Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-08-15

4, VI uuI population
'"es represent, and what they are
thinking about day by day and year
" year as the generations come and
60 may easily make all the differ
nee between success and failure in
'he experiment OF democratic gov-
e'hiheht to which all the world now
STANDS committed and in which ex-
pertinent the United States occupies
position of associated leadership
as conspicuous as it was inevitable
specifically, then, what is it that
agriculture needs and does not have
Gut mat is essential to the highest
success and the greatest safety both
10 the farming people and to the ma
''oh as whole? What are some of
the things that must be provided
from the national end after the in
dlyidual, by his education. his in
austry, and his thrift. has done about
al that may fairly be expected of
hIm' and the state he lives in has
/ done what it can?
II agriculture were solely an in
d'yidual enterprise we should sim
ply consult the farmers about his
needs and desires But aericulture
IS more than farming and the pub
nc must be party to any policies af-
ietting the production of its food
the management of its lands. or the
social and political welfare of it's
people. The question, therefore,
what does agriculture need? must
be divided and considered both from
The point of Wow Of the farmer and
from that of the public in its larg-
est capacity-that is to say. the ma
ten, present and prospective.
What the Farmer Needs
First OF all then, what more does
the farmer need? If this question
should be put to the observer from
the parlor car or to the pub
licist, he would lokely say that the
farmer needs to work to a better
purpose and to be more careful of
his equipment; that he doubtless
needs more capital as he certainly
needs to organize his affairs accord
ing to modern business methods, and
t. know better than he does what
things cost him.
But ii the same question be asked
the farmer, he will have different
answer. He will say that the farm
er needs many things which he is
poWerless himself to provide but
without which the business is be-
coming less and less desirable from
a relative point of view, therefore
declining.
He will probably say first of all
that he wants better educational op-
portunties for his children because
/ as matters stand now they must
leave the parental roof at a tender
age or else he must uprOot his home
abandon his business, and go to town
if his children are not to fall behind
! those of the butcher, the baker, and
the candle-stick maker-to be more
specific, of the carpenter, the plumb
/ or and he daN Iahornr
But we have the Smith-Hughes
bill which itself is evidence that the
/ public has not only recognized but
acknowledged the conditions and be-
/ n n to correct them--in wise way
/ tco, for in a democracy the people
/ aust take the lead or at least carry
/ part of the burden of all progress.
! This plan which we have begun is
logical extension of the land-grant
/ idea into the domain of secondary
education
/ We are evidently headed in the
/ right direction at this point, but our
progress will be insufficient until
we succeed in providing for the
/ children of the farm as wholesome,
a adequate, and as cultural, if not
as varied, educational opportunities
as are provided in the most favored
cities. There are obstacles to be
/ overcome of course, chief of which
are the low tax paying ability of the
oren country as compared with the
ccngested city and the high per cap
ita cost of instruction.
But if we are to remain democ-
racy and be safe, this burden must
il some way be assumed by the pub
lie and not remain permanent
handicap upon the profession OF
farming If it is not so assumed as
a national policy and as part OF
a national plan, even to the extent
/ Of heavily substituting rural educa-
! ton. it is inevitable that we snall
ultimately have a peasant ponnla-
| finn IN the farms and colleges such