Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-05-13

piled directory Of
the rural organizations in Wiscon-
sin uncovers a surprising array of
agencies of community character,
growing strong in the direction of rur-
al progress. 1t appears evident that
when the right group Of rural people
is associated for common purpose,
cooperation is natural and easy.
Several kinds of community groups
are found in practice to bring together
the right people for strong welfare
work. Among these groups the coun-
try school district is, the leader for
some purposes. In larger matters the
political township is often highly sat-
isfactOry, especially when the town
board can act as the medium Of opera
ton. In other instances a neighbour
hood group determined by natural geo.
graphical boundaries, such as valley,
is better than a school district or a
township.
County Is Handy Unit.
The county, on the other hand, is
well adapted to certain intercommun-
ity purposes and occasions. The coun-
agency for certain lines of important
action. The country trade area of a
village or small city-an area which is
becoming pretty we'll defined in the
minds Of farmers and tradesmen-is
proving to have unexpected advan-
tages for community enterprises Of
many sorts.
AS soon as it becomes generally I'm.
derstood that the right grouping is a
prime essential in rural community
welfare work, the familiar lament that
Wisconsin farmers will not work to-
gether will e less frequently heard,
and the endeavOr to get the principle
of the fright group" for community
enterprises will be heard more about
The fright group" is obviously the
first step in community action, be-
cause the farmer is a victim of the
lay of the land, and so is dependent
upon disable roads, and the nearest
trade centers, and he has to encounter
besides many handicaps of a distinct
nature unknown to city people. ~
Some 500 we'll established farmers
clubs of a community character, scat
tered through all the counties Of the
state, assure the permanence Of rural
welfare action. This number does not
include the numerous associations and
societies of farmers who are banded
primarily for commercial purposes.
The farmers community or neigh
borhOOd club, holding it's meetings in
the school house, church, rented hall.
or private houses Of the community,
or in community house owned by the
| club Or the township, is the first aid
| to the neighborhOod or community
| development. Deficiencies in local
| educational opportunity, in sociabili-
| ty, in recreational activities, in reli-
gious agencies, in health measures, find
their corrective, first Of all, in the ag-
gressive rural club.
Meet Every Month.
The membership of these clubs
ranges from 20 to $50. They meet
once month throughout the year,
though sometimes specially live club
will meet every two weeks during the
fall and winter. These clubs are, gen
orally speaking, very serious-minded,
and seek not simply the creditable aim
of social good times, but the basic i'm
provement Of country living condi-
tons.
State agencies for rural welfare find
these clubs ready to lend the machin-
cry of their committees, their meet
ings, their community houses, to for
ward advanced ideas helpful in the To-
cal community.
Twelve counties have federated
their rural clubs for the more perfect
carrying out of rural life improve
ments in the county, The county ag-
ricultural agents work more easily In
connection with these federated clubs
The county superintendent of schools
finds his approach to the farmer on
the educational question facilitated
by the club movement.
The socially disposed country min.
listers are not slow to ally themselves
with the farmers clubs, at least to the
extent Of sympathy and good will. The
county nurses in the days ahead of
them will also, doubtless, use these
clubs as we'll as the country schools
for pushing public health ideas.
Several Have County Nurses
The rapid engagement of county
nurses (there are at present Is or 20
counties in Wisconsin committed to the
idea) indicates that Wisconsin farm
ers are becoming alive to the value of
rural public health, and will in the
next decade measure up in their gen.
eral health standards.
The present state situation is one of
ripeness for a statewide program of
rural welfare. A unified movement
having certain fundamental detectives
would rapidly crystalize the efforts
Of workers and find unexpected aids
OH every hand.
The new community building law