Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-04-27
lBllt SERVICE, SUPPORTED
EQl \LLN BN rEDERkL AND
STNIE ~ \DS.
CONGRESS TAKES IT UP
southern Wen sponsors uf Measure
That Continues Demonstration
Work In United states

ecu llN by federal and state funds
providing skilled farm advisers and
demonstrators In every agricultural
county in the United States. is re
neWed In the reinlroduction AT the
opening day of the extraordinary scs-
sion of congress Of the so-called Lever
agricultural extension bill This
measure endorsed by agricultural
colleges and organizations, Industrial
and commercial bodies and institu-
luns, educationalisls. economists and
high authorities failed of adoption
10y one vote IN the senate. after pass
ing the mouse by unanimous vote At
the last session This action Is not
regarded AZ u reflection ON the popu-
larity or acccpubility of the plan
itself. as the senate vote was on
question of substituting another
measure, the Page vocational educa-
tion bin, which contained the main
features Of the Lever bill. in addition
to several radical Innovations, that
were not acceptable to the house in
The form presented
Senator llokc Smith. Of Georgia,
ana Congressman A. i. Lever, of
South Carolina, are sponsors of the
bill, continuing the work OF the origi-
nal campaign, and both Of these
strong leaders in their respective
branches of the national legislature
express confidence in the successful
Issue during the current session. The
Lever bill provides a federal appro-
] ppil 4, to-
years, until n maximum is reached,
10 be matched by the states accepting
the proposition, to establish as rap
idly as practicable a skilled farm ad-
wiser In every agricultural county,
permanent public fixture for the aid
of the agriculturist ana the educator
Of his particular community The
appropriation is apportIoncd on the
basis of percentage of agricultural pop
ulation and the gradual Increase Of
interest I'M the work ana the adop-
ton of the plan. The scarcity of
competent advisers was another rca-
son for the gradual Increase Instead
Of attempting to establish the system
generally.
whatever he may be termed, Is re-
garded as the logical complement Of
the educational plan inaugurated by
the establishment of the department
Of agriculture, followed by the crca-
ton of the state agricultural colleges
fifty-One years ago, and the state eX.
pertinent stations a quarter of cen
tury later by this process the enor-
nous fund of valuable knowledge
gathered by the institutions is ex.
pected to be brought direct to the
farmer himself, and the operation Of
the Lever act Is not at variance with
any OF the work on similar lines now
though in course of general adoption
deing conducted in this country. al.
it will relieve individual bodies bodies
and communities of the burden OF
support and viii establish uniform
standard In this branch Of education
and evolution of natural develop
ment.
The demonstration work has met
with general approval and is regarded
as essential to the aid and guidance
OF the American farmer President
Wilson has expressed himself clearly
in that direction. During a recent
address to the New Jersey legislature
Mr., Wilson said:
"The farmer has not been served
as he might and should be. We have
set up and subsidized agricultural
schools horticultural schools, schools
of poultry raising and the rest and
| they have done excellent work. our
\ support Of them should be hearty and
generous. But more effective way
still has been found by which the
| farmer can be served. Lectures and
! schools and experimental farms at
] tached TO schools like laboratories are
excellent, but they do not and cam
not of themselves push their work
| home. Some states have gone much
beyond this and We should follow
them with zest
"The thing that tells is demonstra-
tion work. The knowledge Of the
schools should be carried out to the
| farms themselves. DR.. Seaman A.
Knapp found the way when he was
sent into the south to fight the boil
/
a good farmer here and there, he
showed the farmer how to cultivate
part Of a field, gave him simple fun
damental directions. brought him se-
| lected seed and made frequent visits
afterward to see that his directions
were carried out. OF course the
nelghbors promptly took notice, and
the next season did the same things.
with the same results-good crops,
earlier crops. crops that the weevil
was no match for.
"And fighting the weevll was only
an incident The work grew in
every direCtion-not work In the
schools. but work suggested and di-
rected By men sent out from the
schools to take science to the farm
until the agricultural department
could not supply the men called for
from every direction. The country
man began once more to come into
his own. When the farmer does fully
take science into partnership and be-
come his own master and fortune
builder, the day will be gone. once
for all. when the townsman can tax
him and ignore him and absorb unto
himself the powers Of government at
his pleasure.
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