The Ordway new era., 1914-09-11
THE RURAL PRESS
The Local Paper q Most Useful
Agency on the Farm-Ths Prssss
Pulpit and School . Trinity Of
Influence That Must %
UtIllxed In Building
Agriculture.
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union


the subject of rural life is needed In
this state today to bring the problems
of the farmers to the forefront. Tne
city problems are blazoned upon the
front pages Of the metropolitan dali
les and echoed In the country press,
but the troubles of the farmers are
seldom told. except by those VINO
seek to profit by the story. and the
glitter of the package ofttimes oo'
scures the substance. A searching In
vestigation into the needs OF the
farmers will reveal many inherent de-
fects In our economic system that can
be easily remedied when properly un'
derstood and illuminated by the pow.
er of the press.
The rural press. the pulpit and the
school are trinity OF powerful In
nuences that the farmer must utilize
to their fullest capacity before he can
occupy a commanding position in public
affairs. These gigantic agencies are
organized in every rural community
and only await the patronage and CO.
operation of the farmers to fully de-
velop their energy and usefulness
They are local forces working Tor
the best interests OF their respective
communities. Their work Is to build
and their object is to serve. They
prosper only through the development
and prosperity of the community.
Every farmer In this state should
subscribe for the local paper. as well
as farm periodicals and such other
publications as he may find profitable,
but he should, by all means, subscribe
for his local. paper and no home
should be without it. The local paper
is part of the community life and the
editor understands the farmers prob
lens. 1t is the local press that will
study the local problems and through
its columns deal with subjects OF most
vital Importance to local life OF the
community.
A Noble Task.
In too many instances the country
papers mimic the city press by CIV
ing prominence to scandals. accidents
and political agitation. The new ru-
raj civilization has placed upon the
pIeSb iSopehefesAAsASsb
and enlarged possibilities for useful
ness. 1t cannot perform its mission
to agriculture by recording the frail-
ties, the mishaps and inordinate am
bitions OF humanity, or by filling its
columns with the echoes Of the strug.
giles of busy streets, or by enchanting
stories of city life which lure our
children from the farm.
1t has higher and nobler task.
Too often tho pages of the city dGilies
bristle with the struggle of ambitious
men in their wild lust for power, and
many times the flames of personal
conflict scar the tender buds .of new
civilization and illuminate the path.
way to destruction. The rural press
$ the governing power of public senti
pacnt and must hold steaifast to
principle and keep the ship of state
in the roadstead of progress. The
rural press can best serve the inter-
ests OF the farmers by applying its
suersies to the solution of problems
affecting the local community. 1t
must stem the mighty life current
that is moving from the farm to the
cities, sweeping before 1t thousand
boys and girls per day. 1t has to deal
with the fundamental problems of
civilization at their fountain head. Its
mission is to direct growth, teach ef-
..ciency and mold the Intellectual life
Of the country, placing before the pub
lie the daily problems OF the farmers
and giving first attention to the leg
islatiye, cooperative, educational and
social needs of the agricultural class.
as within it's respective community.
The Power of Advertising.
The influence of advertising is clear
" visible in the homes and habits OF
The farmers. and the advertising col.
Imns of the press are making their
imprint upon the lives of our people.
The farmer possesses the things that
are best advertised.
The farmer is entitled to all the
advantages and deserves all the lux
uries of life. We need more art, sci
ence and useful facilities on the
farms, and many homes and farms
are well balanced in this respect, but
the advertiser can render a service
by teaching the advantages of modern
equipment throughout the columns OF