The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-16
AIDING AGRICULTURE

lection and dissemination OF dgT1culluIdl iH1oi-
mation, the departmental agriculture at WASH
ington has developed into a mighty gamza
ition for the promotion of better farming, larger
food production and more satisfactory living
conditions on the farms. Whatever criticism
other departments of the public service may
have merited during the period of the great
war, the department of agriculture deserves
much credit for the large part it has taken IN
aid of the farming interests.
The federal department of agriculture is not
only using its vast resources to promote larger
production, but has developed IAN efficient
marketing agency for the better disposal OF
farm products and for more substantial returns
to producers.
Not the least of the departments activities
lis the cooperative extension service which has
developed largely as a war time measure, and
to which is due in considerable degree the ef-
Ifctive aid which farmers received from the de-
partment in increasing crop production during
the years 1917 and 1918.
The extension service was made a permanent
and nationwide system. 1t has expanded dur
ling the past four years until on July one, 1918,
the extension workers numbered more than SIX
Thousand, including three thousand county
| agents., two thousand home demonstration
agents and nearly twelve hundred boys and
girls club workers.
The county agent as the active head of the
farm bureau, is the connecting link between the
farmer and the department, a form of practical
cooperation which is appreciated by farmers,
and is demonstrating its usefulness IN aiding
producers. There are now more than one mil
lion farmers cooperating with the county
agents throughout the nation.
The home demonstration work is for the bet
terment of the country home and social uplltt
of the rural community. The boys and girls
club organizers are developing in the lives OF
the boys and girls on the farms a greater inter
est in farming and training them IN better
methods of agriculture and home making.
More than two million boys and girls are now
enlisted in club work.
The extension work will continue to grow I'M
It'll every community and farm will sbe brought
within its sphere of Influence.
Most of our early presidents served the ma,
ton in important diplomatic posts before they
came to the executive Office. Jefferson, Madi-
son, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Vanbufen
and Buchanan had not only held foreign mis-
sions but had served as secretaries OF state.
Only a few of our presidents had lacked all
p~revious training in national affairs, this mum.
Der including our soldier presidents, Jackson,
Taylor, Grant and Roosevelt. Lincoln had
been congressman and on questions of national
policy was one of the most prominent and pow
erful debaters in the land. Our two conspicu-
our chief executives who had no prior expert
1ence in national affairs at home or abroad are
Cleveland and Wilson. Grant and Roosevelt
went abroad as ex-presidents and were every
where honored, but no othr presidents crossed
the ocean during or after their official terms.
The fact. that Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo has acquired by rental for a long term
one of the most magnificent homes in Los
Angeles does not run along parallel lines with
his. statement that he is too poor to retain his
cabinet position at the wage the government
pays. However, in the view of some persons
poverty is comparative, not actual.
Germany must be rebuked for her acts of
terror and spoilation, said President Wilson in
the first address ever made by an American
president on foreign soil. Looks like Mr.. VIII
son was preparing to roll up his sleeves, as
sumo a fierce expression and then-slap Ger
many on the wrist.
1t is reported that the former German emper-
or is greatly depressed and that he is writing
an autobiography. This would seem to UNI
Ipreipdiced people a most depressing occupation
for him tofollow.