Decatur Democrat, Volume 52, Number 6, Decatur, Adams County, 11 February 1909 — Page 6

bp tm ■ tr r FAnnl I ■■ I" Isl 11 111 Ml !■ MESSAGE President Tells of Country Needs. COMMISSION’S REPORT. More Profit and Satisfaction to Farmers Should Result From Its Work. !' - , ' . ' ' v* ' • J Washington. Feb. 9. — President Roosevelt sent to congress today a special message transmitting the report of the country life commission, appointed by him to Investigate the conditions of life on the farms of the country and to make recommendations of ways and means whereby farm life may he made more remunerative and attractive. In the message the president lays stress upon the fact that the farmers and their families are the stay and strength of the country and that whatever tends to make their Ilves less burdensome or unattractive is necessary to the Interests of the nation. He praises the work of the members of the commission, who, as he says, have labored without pay and do not now ask compensation for their work. The only recommendation in the message is the request for an appropriation of $25,000 to enable the commission to digest the material It has collected and put it in such shape that it will be available for the nation. In an appendix to the message, preceding the report of the commission, the president comments on the replies made by a Missouri farmer to the questions asked by the commission. “To the question, Ts the supply of farm labor In your neighborhood satisfactory?’ the answer is, 'No, because the people have gone out of the baby business,’ and when asked as to the remedy he answers, ‘Give a pention to every mother who gives birth to seven living boys on American soil.’* The president’s message Is as follows: To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit herewith the report of the commission on country life. At the outset I desire to point out that not a dollar of the public money has been paid to any commissioner for his work on the commission. The report shows the general condition of farming life in the open country and points out its larger problems. It indicates ways in which the government, national and state, may show the people how to solve some of these problems, and it suggests a continuance of the work which the commission began. Methods of the Commission. Judging by thirty public hearings, to which farmers and farmers* wives from forty states and territories came, and from 120,000 answers to printed questions sent out by the department of agriculture, the commission finds that the general levdl of country life is high compared with any preceding time or with any other land. If it has tn recent years slipped down in some places, it has risen in more places. Its progress has been general, if not uniform. Yet farming does not yield either the profit or the satisfaction that it ought to yield and may be made to yield. There is discontent in the country and k th places discouragement Farmers as \ a dess do not magnify their calling, \and the movement to the towns, though, I am happy to say, less than formerly, is still strong. FaMwaea Unbar our system ft to helpful to promote discussion of ways in which the people can help themselves. There are three main directions In which the farmers can help themselves—namely, better farming, better business and better living on the farm. The national department of agriculture, which has sundered services equaled by do other similar department in any other time or place; the state departments of agriculture, the state colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts, especially through their 'extension work; the state agricultural experiment stations, the FarmalrW union, the grange, the agricultural press and other similar agencies have all combined to place within the reach of the American farmer an- amount and quality of agricultural Information which if applied would enable him over large areas to double the production of the farm. The object of the commission on country life, therefore, is not to help the farmer raise better crops, but to call his attention to the opportunities lor better business and better living on the farm. If country Ilf• is to become what it should be and what I rt believe it ultimately will be-one of fee most dignified, desirable and sought ■iter ways ,of earning a living—the tamer must take advantage not only es the agricultural knowledge which ft at hte disposal, but of the methods Wfeeh have rafted and continue to

toejtaMards oTlivtag and of Those in another industrial and commercial callings have found ft necessary under modern economic conditions to organise themselves for mutual advantage and for the protection of their own particular interests in relation to other interests. The farmers of every progressive Buro- . pean country have realized this essential fact and have found in the cooperative system exactly the form of business combination they need. Now, whatever the state may do toward improving the practice of agriculture, it is not within the sphere of any government to reorganise the farmers' business or reconstruct the social life of farming communities. It is, however, quite within its power to use its influence and the machinery of publicity which it can control for calling public attention to the needs and the facts. For example, it is the obvious duty of the government to call the attention of farmers to the growing monopolization of water power. The farmers, above all, should have that power, on reasonable terms, for cheap transportation, for lighting their homes and for Innumerable uses in the daily tasks on the farm. Farmers’ Own Work Needed. It would be idle to assert that life on the farm occupies as good a position in