The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-04-02

ton and parliament Much is being
done by legislation with the aim or
settling larger number or people
upon the land Recently develop
nsent commission has been created
and literally provided with funds for
the purpose of aiding and developing
agriculture in the United Kingdom.
Among the means to this end Is speci-
fled the organization of cooperation.
The reason for this provision was
that the Irish farmers had learned the
value of cooperative methods from
their continental rivals in supplying
the British market with agricultural
products.
AS / have often stated, I believe
that it IS essential to the welfare OF
the American farmers that they should
adopt generally the cooperative sys-
TEN, which already has proved highly
many of the states OF the Union there
are gratifying examples OF associated
effort by communities OF farmers to
improve their economic conditions
and to Increase the opportunities and
means for social satisfaction | heart
lily welcome the fact that several OF
the large railway companies are d.
rectly assoeiatfng themselves with the
rural communities in their movements
towards making farming more profit
able to the pockets and country life
more satisfying to the social instincts
of the people. The good points of the
systems and methods as revealed by
experience in different localities could
become helpfully known to all by sys-
tematfc assistance in the initial stages
of organization An immense impulse
to the movement would result from
the extension of recognized leader
ship and sympathy from the chief ex-
ecutive of the government
Work for Agricultural Department
Il see no reason why the depart
ment of agriculture should not stand
at the head of and foster the move
/ ment for these great and far-reach-
ing agricultural reforms. In that de-
/ partment we have one of the largest,
4 If not the largest, civil administrative
branches of government In the world.
/ The progressives demand that its
/ utilities should be far more widely ex-
! tended, and one of their first objects
when they come into power will be to
| see that the department sets itself to
! work out a broader scheme than has
/ yet been attempted for the uplifting,
| technically commercially, socially and
! aF he 20
/ "A word must be added on the So
cial and political aspects of the coun-
try life question. have always in
sisted that the social life of the coun-
try folk must be frightened This is
largely to be done by education and
social organization Far too often in
the past the education of the rural
/ youth has failed to interest them eth
er In the science of agriculture or the
| beauty of nature-in the country Ii
has rather prepared their minds for
the attractions and opportunities OF
the cities. These are matters in which
! the rural church, whose helpful infiu-
ence upon the business organization
and social Unexpectedly in helping
to introduce cooperation for business
and social reasons--could be an in
valuable service to the nation, as well
as to the religious bodies themselves
very earnestly hope that all our
church bodies will act along the lines
of this suggestion, offered in all sym
pathy with their difficulties, to enter
more largely upon the field OF social
service in the open country The Y
NJ c. A, has already begun such work
The churches can supply great need
by. giving to the country a counter
part of the social service which en-
riches the urban life OF our civilfza
ton It Is their function to teach ne
not only our duty towards our God
but our duty towards our neighbors
The federal councils OF churches
through its commission in the church
and social service Is taking up this
question
Lastly, in advocating the cooper
alive system-and still more, the CO
operative spirit among farmers
have in view the strengthening 81
their political influence. IL Is as true
as it is forgotten that the influence
of any interest upon legislation anc
administration Is strictly proportional
to the extent to which the interest /.
organized-not. mark you, for political
but for business purposes. It IL tt
the failure of the farmers to act TO
gether in the business OF their live
that | attribute their lack or poIitica
influence. ! say, too, no country cal
realize its mission where the Opinion
of those who live and work upon tn
land does not find adequate expires
sion through political action.
I'VE progressives stand for the tw,
policies of conservation and the bel
terment of country life We regar
them both IS urgent and claimant TO
action. For the last three years Their
has been, as regards both or then
first reaction; and second, when ur
der a storm OF public dtsapproyal th
49, - ~w,- r~.~%& Il