The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-02

contracts, has adopted cost with ten
per cent profit as a basis Of compen-
sation, which has established an enor-
nous scale of wages; the departments
OF federal military service have Gov
cred public places, with high bids FOR
labor; munition factories, pressed for
early deliveries, have been equally
prodigal with pay, and the draft
boards have drawn heavily upon Gre
alive labor; the farmers especially have
felt heavily these conditions, yet they
must win the war. 1t is from their
production that food must come to
staYa off starvation; plumbers made at
planting time may not be reinedied
Mt harvest Industries may be shut
down to await the della Sed distribu
ton of coal, transportation companies
may be regulated in their operations
, from chaos into order, bu. for starV-
ing people there is but one remedy
food--which no distributor In general
can produce out OF season within that
time which nature requires from ger
mination to harvest. What the farm
ers need is credit and labor. Money
Tor long terms at low rates OF inter
est, which can be secured only through
the guarantee OF farm loan bonds BY
the federal government, must be
theirs; labor, which must be provided
at the opportune time. Failure 10 Sc
cure labor sufficient to their agricul-
tural needs will be a source of de-
structiye disaster for our people and
for our men and our allies abroad.
Labor for the farmers, unless i'm
ported, must volunteer or be drafted.
In Canada both men and women vol
unteer. and IT may be that those In
our cities who have spent their earlier
lives on the farm may, In a spirit of
patriotism, give aid. State and fed
eral government must cooperate in
the solution Of this serious problem,
and l suggest that a joint legislative
committee be appointed to investigate
farm conditions in this state in con-
nection with the federal government
with view OF obtaining labor for
our farmers next summer.
Education.
The chief business Of democracy IS
education education means opportu-
nifty, and a democracy that fails OF
opportunity is a sham. My travels
throughout the state have convinced
me that our future is 10 be moulded
in our primary schools: small pro-
portion OF the children. who as men
and women Will direct the destiny OF
the state. ever enjoy higher educa-
ton. and shall not rest content until
a full term Ia secured for all the prt-
mary schools and competent. ade-
quately paid teachers lead the chill
dren in their early years TO that first
knowledge that is the CHIEF boon ana
ssfeguard Of democracy. The high
schools should not flourish at the ex-
pense Of the primary schools II we
would. buid surely we must build
from the bottom up l believe in
higher education. OF which. I'm meas
ure. l have been the beneficiary, but
! am persuaded that II we would build
Virginia we must be keenly alive TO
the needs Of tho half million OF chill
dren who. because OF the extgencies
OF life limit their education to that
which is TO be had in this elementary
schools
arm IN sympathy with our great
institutions OF learning they are the
opportunity of our youth: they should
be the great reservoirs o. knowledge
for the benefit OF the state as we'll
as gymrasiums for higher mental
training; the great attachments OF
their professors should prove valuable
in conference, where technical knowl-
edge or profound learning Is desired,
In the interest OF the state: they
should bring TO bear upon the prac-
teal problems OF our people their
highest scientific knowledge and ef
fort
am especially interested In what
in known as extension work along
educational lines. whether II he for
the student at home. In the city, or
as demonstration work for the farmer
on his farm Many, because of the
trials OF life and the burden OF caring
for others. are unable TO attend our
colleges. education should not be de-
MED them, The magnificent example
" hich is offered in other states by
the holding OF classes IN cities under
the supervision OF universities, where
men are offered opportunity for adj
vaneement In life that otherwise would
be denied them. should be emulated
by us: the splendid demonstration
work which is being conducted In our
own state in correction with the ex-
pertinent station at Blackshurg.
which many county agents
are taking to our farmers and our
dalrymen better and more scientific
methods, whereby with less labor and
smaller investment they secure great
err returns for their labor. should have
our unqualified support, l have
pledged myself to aid these primary
schools and the teachers In their
great work. I am deeply impressed
with tEe importance OF 1STiCGlkuI al
extension endeavor. and I commend
to your legislative generosity these
activities.
State Highways.
The development, of the automobile
will revolutionize transportation. and !
what great canal and highway sys
TENS in continental Europe are "a
natural regulators Of railway freight !
rates well-developed highway systems
Will prove in this country These |
highways will not only regulate traffic I
rate. but will feed common carriers 10 /
their profit. II III needless to discuss I
further the benefits to oe derived /
from better highways: everybody 1
wants then--the problem IL how best /
hey can be secured, :
In my opinion the state should !
establish and develop System OF state /
'oads; appropriations should be made /
20 render available corresponding APP !
by the federal govern
nent: the question should be submit
led to the people whether they will I
amend the constitution so that an nde- /
Iuats fund may he derived from the /
sale OF state bonds for the construc- !
Ion of IA comprehensive highway sys-
.em. The discussion Of road build /
ng at two sessions OF the general as
H.i +. Ill. f..snT "A