dignity, desirability and business results as the farmers might easily give it if they chose. One of the chief difficulties is the failure of country life as it exists at present to satisfy the higher social and Intellectual aspirations of country people. Whether the constant draining away of so much of the best elements in the rural population into the towns is due chiefly to this cause or to the superior business opportunities of city life may be open to question. But no one at an familiar with farm life throughout the United States can fail to recognize the necessity for building up the life of the farm upon its social as well as upon its productive side. It is true that country life has improved greatly in attractiveness, health and comfort and that the farmer's earnings are higher than they were. But city life Is advancing even more rapidly because of the greater attention which is being given by the citizens of the towns to their own betterment For just this reason the introduction of effective agricultural cooperation throughout the United States Is of the first importance. Where farmers are organized co-operatively they not only avail themselves much more readily of business opportunities and Improved methods, but it is found that the organizations which bring them together in the work of their lives are used also for social and intellectual advancement The co-operative plan is the best plan of organization wherever men have the .right spirit to carry it out Under this plan any business undertaking is managed by a committee. Every man has one vote and only one vote, and every one gets profits according to what he sells or buys or supplies. It develops Individual responsibility and has a moral as wen as a financial value over any other plan. Farmers' Problems the Whole Country's I desire only to take counsel with the farmers as fellow citizens. It is not the problem of the farmers alone that I am discussing with them, but a problem which affects every city as wen as every farm in the country. It is a problem which the working farmers will have to solve for themselves, but it is a problem which also affects In only less degree all the rest of us, and therefore if we can render any help toward its solution it is not only our duty but our interest to do so. The foregoing will, I hope, make ft clear why I appointed a commission to consider problems of farm life which have hitherto had far too little attention and the neglect of which has not only held back life in the country, but also lowered the efficiency of the whole nation. The welfare of the farmer is of vital consequence to the welfare of the whole community. The strengthening of country hfe, therefore, is the strengthening of the whole nation. The commission has tried to help the farmers to see dearly their own problem and to see ft as a whole, to distinguish dearly between what the government can do and what the farmers must do for themselves, and it wishes to bring not only the tamers, but the nation as a whole, to realise that the growing of crops, though an essential part, is only a part of country life. Crop growing ft the essential foundation, but ft is no leas essential that the farmer shall get an adequate return for what be grows, and it is no less essential—indeed, it is literally vital—that be and his wife and his ehlldrea shall lead the right kind of life. For this reason ft is of the first importance that the United States department of agriculture, through which as prime agent the ideas the commission stands for must reach the people, should become without delay in fact a department of country life, fitted to deal not only with crops, but also with ah the larger aspects of Ilse in the open country. Throe Needs of Country Life From all that has been done and learned three great general and immediate needs of country life stand out: First—Effective co-operation among farmers to put them on a level with the organised Interests with which they do bnstnrse Second.—A DOW kind of schools in the country, which shall teach the children as much outdoors as indoors, “ri perhaps more, eo that they win Prepare for country Ute and not. as at Present, mainly for life 4n town. Third.—hotter means of communication, including good roads and a parPoet, which the country people

*■ . • 1 * Z** eases MSB several mflllon country people in the slavery of continuous ill ~ NWMMry. The commission points out-and I concur in the conclusion-that the most important help that the government, whether national or state, can give is to show the people how to go about these tasks of organisation, education and communication with the best and quickest results. This can be done by the collection and spread of information. One community can thus be informed of what other communities have done and one country of what other countries have done. Such help by the people’s government would lead to a comprehensive plan of organization, education and communication and make the farming country better to live in, for intellectual and social reasons as well as for purely agricultural reasons. The government through the department of agriculture does not cultivate any man’s farm for him, but it does put at his service useful knowledge that he would not otherwise get In the same way the national and state governments might put into the people’s hands the new and right knowledge of school work. The task of maintaining and developing the schools would remain, as now, with the people themselves. Money For Expenses Asked. The only recommendation I submit is that an appropriation of $25,000 be provided to enable the commission to digest the material it has collected and to collect and to digest much more that is within its reach and