Evening star., 1921-04-23
LUXURY LACK HELD
HANDICAP T0FARM
Secretary Wallace Speaker
at National Community
Center Conference.

The drift of population from the
farm to the city will continue as long
as rural life is without luXuries and
Agriculture Wallace, who spoke at
todays session of the national confer
ence on the use of community centers
al the Thomson School.
There is no use trying to argue a
country-reared boy or girl back to the
farm, said Secretary Wallace. "un-
less the rural life offers the same
comforts and luXurieS as city life.
The logical result of the exodus from
the country to the city will be the
breaking down of the farm popula-
ton
Lack business Skill.
Secretary Wallace pointed out that
there is Il widespread agricultural de-
preston throughout the country. due
primarily to the fact that the farm
trS have failed to comprehend the
nations great economic problem He
declared that the farmers had not
made any progress on the business
side of farming for forty years be-
cause they have not been taught to
think in economic terms.
Daniel c. Roper. former first as
slstant postmaster general. outlined
the work of the Post Office Depart
ment. and said that the postal serv-
ice would cooperate in the move
ment TO have direct marketing of
fo0dStuffs from rural communities to
tn. cities through the community
centerS- He characterized the postal
system as the best exponent of
An,ericanism Yet devised" because it
lays the open book of knowledge on
every doorstep.
Other speakers at today's sessions
were E c. Lindeman of Greensboro.
y. g; W. J. Holloway, state super
visor of rural schools of Maryland,
ami George w. Guy. executive secre-
tary of the Cooperative Educational
association of Richmond, Va. Phi
lander =. Claxton. federal commits
SIoner of education. presided.
Urges Postal Stations in Schools.
Establishment of brach post offices
In public schools was advocated by
DR.. Frank W. Ballou. superintendent
OF schools. at the fourth session of
the conference last night at Central
High School The logical place for
the branch post office is in the school"
said the superintendent. THE in
struction of school children in the
mechanism of the mail system has
both educational and practical val
ues. as both the postal service and
the schools teach the same funda-
mental lessons-that is. thrift
DIR. Ballou cited the Park View
School building. which has a branch
post office located in it, and urged
that advantage be taken of the facili-
ties provided in WashingIon's school
houses after school hours for the uni
flying of the school and postal sys-
TENS.
He said that the Park View School
post office had been very successful in
anording means of co-operation
among the residents of the community
and in instructing the school children in
The proper use of the mails
Parcel Post Advantasex.
The opportunities which the parcel
post system offers the producer and con-
sumner were outlined by Representative
NJ. Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania. He
attributed the high prices of foodstuffs
to the faulty distribution system of the
counsry. and held up as the ultimate so
luton of the high prices the post office
located in community centers. The par
Gel post department, he said can ef-
fectively link UP the producer and con-
sumer and eliminate the middlenlan.
The conference will close with an in
formal dinner in the Thomson School
this evening at O'Clock The dinner
has been arranged by Mrs. A. ]. Dris-
coll. community secretary. The toast
master will be +. p. Claxton, federal
of education.