Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-01-08
Bv GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington. of the farmers
of the land to the number of $4,000
have responded by letter to the re-
quest of the agricultural department
that they tell of home life in the coun-
try and make suggestions as to what
the department can do to improve
conditions, and to make the rural life
more attractive for all the members
of the household. Secretary Houston
is taking deep interest In the an
syers which have come to the de
partment's query and he has read
scores of them personally, while the
others have been read for study puT-
poses by officials high in the depart.
ment.
Recently the secretary of agricul-
ture let It be known through the pub
Iicity bureau that he wished to make
his department useful, not only to the
farmer, but to the others of the house
hold. The women were asked to
write and they responded quickly and
readily and in nearly every case, in
diligently. 1t is the intention of the
governments agricultural officials to
prepare htHu Oul Dulltllln Vi III
struction and information to the ru-
raj housewives of the country telling
them how they can tighten their la
bors, shorten their hours of work,
make their homes attractive, save
money and make money and after
doing il all find that they have left
time for rest, reading and bodily
recreation.
1t is probable that in the future
when proof is forthcoming that the
women of the country districts have
profited by the printed advice and in
struction of Mr.. Houston and his fell
low officials. credit generally will be
given to the department of agricul-
ture for its progressive endeavor.
Part Of the credit will belong there,
but the greater part of 1t will belong
to the army of American women who,
acting as individuals, have sent to the
government helpful suggestions. coun-
gel and advice based in large part on
their own experience and on their de-
sire to make that experience of serv-
ice to other women who may not
have had 1t.
Exchange of Advice.
Already the farmers wives of the
country have received from the gov
ernment's advisory bureau housekeep-
ing. food.preparing, fruit-preserving
and other instructions which on the
face of things seems to mark Secre-
tary Houston as a teacher of high
standing in the domestic arts 1t is
probable that the secretary of agricul-
ture will be the first, one to put the
credit where 1t belongs. The women
have done II. Advice from Alabama
qtoday is being applied to California
and advice from California is being
applied In Alabama. and put any other
two states in the places OF those
named and the same thing holds true.
Before long 1t is the intention of
the department to prepare plans for
the construction and proper arrange
ment of farm houses. They will vary
In detail geographically" The same
plans will not serve for a Florida
farmhouse that will serve for one in
Oregon. Convenience and comfort
Will be consulted with a view to the
adaptation of the house to the special
needs OF the family of farmer.
is Currency Law Prize or BIank7
Now that the currency bill has
become law, the natural and
perhaps apsrehensiye question be-
comes, is 1t to work good or i'll to
the banking and the general Bust
ness interests OF the country? Does
one tn hn rN1o nf intp1lf-
gence low when he says that, with
the exception of half dozen senators
and representatives who have spoken
directly to the point, no one can be
found in the capital city, outside of
those who speak enthusiastically sim
ply because they are partisans. will
ing to give a specific answer to the
question concerning the business re-
SUITS OF the new currency law?
The solemn truth is that apparently
no man understands currency to it's
roots. Finance is a question which
mas been the subject of controversy
Tor hundreds, yes, even thousands of
years. There are as many views on
Ihe proper way to make a sound cur
@ehcy as there are men able to express
any view at all, OF the witnesses who
appeared before the committees sit
uhg In consideration OF the currency
measure, oEsy one or two were willing
10 prophesy actual disaster as the re-
SUIT OF the passage of the bill and only
ieW are willing to declare as a GER
.alhty that specific benefit would come
from Its enactment. During the debate
on Inc tariff bill which is now the law
tnere were plenty of Republicans in
Ooth houses willing to prophesy dis
aSter to the business interests of the
country because of the cut in customs
Inc tariff was a familiar subject.
Few Even Pretend to Know.
During the debates on the currency
O'll' many of the Republicans "sa;
speechless." Others. drawer, spoke
tneh minds, but those who thus spoke