thus complete its work. This would enable the commission to gather in the harvest of suggestion which is resulting from the discussion it has stirred up. The commissioners have served without compensation, and I do not recommend any appropriation for their services, but only for the expenses that will be required to finish the task that they have begun. To improve our system of agriculture seems to me the most urgent of the tasks which lie before us. But it cannot, in my judgment, be effected by measures which touch only the material and technical side of the subject, The whole business and life of the farmer must also be taken into account Such considerations led me to appoint the commission on country life. Our object should be to help develop in the country community the great ideals of community life as well as of personal character. One of the most Important adjuncts to this end must be the country church, and I invite your attention to what the commission says of the country church and of the need of an extension of such work as that of the Young Men's Christian association in country communities. Let me lay special emphasis upon what the commission says at the very end of Its report on personal ideals and local leadership. Everything resolves itself in the end into the question of personality. Neither society nor government can do much for country life unless there to voluntary response in the personal ideals of the men and women who live in the country. *• Plea For Farmers’ Wives. In the development of character the home should be more important than the school or than society at large. When once the basic material needs have been met, high ideate may be quite Independent of Income, but they cannot be realized without sufficient income to provide adequate foundation, and where the community at large to not financially prosperous it to impossible to deveiopVp high average personal and community Ideal. In short, the fundamental facts of human nature apply to men and women who live in the country just as they apply to men and women who live in the towns. Given a sufficient foundation of material well being, the influence of the farmers and farmers* wives on their children becomes the factor of first importance in determining the attitude of the next generation toward farm life. The farmer should reaitoo that the who most needs consideration on t» farm is hte wife. Ido not in the least mean that she should purchase ease at the expense of duty. Neither man nor woman is really happy or really uflHr save on condition of doing his or tar duty. If the woman shirts her ■*' as housewife, as homo keeper, a* fee mother whose prime function ft IM» bear and rear a sufficient number of healthy children, then she is not Ofttitled to our regard. But if she does her duty she to more entitled to our regard even than the man who does his duty, and the man should show special consideration for her needs. I warn my countrymen that the great recent progress made in city life is not a full measure of our dvfltaation, for our civilization rests at bottom on the wholesomeoess, the attractiveness and the completeness as weO as the prosperity of life tn the country. The men and women on the farms stand for what to fundamentally best and most needed in our American Ufa. Upon the development of country Hfe rests ultimately our ability by methods of farming requiring the highest intelligence to continue to feed and etothe the hungry nations, to supply the efty with fresh blood, dean bofieo and deer brains that can endure the terrific strata of modern life. We need the development of mon in the open country, who will bo in the future, as to the past, the stay and strength of Ifte, nation in time of war and its jfedbig and controlling spirit tn time of **** THEODORE ROOBBVEIZT. The White House, Feb. 9, 1800. p

• Ar firv IVTnnrfav nlo’ht nt 11 • ' o’clock after suffering for a long time from a complication of diseases peculiar to old age. the better years ot her long life having been dedicated to aught but hard labor, the woman whose form tottered with old age, was resort to the county institution some years ago for food and shelter, that the remaining days of the Closing chapter of her life would be attended by the necessities of life If not by the happiness which she deserved. The mind shrinks from contemplation of such a sad plight befalling one whose age and withered form deprived her from the vigor which sustains the dignity attained by those who are willing to labor, although they may be in meagre circumstances, and although the closing of the life of the late Mrs. Ainsworth has not been attended by a profusion of floral offerings and the weeping of a large following of sorrowing friends, her spirit enters the eternal world with the consciousness that the life has well been lived, bereft as it may have been of the luxuries enjoyed by many. Two sons, William, residing two miles southwest of Monroeville and Henry, living ten miles east df Decatur, survive and will be in attendance at theft funeral to be held at the infirmary tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. Rev. C. B. Wilcox will officiate and interment will take place at the county farm cemetery. The month old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Fortney, of Pleasant Mills, died last night from illness peculiar to infancy. o L. W. Coppock of the Coopock Motor Car factory, and Jesse Niblick left Tuesday a. m. for Chicago,where they will attend the big automobile show which is on at the spacious colllseum this week. They will remain until Friday and while gone will purchase a large amount of material which will be used in the construction of the famous commercial car. The Coppock