The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-06

population from the cities--and each
had it's full share OF attention.
Minnssota's Plan.
Governor Eberhart, Of Minnesota,
spoke extemperaneously on the subject
OF What the State Can Do to Check
the Drift Of Population FROM the Farms
to the Cities" He considered the sub
ject from the educational, financial
and social standpoints. The farmer,
he said. looks at the matter from a
financial standpoint--if you can show
him that he can make money on the
farm, he'll stay there. With the chill
dren it's different-they look only at
the social side and yearn for the city
life and It's pleasures. With this
knowledge OF conditions in his State
ne had begun a campaign toward inn
proving the social life of the rural
communities, and by teaching agricul-
ture and practical subjects in the rural
schools. The State now has thirty
agricultural high schools and its ex-
pertinent stations. and in connection
with the school centers, organized civic
clubs, aud the State provides enter
/ tainment. such as moving pictures.
etc, at frequent intervals. The states
school fund now is $50, 100000. and
ii Is using much OF this money to-
ward the one obtect--esta blishing ru-
raj sptihi ttiAtSA W hi"Nt tpbAtis itkS
so attractive that the glitter of the
city will not tempt either the farmer
of his children.
Gov. Hadley's Views.
Governor Hadley. of Missouri. who
! read a paper on the same subject, took
a wide range of treatment of the civ
iiizing agencies necessary to improve
the social life OF the rural community
and that was his answer to the prob
a.. -,
to make social conditions of rural COM
munities SO attractive that the far
mers would stay on the farms. He
outlined many contributing factors TO
this end, and stated that Missouri's
efforts in this direction had long ago
passed the experimental stage, Gov
ernor Hadley covered the subject com
prehensively and exhaustively. and
closest attention was given to his we'll
prepared paper. Extemporaneously he
spoke of the States colonization plans
for the development OF the States agri-
, cultural resources. and the building up
of the rural communities. and touch
ed upon rural credits as one Of the
most important problems which con-
Germs the farmers.
What Virginia IL Doing.
Governor Mann opened the discus
sion with a statement of the agricul-
tural conditions in the State that
confronted him when he took office
10,00o,000 idle arabic acres awaiting
the magic touch Of the tiller. His
idea was first to get at the root Of
the matter--to make better farmers
first and the social environment would
follow as a matter Of course-and he
realized that the State must lend its
aid The first handicap was the con-
servatism Of the farmers, who were
farming along the lines pursued 200
years ago. The state undertook to
| reach The farmer through his boy
with the boys corn club. who works
/ his acre of ground under the direc-
ton and training of the State depart
/ ssfesat ''ef' agriculture. ara through the
| schools which had o-operated in
| teaching agriculture. He told the
! governors Of some of the results OBJ
tanned through the hoys' corn clubs.
| which while admittedly single in
stances. but IL was increasing the
| average production, which is now
] over fifE-six bushels to the acre,
while 1owa's Ia only forty-one. He
told what was being done with other
I crops also. stating that the State vas
! concentrating its energies on in
! cressing agricultural production along
| all lines by educating the farmer
| that, he believes 10 he the solution
| of the problem Of preventing the drift
! from the farms. II would also even
/ tuaiiy solve the high cost OF living.
Wv have demonstrated the fact
/ that we can raise presidents and now
| we are showing the country that we
/ can raise corn and cain. too. IL nsces-
sary-we did the latter from ga 20
/ '65." AS evidence of the corn crop
/ he gave the instance of the boy who
! raised 1917 bushels on one acre at
/ twelve cents a busheI.
! South Cardinals law.
| Governor Blease wouldn't discuss
corn with Virginia's governor, be-
cause South Carolina had the record.
| and his prohibition State also had
/ samples OF the corn which came from
! Virginia IN liquid form.
| What he desired to discuss was a
matter in which his State stood alone
! i'm granting no divorces.
Governor Blease was proud Of the
| law personally. and If youl look
back in the hall and pick out the
! best looking red-headed woman In
1 the hall you'll see why.
| Seriously. Governor Blease ex-
| planned the law which neither grants
nor recognizes divorces. 1t was en-
acted In 1858. and so written that 4,
(
: ileyed IT was the only state law on
the subject which carried out the
divine law.
IT was in pursuing these conclu-
! siong, touching the treatment OF the
| negroes in this relation. that Cover
nor Blease was interrupted by Gov
/ ernor Carey in the dramatic incident
OF the day, and after ii had blown
! over and peace had been restored.
/ Governor Chemist, of Florida, ex-
| pressed the belief that II every hus-
/ band and wife treated each other
with proper consideration there would
he no divorces. and the sentiment was
applauded.
Governor Carey. of Wyoming. said
| since he had heard Governor Mann's
| speech he felt like he would be
willing to die II he could only BE-
born again in virginia.
/ He said he believed divorce was
next to death.
! - He hoped some national law would
| he enacted or at least that some uni
form law could be agreed upon. Gov
| ernor Carey had lots Of fun at the ex-
pense Of Governor eddie. the bachelor
executive, whom he commended to the