The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-07-24
Gov. HODGES TO
AID OF FARMER
Kansas Executive FaV0rS the
Community Center.
ADVICE TO MERCHANTS.

Coed Roads and Graded Schools and
an Awakening Of the Small Town
Merchant to His Neglected Oppor-
tunities the Governors Program-"Get
Together" His Motto.
Governor Hodges of Kansas is going
to devote a good deal of his time in the
remainder of his administration to
work out plans whereby the life of the
farmer may be made so attractive that
there will be no need for a ''back to
the farms" movement in Kansas at
least. The first step in this plan is the
organization of community centers, the
next is good roads, the next is graded
schools in the country districts, and
then he would have the country mer-
chants advertise that every interest in
the community may be built up.
"This administra ton is using it's best
endeavOrs to build up community cen
ters, better rural schools and local mar
kets for the products of Kansas" the
governor said in a recent interview.
'The back to the farm movement is
the wrong end to begin work on. Ev-
cry state should have system Of good
roads, with big township schools that
teach domestic science, agriculture and
fit students for normal training work.
The school should be made so attrac-
tive and so good that it would not be
necessary for the agriculturist to go to
town with his family to procure an
education for them.
Brains Needed For Success.
"The freest, the truest and the best
life is the agriculturist's life. It takes
the same brain, however, to be a sue
cessful farmer that it does to be a sue
cessful banker or professional man,
and our farmers are now awakening
to the fact that good roads, communi-
ty interest centers and graded country
schools are solving the problem, and
when we have community centers,
good roads and country schools in a
high degree of efficiency there will be
no back to the farm movement, for
there will then be no incentive or de-
sire to leave the farm.
II believe it is of vital interest to the
agriculturist to keep the small towns
in prosperous condition, but the rea-
son for the decline of the small town
is from the fact that the merchants do
not advertise their wares, together
with the prices, as we'll as an accurate
description of the stock that they han
die, while, on the other hand, the
mail order houses have a big, high
priced catalogue in the hands of ev-
cry man throughout the country. This
Is constant advertisement of their
wares. the description and prices are
then known. and a family that wishes
to buy some article looks at the cata-
logue and at once takes it up with the
mail order house.
"a mail order house, with it's expen-
5ive buildings, high priced ground,
enormous rent, high priced officers, in
terest and a score Of other necessary
expenses, makes his overhead expense
enormous, while, to the exact contrary,
nor expense account, can be strong
competitor Of the mail order house if
he will only set himself to the task of
presenting his stock for the considera-
ton Of the customers by strong, clear,
lucid, honest advertisement.
Merchants the Educators.
The newspaper is by far the best
medium, but if that is not accessible
then circular letter should be used.
The farmer would much rather deal
with his home merchant if he knows
that he can get the same goods for the
same price. but the solution of the
problem rests with the country mec-
chant, and it behooves him to get in
touch with the farmers. Take them
into your confidence, talk to them and
point out to them certain added speci-
fications that the list price man over
looks.
'"Ihis campaign Of honest education
should be made, and it must be made,
by the man who is vitality interested
the merchant. The agriculturists real
ize that by the blotting out of the
cities, they, the farmers, would be
compelled to pay increased taxes, mer~
chants and their employees must be-
come stock raisers or agriculturists.
and thus become competitors of the
farmers.
''The community center means mu-
tual interest-the stock raisers, the
farmers, the merchants and men who
have the general welfare of the public
at heart. There should be get to.
gether' movement everywhere for the
common good of mankind.''
Advertising With Flowers.