Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-15
PROFESSOR KENNEDY, OF AMEs
COLLEGE, SHOWS WHY COST
OF LIVING is HIGH.
PRODUCERS DECREASING IN
NUMBER. CONSUMERS INCREASE
Iowa Educator Tells National Farm.
crs' institute What Ais the Country
kennedy Also Makes Plea For
Farm Women and Farm Boys and
Girls-Country Life Needs.
Especial Correspondence


cent of the people of the United States
lived on the farm in 1900. Today.
barely IS per cent of them live on the
farms. Since 1900, the cities and towns
have gained three persons for every
one gained by the rural districts. The
fewness Of the food producers in pro-
portion to the food consumers Is being
felt accordingly.
These are some of the striking state
ments made recently before the Amer
lean Association of Farmers Institute
Workers meeting in Washington, by
Prof. W. ]. Kennedy, of the Iowa State
College of Agriculture, director Of agri-
cultural extension work Of that instt-
tuition.
Unless present day condition are re-
versed, according to Professor Ken
nedy who is one of the ablest agri-
cultural authorities in America, the
problem of feeding the American people
will be a serious one.
square Deal for Women.
One thing which must be given at
tention is square deal for the farm
woman, the farm boy. and the farm
girl, as Professor Kennedy sees it. He
said
In too many instances the animals
have been given priority over the
country woman. the country boy and
the country girl. This Is not as 1t
should be. The time Is now at hand
when the farm woman, the farm boy
and the farm girl must be given
square deal. We will never make much
t. ho
the boys and girls leave the farm I'M
til we eliminate the chief causes for
their dissatisfaction with farm life. In
my Judgment, more than 30 per cent
OF the boys and girls who leave the
farm and go to the towns and cities do
SO because OF the drudgery and Sc
clusion which their mothers have been
compelled to endure"
Professor Kennedy gave as Ave great
reasons.why the country boy and coun-
try Rirl become dissa tisf1ed with farm
life the following in their order:
The great amount OF work Is
drudgery, due to the absence OF labor
saving devices in the homes.
The lack of social privileges.
Inadequate and misdirected educa-
tional facilities.
The decadent condition Of the coun-
try churches.
impossible condition Of the country
roads at certain seasons Of the year.
Country life. as this authority views
II. must be made more attractive and
more liveable.
Some Of the Remedies.
In this connection. he holds that
farmers Institutes can do much. He
would have these things presented thru
Illustrated lectures and otherwise:
Labor saving devices In the kitchen.
Use OF mechanical power for wash
ing. ironing. churning and sweeping.
Installation Of modern water and
sewage system. and OF modern heat
ing and lighting system.
Presentation Of carefully worked out
plans for comfortable and practicable
farm homo.
Sensible suggestions on decorating
and furnishing Of the farm home.
Helpful hints on the planning ana
adjoining Of the farm lawn.
The need for social companionship
was emphasized by Professor Kennedy
and various activities suggested such
as focal literary societies and the like.
Provision was urged for social center
at the school house or community hall.
Better Schools Requisites.
Better schools for boys and girls on
the farm and inauguration Of lines Of
work calculated to train the boys in
agriculture and the girls In domestic
science and art were strongly advo-
Gated. The church Should be used and
worn out and not allowed to rot out"
said Professor Kennedy. The church.
he would have the community social
center.
Much emphasis was placed on the
necessity for better system Of coun-
try roads
Professor Kennedy's exposition of
the subject of what is causing the
exodus from the farms caused no end
Of discussion among agricultural edu-
Gators and scientists assembled here
this week to attend the meeting already
referred to, the meeting Of the Associ-
alton of Agricultural Colleges and Elk
pertinent Stations. and kindred as
semblages.