The Republican journal., 1914-11-05
Maine Community Efficiency
Conference.

strong pull and pull all together for the bet
terment of the whole State of Maine is the
great underlying purpose Of the StateCommun-
| ity Efficiency Conference to be held in Angus :
| ia. November 49, IA and Is.
Christian Unity Rural Life, Relief and Well
fare Work and Civic Righteousness are the
four chief topics which will be discussed, and
upon which four commissions will present
tn ir findings.
The Commission on Rural Life is headed by
Hon. C. S. Stetson of Greene, Master of the
State Grange and numbers as its members Prof.
Raymond Pearl Of Orono, biologist Of the
Maine Experiment Station; Francis L. Little
field. newspaper man of Portland; DR.. Arthur
J. Jones of Orono, professor of education OF
the University Of Maine; DR.. George T.
Files. professor of Germapic languages of
of the State Board Of Health.
This commission has been at work on the
rural life problem. with its special difficulties
as encountered in the Pine Tree State, and
the members of the Commission will be pre-
pared to give to the Conference their best
thought when their opportunity comes on the
program of the great session in Augusta. The
work of this Commission is but part of the
Rural Life Section of the Conference. which
will be presided over by Mr.. Silas Adams Of
Portland.
To give direction to plans and at the same
time bring to the conference the ripest and
newest experience elsewhere, three leaders in
IT, rlr havvo hnn
are Edward T. Devine, Warren H. Wilson and
Albert E. Roberts. all of New YORK. who have
come into close association with the rural life
problems of Maryland, Tennessee, Indiana.
Missouri, Arkansas, Minnesota, various Sec
tions of Ohio and many other States through
out the country and will now give to Maine
the benefit of their wide experience in making
the home town more homelike and better
place in which to live.
Edwin T. Devine is well known as Americas
greatest authority on all problems relating to
social we'll being. He is the director OF the
New York School of Philanthrophy, editor of
the Survey Magazine and head of the United
Charities of New York City. He is also the
man who was chosen by the Red Cross au-
thorities to superntend the rehabilitation OF
San Francisco after the earthquake. His task
at the Augusta conference will be to discuss
the special State of Maine problems as pre-
scented by the commission in the light of gen.
eral and we'll accepted principles of welfare
work.
Warren H. Wilson will consider these prob
lens from the standpoint of the trained spec
ialist. The Conference is not to be a one
sided affair, as it recognizes that the needs of
the State are manifold. 1t realizes that Maine
is essentially a rural State. While provision
has been made for the business man and manu-
facturer, equal attention has been paid to the
problems confronting the country school
teacher, the country doctor and the pastor of
the rural church. Although DR.. Wilson is one
of the leading students of rural problems in
the United States he is not theorist. but
rather a man who has gone out and actually
remade many rural communities. His survey
and reports are recognized authorities on Com
munity Work.
This conference will give an opportunity OF
hearing Albert E. Roberts of New York in his
own special department as a rural life expert.
Hitherto Mr.. Roberts has been known to Maine
as one of the speakers at the State Boys Con-
ference. but his training and natural aptitude
are in the direction of community betterment.
and it was for this reason that he was chosen
by Pres. Wilson as a member of the American
Commission to go abroad for the purpose OF
studying rural conditions in Europe. He will
n~;, ;sC poto lu h.
servations, but also the diversified opinion of
his colleagues on that brilliant commission of
representative public men.
The significance of the coming conference
would be great even if this subject alone were
to be discussed In recent years the country
problem has been claiming its share of atten
ton until it has grown to the dignity of a
national issue. The great rural life movement
starting from the agricultural colleges, has
enlisted the intelligent cooperation of far
visoned men in many professions. 1t is now
realized by all thinking people that in spite OF
the growth of the cities the nation is still
rural Agriculture is still the main business of
our peoplet, and in this respect the experience
If Maine is the experience everywhere. The
nations prosperity still depends upon bumper
crops and the prosperity of the State of Maine
depends upon "Spuds' market gardening and
dairying.
The coming conference. meeting the rural
problem full in the face. having for its consid-
Grafton the previously prepared recommends
ton of State of Maine men who are experts
in their own line, is believed by those who are
backing the great enterprise to be coming
factor in Statewide betterment.
Children Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
CA STo Ria