The Natchitoches enterprise., 1915-04-01
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union.

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A broad campaign of publicity
on the subject of rural life is
/ needed in 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
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 to
scandals. accidents and political
agitation. The new rural civil
cation has placed upon the rural
press renewed responsibilities,
and enlarged possibilities for use
fulness. It cannot perform its
mission TO agriculture by record
/ ing the fFailtiesy -saaishaps and
inordinate ambitions of human
ity, or by filling its columns with
the echoes of the struggles of
busy streets, or by enchanting
stories of city life which lure our
children from the farm.
1t has a higher and nobler
task. The rural press is the gov
erning power of public sentiment
and must hold steadfast to prin-
ciple and keep the ship of state
in the roadstead Of progress. The
rural press can best serve the
interests of the farmers by ap-
plying its energies to the solution
of problems affecting the local
community. It must stem the
mighty life current that is NOV
ing from the farm TO the cities,
sweeping before it a thousand
boys and girls per day. 1t has
to deal with the fundamental
problems of civilization at their
fountain head. It's mission is
to direct growth, teach efficiency
and mold the intellectual life of
the country, placing before the
public the daily problems of the
farmers and giving first attention
to the legislative, cooperative.
educational and social needs OF
the agricultural classes within its
respective community.
The Power of Advertising.
The influence OF advertising is
clearly visible in the homes and
habits of the farmers, and the
advertising columns of the press
are making their imprint upon
the lives of our people.
The farmer is entitled to all
the advantages and deserves all
the luxuries of life. We need
more art, science and useful ia
cilities on the farms, and the al
vertiser can render a service by
teaching the advantages of mod
crn equipment throughout the
columns of the rural press.