people decided some time ago not to show their car at the display this year for several reasons. It would cost about eleven hundred dollars to show the car at the colllseum and for that amount of money they can make a large number of demonstrations in other ways, which it is thought will bring better results. It will be remembered that the Coppock car attracted considerable attention at the show held at the windy city a year ago, and its merits were then well recognized. Inasmuch as the promoters of the Decatur car are convinced as a result of its satisfactory demonstration at the show a year ago that its qualities command country wide recognition, they have not gone to the expense this year of entering the machine at the big show. O. P. Edwards of Leipsic, Ohio, son-in-law of John Niblick of this city, who is also deeply interested in the automobile business, has wired Messrs. Niblick and Coppock that he will meet them at Chicago, and attend the show with them. —- 0 — Achme Food company vs. Noah A Loch, suit on note, set for trial March 24. Lona Runyun Vs. Daniel Runyun, appearance by Peterson & Moran for defendants. Rule to answer. Fred Schafer et al vs. Chas. Beery, account, dismissed and costs paid. The Mutual Manufacturing Co. vs. Christina Kintz, motion for new trial granted, the costs to follow and abide the result of new trial. \ The petlt jury will be called next .week, and it is expected that several important cases will be brought to ferae and trial during the term. - - - - v Sheriff Meyer has issued to B. W. feolty a certificate of sale for a piece ®f realty bought in the case of Sholty vs. Mary E. McGath. Michael Miller has been appointed guardian of Otto and Milo Baumgartner, minor heirs of Libby Baumgartner deceased. The Decatur Cemetery Association has given a warranty deed to Lovina Osborn. Also John Mosser et al to Noah Moser 110 acres in Hartford township. Michaud has Issued a call for the county commissioners to meet tomorrow to sign macadam road bends, and to appoint inspectors for the local option election. . , -oLIGHTING RATS WAR IS ON; Fort Wayne, Ind., Feb. B.—The Fort Wayne ft Wabash Valley Traction company, bidding against the city municipal lighting plant, secured the contract for ' lighting the Elks Temple at a flat rate of $ cents a kilowatt. The beginning of this phase of the light? ing war was followed by a plain intimation by the traction company that ft intends to retain its business if it is possible to dp so. ~T .. - - -

they will take up the matter of extension for the Bluffton, Geneva & Celina traction line. AU the boys had money In their sock and if the Geneva end of the transaction make good, by taking $75,000 worth of stock the line will be extended as far as Genets, at least, during the coming summer. The Bluffton syndicate propose to take $225,000 worth which added to what Geneva promises to do, makes SBOO,OOO and they figure that this amount of money will build the line. If it takes more, the Bluffton boys will come down with the balance, and thus insure Geneva of a line to Bluffton, and which will connect with the Bluffton & Marion line. The latter road got its . bumps for a time, but it has come out of the kinks and is now producing its owners a fair dividend. There is one thing sure, and that is that the Bluffton boys are a game lot of high financiers, and they all have more than made good, as they wlll v do in the project of not only financing but building the line from Bluffton to Geneva A. G. Briggs has charge of the matter for the Adams county boys. , - ... 0 — • IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE. In this issue of the Banner the Union Savings & Trust company of this city makes its debut to the public as an advertiser. One of the strong features of this company is its savings department, and the ads. which are nicely adorned with a cut, will, from day to day, set forth reasons why we should all start a savings account. One by one bankers are learning that well regulated advertising will help their business just as much in proportion as it will help the man who sells dry goods or shoes. Listen to the advice given by the Union Savings & Trust company and you will have a bank i account, a very nice thing to fall back upo nin trouble.— Bluffton Banner. A TRIBUTE TO OVERSTREET. , Washington, Feb. 9—A touching tribute was paid to Representative Overstreet shortly after noon yesterday when Speaker Cannon called the Indianapolis representative to the chair to preside during the afternoon. There was a spontaneous outburst of handclapping, in which both Repub-, Hearns and Democrats joined. The demonstration which was prompted by the fact that Mr. Overstreet will retire to private life on March 4, was wholly unexpected, and while he appeared visibly embarrassed the incident wiH linger in his memory as one of the most pleasing events of his public career. - —o ADAIR BELIEVES IN PRUNING He Would Cut Down Mileage and Salaries. Washington, February 9.