Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-03-26
RURAL ADVANCE
and AWAKENING
Visions Of a ReViWfied Com
munity Life
THE FUNDAMENTAL TASK.

importance OF Local Rural Buiidino
and the Erection of Strong Units.
How This Fundamental Task Can
Best Be Forwarded.
The new rural awakening is upon
us, New plans are developing. There
are new visions of Il revivified COM
munity life in our rural neighbor-
hoods. There is Il keen eagerness in
all rural welfare work. The forces OF
the countryside ara gathering for Il
great forward looking movement, SAYS
kenyon l.. Buttertield in the Survey.
What shall the new year bring us in
our country life campaign? What
shall be the chief notes of our rural
campaign slogan for 1914?
1T is to be remembered that the fun
damental task of the rural advance is
local rural community building-the
gradual erection of stronger commit
nifty units. founded on better farm
practice, securing a fair profit through
better farm business and growing
nightly ambitious for a better farm
hfe, How can this fundamental rural
task best be forwarded in 1914?
First.-Organize local community
campaigns i'll as many ~neighborhoods
as possible. Seek the formation of a
community council or federation made
up or representatives Of all the organi-
cations in the neighborhood that have
amy interest in the common good
,fnllrch pr1nsrn X.nr,nptc. I1,I f,,-.
ers' club. civic improvement society.
etc.
Second.-Seek to develop the collec-
tive or cooperative method of doing
the business of the farm. Farmers
can save money by cooperative buy
ing OF supplies needed on the farm.
1T IS possible that they can mike =
larger profit by selling their products
Ill the same cooperative manner. The
cooperative plan is spreading. 1t
should not be entered upon hastily,
but 1t promises to render more help TO
the farmer than does perhaps any
other one thing.
Ihlrd.-Push the idea OF an a"ricul-
tui"l illSh school or Oh an agricultural
department in the public high school.
Farming demands educated men and
women. The agricultural colleges.
neither In the classroom nor in their
extension service. can meet the fill
heed. Every boy or girl desiring the
OF Il good high school edu-
i'll and for agriculture should
nave the opportunity of acquiring that
training.
Fourth.-Join in the demand for The
passage by congress of the Lever bill
approprlatlng federal money to he
several agricultural colleges for ex-
tension work in agriculture and home
This means the democra-
'lzlnS OF agricultural education the ma
tlon over. 1t means that the best
knowledge gained in agricultural 70
will be placed at the DISPOSAL of
the humblest farmer; that Il great edu-
catlonil campaign for better farming
III AZ It's aspects will be carried into
farming community.
InlS Oil. if enacted into law. prom
lses NOT only Il distinct advance in the
agricultural educational tield. but in
Iced a national intellectual unfit of
great proportions and significance.
f~Itth.-Strive for at least preli1ni-
nary steps to bring together on Il ma
Llohal basis the various agencies that
ire seeking rural welfare. This is.
merely the Matchmaking of the plan
LOT local rural community building.
me many activities and institutions
Ahsaged in promoting agriculture
'Hould be correlated. The country life
should be integrated. We.
mould look upon the rural problem as
UNITY. We should try to solve it on
arge INES and with solidifed en-
leavor.
niAth.-Ahove'a perhaps, try to stir
'elglous forces to new effort in the
'ural field. The country church focas
| Crisis. Rural advance is leaving the
snurcl oehlnd. But the rural move
llelt must not become materialistic.
II can easily be spiritualized. 1t needs
ne leadership of that institution that
'tahds supremely for the great ideals.
ioVe ana brotherhood and service.
ne furai Sunday school. the rural Y.
Z. A. and Y. w. C. A. shonld ha.
hcouraSeu and strengthened every
"here. We need their point of view.
'ho ABOVE all we need their ideals Of
.hafacter building and of
building.
~ lha' the new year set a new
in all rural life endeayor.
A RA.