Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-02-20
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union.

AA4ii'iN NUN
A broad campaign OF publicit,
on the subject OF rural life i,
needed i'll this state today tc
bring the problems OF the farm.
erS to the forefront. The CITY
problems are blazOned upon the
front pages of the METROPOLITAN
dal.les and echoed in the country
press, but the troubles of the
farmers are seldom told, except
by those who seek to profit by
the story, and the glitter OF the
package Ofttimcs obscures the
substance. a searching investi-
cation into the needs of the farm
ers will reveal many inherent de-
1ects III our economic system that
can be easily remedied when
properly understood and illumi-
mated by the power of the press.
Ihe rural press, the pulpit and
the school are a trinity OF pow
erful influences that the farmer
must utilize to their fullest ca
pacity before he can OCCUPY a
commanding position in public
affairs. These gigantic agencies
are organized in every rural COM
munity and only await the pat
rona&e and cooperation of the
farmers to fully develop their
energy and usefulness. They are
local forces working for the best
interests OF their 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 we'll as farm periodicals
and such other publications as
he may find profitable, but he
should by all means subscribe
tor ms local paper, and no home
should be without it. The local
paper is part OF the community
lite and the editor understands
the farmers problems.
A Noble Task. i
In too many instances the {
country papers mimic the CITY ,
press by giving prominence TO .
scandals, accidents and political
agitation. The new rural civil
has placed upon the rural /
press renewed responsibilities, e
and enlarged possibilities for use r
lulness. 1t cannot perform its ;,
mission to agriculture by record +
ng the frailties, the nlishaps and .
nordinate ambitions of human a
ty, or by filling its columns with t,
he echoes of the struggles of p
busy streets, or by enchanting +.
stories OF city life which lure our :.
children from the farm. ''
1t has higher and nobler 81
ask. The rural press is the gov q
rnlng power OF public sentiment t,
nd must hold steadfast to prin- &"
.ple and keep the ship of state g.
n the roadstead OF progress. The !,
ural press can best serve the pI
interests of the farmers by ap- b
lying its energies to the solution ii
4 problems affecting the local &C
1t must stem the
nightly life current that is NOV
lg from the farm to the cities &C
weeping before it a thousand ps
oys and girls per day. 1t has pc
deal with the fundamental tn
roblems OF civilization at their 10
head. Its mission is
direct growth, teach efficiency n
nd mold the intellectual life Of re
he country, placing before the is
ublic the daily problems of the pa
!rmers and giving first attention in
the Legislative, cooperative D,
EDUCATIONAL and social needs ~ D'
lie agricultural classes within its err
'spective community. of
The Power of Advertising. as
The influence of advertisino : wi
early visible in the homes and nh
lbits OF the farmers, and the - -
lvertising columns of the press "a
e making their imprint upon Ge
e lives of our people. it
The farmer is entitled to all me
e advantages and deserves all an
e luxuries of life. We need -,
ore art, science and useful =, wa
litles on the farms, and the adj wo
rtiser can render a service bv qu
aching the advantages of mod. the