—Representative Adair would go a step farther than Mr. Cox and would reduce the salaries of congressmen from $7,500 to $5,000 a year. “The salary could be put back to $5,000,” said he, “and the people would get exactly the same class of servants tnat they have now. The character of congressional service has not improved a bit since the salary was increased from $5,000 to $7,500. Exactly the same class of men come here to make the laws. Nothing whatever, has been gained to justify the extra expense of over $1,000,000 per annum which has resulted from the increase in salary. As far as the mileage proposition la concerned,” 1‘ agree entirely with the statements of Mr. Cox that the amount now paid has no defense. I do not agree, however, that ft would be the best plan to cut off mileage entirely. That would make fish of the congressmen who live near Washington and fowl of those who live far away. In other words, it would amount to a discrimination. It would be better, in my judgment, to enact a law restricting the mileage allowance so that it will cover actual traveling expenses and no more.’’ o — 1 1 — Mrs. Mary Gault returned to her home at Peterson yesterday evening. There is a new show on at the New Star theater tonight which will be appreciated by all who attend. Miss Bertha Nicodemus of Fort Wayne, who has established a wide reputation as a pianist, has been engaged by Med Miller to play at the Grand' theater, and her initial work of last night was highly appreciated by the audiences. Miss Nicodemus is a musician of more than ordinary ability, has played on the very best vaudeville circuits and it was only by paying her a handsome salary that Mr. Miller was able to secure her services. The Grand to always con--1 ducted in keeping with the times, and the new acquisition so the music staff is but a further evidence that the pa- '■ trims cd the popular theater will be i given the best entertainment obtainable. ... 1

I street. tl The Historical Club will meet wltb.l Mrs. M. Burns on Third and Adams I streets this evening to continue their I study of the Bible. Mrs. Peterson I will read the paper on Panl’s letter to I the Galatians. The sub-topics are I “Purpose and Scope of the Letter,” I “Relation of Jesus and Gentiles to I the Church,’’ and! “True Liberty of the I Gospel.” I — Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Dugan and Misa: I Hattie Studabaker will go to FortO V, ayne today, where they will attend, j a party to be given by Judge and Mrs. I W. J. Vesey in honor of Miss Tillie Mienhardt, of 3L Louis. ■ — There will be a stereopticon lecture, given at the Calvary church Saturdayevening, Feb. 13th, by the Rev. W. D. Thomas. His subject “A Trip Around! the World in Eighty Days,’* and “Ten Nights in the Bar Room.” The regular meeting of the C. B. L. of I. will be held at their hall tonight All members are requested to be present by order of Chas. Pennington. The C. W. B. M, Society of the Christian church will meet Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Arthur Fisher on Fourth street Al! memjbers are requested to be present Mrs. Lula A. Barton, district manager of Fort Wayne, will preside over the meeting and will also deliver a brief address to the members. Mrs. Eugene Runyon will entertain the members of the Young Peoples’ - Alliance of the Evangelical church at her home this evening. Playing games and interesting contests will be the amusements. The anniversary of Mrs. Lorina Nifone’s one hundredth birthday was appropriately celebrated at Bourbon, and the friends and relatives have returned to their homes. J. R. Freeman the Methodist minister at Pleasant Mills, -is a nephew of Mrs. Nlfone, and attended the reuntou. Mrs. Nlfone is a pioneer resident,and can remember when this state was a vast forest, Indians hunting and wandering through the woods. < She has seen the first villages started and seen them grow to hustling cities, the land cleared and railroads built. Although bom in eighteen hundred and nine, Mrs. Nifone at her one hundredth birthday is still hale and hearty. . ■ i., , . n'lMfliMU 11.11.1111!' 1.1 '■ « ■ Hoarse coughs and stuffy colds that may develop into pneumonia over night are quickly cured by Foley’e Honey and Tar, and it soothes inflamed membrances, heals the lungs, and expels the cold from the system. THE HOLTHOUSE DRUG CO. o George M. Milburn, former auditor ot Elkhart county and a prominent Northern Indiana horticulturist, is dead at hi® home in Bristol. He was 70 years old. —•———• —o PNEUMONIA FOLLOWS LA GRIPPE Pneumonia often follows lagrippe but never follows the use of Foley’s Honey and Tar, for lagrippe coughs and deep seated colds. Refuse any but the genuine in the yellow package. THE HOLTHOUSE DRUG CO. — ' • ■ 1 - , Farmers in the vicinity ot Topeka are endeavoring to organize a co-oper-ative company to purchase and conduct the Topeka grain elevators. '■ l 'D ■ * . ■ C. R. Kluger, the jeweler, 1060 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., writes: “I was so weak from kidney trouble that I could hardly walk a hundred feet Four bottled of Foley’s Kidney Remedy cleared my complexion, cured my backache and the irregularities dteapeared, and I can now attend to business every day, and recommend Foley’s Kidney Remedy to all sufferers, as it cured me after the doctors and other remedies had failed.” THE HOLTHOUSE DRUG Cd. —.—o ■.... — — The Union Traction company are talking of constructing a line from Marion to Hartford City, and are taking np the right of way for this purpow: HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE The above to the name of a German chemical, which is one of the many valuable ingredients of Foley's Kidney remedy. Hexamethylenetetramine is recognized by medical text books and authorities as a uric acid solvent and antiseptic for the urine. > Take Foley’s kidney Remedy as soon i as you notice any irregularities, and avoid a serious malady. THE HOLTHOUSE DRUG CO. o Considerable comment has been 1 made in newspapers in surrounding ' towns in regard to the greet record made by Treasurer Lachot in oollect- ’ tag all delinquent taxes. It is certainly a record without precedent in the ’ state, and Decatur citizens are certainly proud of it t . — ■ . , Foley’s Orlno Laxative cures con- > sttpation apd liver trouble and makes the bowels healthy and tegular. Orino “ * to superior to pills and tablets as It , does not gripe or nauseate. Why take anything else? THE HOLTHOUSE DRUG CO. ■.. ■ . \ > ■ ■