The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-11
THE RURAL PRESS
The Local Paper a Most Useful
Agency on the Farm-Ihe
Press, Pulpit and School a
Trinity of Influence That
Must Be Utilized in
Building Agri-
culture.
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union.

Lecturer National Farmers Union
A broad campaign of publicity
on the subject of rural life is
needed in this state today to
bring the problems Of the farm
ers to the forefront. The city
problems are blazoned upon the
front pages of the metropolitan
dailies 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 ofttimes obscures the
substance. A searching investi-
cation into the needs of the farm
ers will reveal many inherent de-
fects in our economic system that
can be easily remedied when
properly understood and illumi-
mated by the power of the press,
! The 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
ronage 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
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 problems.
A Noble Task.
In too many instances the
country papers mimic the city
press by giving prominence tt
scandals, accidents and politica
agitation. The new rural civil
zation has placed upon the rura
press renewed responsibilities
and enlarged possibilities for use
fulness. 1t cannot perform it,
mission to agriculture by record
ing the frailties, the mishaps anc
inordinate ambitions of human
ity, or by filling its columns with
the echoes of the struggles O
busy streets, or by enchanting
stories of city life which lure oul
| children from the farm.
r II has a higher and noblel
task. The rural press is the gov,
: erning power of public sentiment
i; and must hold steadfast to prin
| ciple and keep the ship of stat,
- in the roadstead of progress. Thu
rural press can best serve tn,
interests of the farmers by ap
plying its energies to the solution
, of problems affecting the loca
community. 1t must stem tn,
mighty life current that is NOV
ing from the farm to the cities
sweeping before it a thousant
boys and girls per day. 1t ha
, to deal with the fundamental
problems of civilization a. thei
| fountain head. Its mission i
, to direct growth, teach efficienc,
, and mold the intellectual life O
the country, placing before tn
public the daily problems of tn
, farmers and giving first attention
8 to the legislative, cooperative
, educational and social needs o
I the agricultural classes within it
respective community.
| The Power of Advertising.
y The influence of advertising i
clearly visible in the homes an,
!. habits of the farmers, and tn
advertising columns of the pres
a are making their imprint upo,
o the lives of our people.
The farmer is entitled to a
o the advantages and deserves a,
p the luxuries of life. We nee
: more art, science and useful ia
cilities on the farms, and the ad
= vertiser can render a service b
teaching the advantages of mod
. ern equipment throughout tn
columns of the rural press.