The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-01-22
LIVING G0NOI-
TONS DEMANDED FOR
PEOPLE IN COUNTRY
Personal Credit Unions and Better
Marketing Facilities Important
Much Has Been Accom-
plished During Past
Few Years.

Calling attention to things which
have been done during The last few
years the Improvement Of agriculture
and the betterment Of rural LIE. Da-
vid F. Houston, Secretary Of Agricul-
ture, in lis annual report for 1919,
expresses the opinion that amoung
the other steps which should be Ia
ken are the following:
ID The building up, primarily IN
der State law, Of a system Of personal
credit unions, especially for the beue-
ht Of farmers whose financial status
and scale OF operations make it diff
cult Tor them to secure Accommodations
through the ordinary channels.
(2) Expansion OF existing facilities
and activities for aiding farmers IN
marketing, including especially the
extension OF the market news and
food products inspection services, and
the assignment Of trained market spe-
cialiSts TO each State. in cooperation
with the State authorities, to Stimu-
late cooperative enterprises and
make helpful suggestions as to plans
and methods.
so Continuation Of the present
policy OF Federal participation in
road building. through the ]appropria-
ton, if the financial condition OF the
Nation permits it, of $l00,000,0uo
for at least each OF the four years be-
ginning with the fiscal year 1922, TO
be expended under the terms Of ex-
listing legislation.
a. The regulation and control OF
stockyards and packing houses.
90 Federal legislation further to
protect consumers against misbrand-
ed, adulterated, and worthless feeds
entering into interstate traffic.
To- Similar legislation dealing
with fertilizers.
CD Increased support by States
for rural schools and more definite
direction OF their instruction along
lines related TO rural problems and
conditions.
50 The requisite legislation for
the improvement of the sanitary con-
ditions in rural districts and for the
building up Of the needed hospital
and medical facilities.
Need For Broad Rural Survey.
Present conditions, and particu-
larly present states of mind says the
Secretary, indicate the need Of a
fresh, broad survey of rural life, OF
its special problems, and Of its rela-
tionships. 1t should be viewed as a
whole. A comprehensive flexible pro-
gram should be developed for the
guidance of the different agencies,
each of which has its peculiar func-
tions and responsibilities, Further
more, the principles and purposes
governing agricultural life and agen-
cies should be set forth for the edu-
cation of the American public, par
ticularly the urban part of It. The
Nation as a whole needs a fuller APP
probation of its basic industry and a
more definite sense of direction OF its
efforts to foster it. Many agencies
are now following more or less we'll
defined, helpful plans Of their own
devising, but these are at least piece
meal, and there is confusion Of lead
ership and detectives. A program
made by any one element would be
partial and unsatisfactory. We
should have a meeting of minds Of all
those directly concerned, Of farmers,
Of agricultural leaders, and of bust
ness men.
The President has already indica-
ted his intention to call a conference
at which there will be not only a gen
erous representation OF farmers but
also of agricultural agencies and or
CARNATIONS and Of business interests
which have an intimate relation to
farm problems. | believe that be-
cause of changed conditions here and
elsewhere, of existing uncertainties
and Of disturbed states Of mind this
conference should be called at the
earliest possible date, 1t may be that
as one outcome Of it the creation OF
a rural life commission, with a TEN
porary or a permanent status, will be
determined TO be in the public inter
est. Certainly, the best means OF fos-
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