Of political bearing, that ali
must be deeply impressed with his
hearty endorsements Of the move
ments which are to do so much for
the country and particularly the
farmer.
For obvious reasons the address
car not be given here, but suffice It to
say that Mr.. Bryan looks for the pro-
lection Of our water sheds, the con-
servative cutting of timber, refore-
station of denuded timber land and
the extensive use of irrigation to re-
claim arid areas; and emphasizes the
dire misfortune that is sure to come
lif the people wait until necessity
cnmpels us to conserve the nation
resources when we become aware that
they are becoming impoverished.
What will make our farms more
attractive?' Mr.. Bryan asks, and re-
plying to his own question, gives first
pace IN his thoughts to the telephone
the farmers telephone in these
words:
1T seems to me that just now
There are number Of things that
conspire to add to the attractiveness
OF the ARMS. Invention has already
/ added largely to the comforts OF this
farmer. live four miles nearly from
1.-THE city. The telephone enables me
/ to send and receive kilograms; itsen.
ables me to- call the physician in /
moment. know Of no one thing
that hangs more heavily on tht
mother than the fact. when sickness
comes, or accident, it is 50 long be
fore one can be sent to the physi
clan, and the physician brought
TO-DAY, WITH THE TELEPHONE
WE CUTNlN TWO AT LEAST, THE
TIME BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT
/ AND THE RELIEF. =
4 Can any argument be more con
yincing than this? Can any Of oul
tillers Of the soil, who contribute &
largely to the welfare Of the country
still doubt, after reading this, tina
the rural telephone is their dock ans
salvation? We venture to state tina
nothing in recent years has provet
SO beneficial to the farmer as th'
telephone which has been placed q
| his command. Only one uselhas beef
mentioned above, though It is on
which probably appeals most strongly
to the farmers better self Or better
half
The rural telephone, however ha
other uses which makes 1t inval
unable as time saver and an ami
hilator Of space. The vigorous cam
paign which has been carried on 70
some time past BY the Western Elee
iris Company, which holds the uniqu
position Of being the largest manu-
facturer of telephone apparatus i
the world, has been the means Of con
vncing a gSeat host OF farmers tina
their homes vii be better safeguard
ed. their socialalfe made more agree
able, their facilities for handliu
business increased, and, In general
lie made easier and more attractiv
as a. result OF the advent Of the rurq
telephone.
The farm is a great, vital f2eto
in the economic problems and a IS
rot become devitalized, else the en-
will not be far to seek. The telephon
will help in a very great measure t
prevent such industrial decay and
more than that, will open up me-
fields of endeavor.