Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1916-07-28

democracy Of our public schools. the
children soon take on the spirit OF
the new land. ! remember how par
ticular | was in this connection, to see
to 1t that my own children. both boys
and girls, attended the public schools,
advocating as l do, their influence for
democracy.
81 am a believer in the theory that
our population has been much
strengthened, both physically and
mentally, by the crossing OF the
strains and by the constant oncoming
of emigrants from the old world.
Favor the Average Man.
1--WE must, IL u greatness is to
continue and we are to keep In the
front rank of the nations of the earth,
turn our attention to the average
man, the unit of Americas greatness.
We must encourage the maintenance
Of the American home and the Amer1-
can Preside, and think and act in a
big way for the big crowds Of work
ers carrying on the industries that
must serve to multiply greatness
in the eyes OF all the rest of the world.
"And getting back to the question
of the drift of u national life and
the attention to the unit of our civil.
ization the individual head of a house
Agriculture the Basis.
History reveals that the great ma
tons of the past have all been estab-
lished upon the basis Of Agriculture.
The population at first consisted OF
strong, simpleliving, natureloying
people who titled the soil. AS their
numbers increased and they became
more affluent, the drift Of popula-
ton was to the towns and cities. Pro-
duction upon the farms decreased and
consumption in the cities increased,
while the cost of living mounted.
Wealth brought love Of ease and less
willingness to labor and toll, until
finally, with physical and moral flab-
biness, the population was weakened
and unable to resist the attacks Of
| younger nations on their borders who
we're not weakened by a life Of ease.
In time the cities were beleaguered
by the strong, hardy agricultural peo-
pies from without, resulting in the
fall of that nation. Some writer's and
thinkers claim to see in our national
life today the germs Of this disease.
I hope and pray not, but this is some
thing for you to think about.
1.-THE remedy consists of building
counter attractions in the life of the
country, and that rests with both
parents and children. We should plan
to encourage better living conditions
upon the farm. Among the means to
this end Of which l have already told
you in part is good roads and the
solution Of the problem Of quick, easy
transportation all over this broad land
of ours. Good roads are the key to
the whole back-to-the-farm move
ment. Other factors are the rural
telephone, rural electric plants for
both lighting and power and some
provision for an improvement OF the
sanitary conditions in the smaller
farm homes. What housewife would
not be encouraged and delighted to
have the conveniences Of artificial
light and hot water supply in the
home, all Of which can nowadays be
procured at astonishingly small costs.
The enlarged use Of school property
as a social center for the development
OF the social side Of the country life,
its use as ar auditorium for public
gatherings, debating and study clubs
and a thousand other things, whicl.
suggest themselves.
LAS soon as country life is made
attractive through these agencies and
as soon as the conveniences and ad
vantages compare favorably with
those to be obtained in the cities.
then and only then will this seemingl,
disastrous drift from country to city,
stop. Farm labors should be lightened
and profits increased through the use
of lavor-saving machinery. Particu
larry is this true Of the women's
work on the farm. The solution o,
this. problem would. give father an
mother more time for family life, a.
low some recreation in the way OF
visiting and travel, unity the home
life of the family and encourage a
greater solidarity Of family relations
I'VE should also take up with
greater vigor the questions Of i'm.
proved crop conditions, rotation, pro
d%uction, fertilization and the increase
of farm earnings by these methods.
Give the children something Of inter.
est to do, stimulate and encourage am.
bition and a desire for better condi,
tons. Let them earn something for
themselves. l would consider 1t a
national asset If we could devise ways
and means to give to the young pee.
pie. both boys and girls upon the
farm, the things they crave and must
have in the very exhuberance of their
youth.
Il am indebted to my friend. ex.
Governor Shaw, of Iowa. and former.