The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-28
RURAL FORCES
WORKING TOGETHER
COUNTRY IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE
BIGGEST MOVEMENT OF AGRI-
CULTURAL WORLD.
PROVE TO BE SUCCESS
TOWN AND COUNTY ARE BROUGHT
TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL AD-
vASCEMENT OF SER
VICE TO ALL.
PROVE TO BE SUCCESS

The county improvement league Ia
the biggest movement now going on
In the agricultural world. It is not
only doing more TO improve farm
methods than anything else hereto
fore, but 1t is bringing together the
men in country and town. the women
in town and country. the young peo-
pie on the farm and In the village.
| The county improvement league
consists of men. women and young
folks from each township. represent
ing each of its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
educational etc The league takes
different forms In different counties
but the grand purpose IN view is to
associate all interests and all organ
nations into one concerted effort for
greater efficiency in all that pertains
to the upbuilding OF the community.
The community council in each town
ship, as described in previous articles
applies the same idea to each town
ship.
| How Supported.
| The county league may be support
ed by voluntary contributions from
| farmers and business men. Some
States have amended their constitu-
ton TO permit OF a special tax for this
purpose, or aid may be obtained from
the county or State treasury. or from
state and federal agriculture depart
ments, or from the State agricultural
college The league may employ one
or more advisers or experts I'm better
methods of farming, household eco
| nosnics or civic affairs.
| But the vital characteristic OF this
new development Of the forward
movement, SAYS Southern Farming OF
Atlanta, is that II comes up from
the farmers themselves, instead Of
being carried down to them. 1t Is
not scheme OF the United States de-
partment OF agriculture to dominate
and control, nor of the State univer-
aty nor agricultural college to assert
to itself too much power. 1t IN not
! patronizine effort Of bankers to
show farmers how 70 farm II. but II Is
purely cooperative coming together
OF each and every interest In behalf
OF the common god. Such associa-
ton springs from the people them
selves. through basis OF represe nta-
ton that is entirely fair to one and all.
and free from anything that smacks
Of politics. privileges, sectarfanism
or partisanship.
More Important Than the Farm.
The County Improvement league
and the community council are just In
their infancy. Experience Is showing
how to make each effort OF this kind
etili more efficient 1t is revealing the
fact that each community. indeed
every school district contains people
whose powers Of leadership only need
to be developed through some such
effort, to inspire all the people to
make better use OF their time ana
talents, their means and homeA
This movement is opening up an
entirely new world to the young peo-
pie, and their work I'm the home. on
the farm at school Is taking new
lines and producing results which al
ready are nothing less than mar
Vicious.
The absence of farmers unions.
oranges clubs or OF any kind OF local
organization among farmers Ia one
thing that delays forming an improve
1
ment league In every county
It Is easy for the farmers In any
school district or locality to start a
club of their own, as the necessary
outfit viii be furnished by the paper
quoted on receipt of stamp for return
postage. Any club. grange. farmers
union or similar organization may well
take the initiative in starting couus-
ty Improvement league. The latter
should be organized in a businesslike
way. A serni-annual meeting at the
county seat OF all members OF the I'M
provement league. with their women
and Young people, should be followed
by social gathering and banquet.
This coming together OF all sorts OF
people throughout the country In In
itself splendid thing.
should Have once.
Tho county league should have an
ONCE or headquarters where all Its
members may feel at home and where
they can go, telephone. or write for
Information. But the adviser and
other experts employed by the league
will do their best work the more thor
oughly they get out among the farm
ers, and by practically working with
tho farmers demonstrate to him how
he can solve his own problems and
how, by working with his neighbors.
he may successfully cooperate to do
together those things which can be
done better through associated EFFORT
than by working separately.
The county agents employed by the
federal department OF agriculture are
already available AZ advisers In almost
every county in the South. Another
can be employed ~ means permit.
Much service will be gladly volun-
teered by enthusiastic and public-spir-
tied people, young and old In town
and country. The league can help
wonderfully In such matters as stamp
ing out cattle tick. Tuberculosis in
animals and man. pellagrh, hookworm
disease, an well ~ in other things
that will help to make rural life more
worth the living ana Agriculture more
profitable.