590 
The  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
April  14,  1923 
Your  Best  Investment 
Your  best  investment  is  the  one  that  makes  you  the  most  cer¬ 
tain  profit.  With  a  Case  Steel  Thresher  you  have  two  chances 
to  increase  your  income — not  only  this  year,  but  for  many 
years  to  come. 
You  can  thresh  your  own  grain  better  and  when  in  the  best  of  condition 
— and  you  can  malfe  money  doing  the  same  good  work  for  the  neighbors. 
Efficient — Case  machines  are  noted 
for  their  fast,  clean  threshing  of 
all  crops. 
Threshes  All  Grains  and  Seeds — 
From  peanuts  and  beans  to  the 
finest  grass  seed. 
Built  of  Steel — A  strong  steel 
frame  holds  bearings  in  line  and 
prevents  warping  and  twisting. 
Steel  covering  and  steel  con¬ 
struction  contribute  to  great 
strength,  easy  running,  depend¬ 
ability  and  long  life. 
Durable — The  average  life  of  a 
Case  Thresher  is  easily  twenty 
years.  Most  of  the  first  steel 
machines  sold  in  1904  are  still 
in  use  and  the  machines  made 
today  are  even  more  durable. 
Service — Dependable  and  prompt 
service  facilities  insure  Case 
owners  against  possible  delay  at 
threshing  time. 
Threshing  with  your  own  machine  is  profitable.  An  investment  in  a 
Case  Machine  makes  this  profit  larger  and  more  certain.  Write  for 
a  free  booklet,  “Profit  by  Better  Threshing.” 
J.  I.  CASE  THRESHING  MACHINE  COMPANY 
(Established  1842) 
Dept.  D22  Racine  Wisconsin 
NOTE:  Our  plows  and  harrows  are  NOT  the  Case  plows 
and  harrows  made  by  the  J  1  Case  Plow  Works  Company. 
KEvYSTlME 
Copper-Steel 
alloy  sheets 
For  Culverts 
Flumes,  Tanks,  Silos,  Roofing,  Siding,  Etc. 
Apollo-Key  stone  Copper  Steel  galvanized 
makes  safe,  substantial  roadway  culverts. 
Apollo  is  the  highest  quality  galvanized  product  manufac- 
tured  for  all  exposed  sheet  metal  work.  The  added  Keystone 
indicates  that  Copper  Steel  is  used  and  assures  the  highest  rust-resistance.  Time  and  weather  have  proved 
that  Apollo-Keystone  Sheets  last  longest  in  actual  service.  Sold  by  weight  by  leading  dealers.  Keybtone 
Copper  Steel  is  also  unequaled  for  Roofing  Tin  Plates.  Send  for  "Better  Buildings”  and  “Apollo”  booklets. 
AMERICAN  SHEET  AND  TIN  PLATE  COMPANY,  General  Offices:  Frick  Building,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 
The  Farmer  His 
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Long-Time  Farm  Loans 
This  Bank  has  loaned  to  the  farmers  in  New  England, 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  over  $25,000,000  and  has  re¬ 
turned  to  them  over  $137,000  in  dividends. 
If  you  operate  your  own  farm  or  intend  to  purchase  a  farm,  we  are 
prepared  to  make  a  long-time,  easy-payment  loan.  Interest  at  5/2 °h. 
Payments  semi-annually.  Loans  run  for  33  years  but  can  be  paid  at 
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Look  ahead!  If  you  will  need  a  loan  this  season  write  now  for  information. 
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School  Problems 
Two  Views  of  the  School  Law 
At  first  I  could  not  see  just  why  our 
editor  published  such  a  letter  as  that  of 
Mrs.  M.  R.  C.  H.,  on  page  485.  Then 
I  saw  it  as  a  bit  of  the  wisdom  displayed 
by  Solomon,  inasmuch  as  the  letter  is  so 
very  typical  of  the  objections  to  the  new 
school  bill  made  by  a  regrettably  big 
number  of  our  farm  people — people  who 
are  very  sincere,  but  who  have  not  read 
or  at  least  understood  the  bill.  The  let¬ 
ter,  as  is  usual  with  many  objectors,  and 
as  has  been  the  case  with  many  large 
meetings  called  to  discuss  the  question, 
at  once  runs  off  into  a  discussion  of  en¬ 
forced  consolidation,  showing  a  lack  of 
understanding  of  the  bill  itself  or  of  the 
aims  of  the  Committee  of  Twenty-one. 
This  committee  right  at  the  start  insisted 
that  all  consolidation  must  come  at  the 
wish  of  the  people  themselves.  But  when 
it  is  wanted  and  decided  upon,  the  State 
will  give  very  generous  financial  aid. 
which,  of  course,  will  include  the  cities, 
who  have  not  heretofore  helped  much 
towards  the  support  of  education  in  rural 
sections.  It  is  just  and  right  that  the 
State  should  regulate  the  use  of  its  money 
where  consolidation  is  effected,  and  the 
best  experts  the  country  affords  have 
been  consulted  in  drafting  the  plans  pro¬ 
vided  in  the  bill. 
Mrs.  M.  R.  C.  H.  says :  “What  will 
we  do  when  this  consolidation  is  forced 
upon  us?”  Inasmuch  as  it  never  will  be 
forced  on  anyone  under  the  law,  why 
waste  time  in  showing  how  impractical 
consolidation  would  be  in  some  sections? 
The  committee  and  everyone  else  who  has 
experience  of  New  York  State  conditions 
know  that  consolidation  would  never  be 
practical  in  many,  many  places  in  this 
State.  But  that  does  not  mean  that  it 
would  be  practical  in  none.  A  ride 
through  our  lovely  valleys,  with  their 
well-kept  State  roads,  each  with  its  im¬ 
proved  (or  soon  to  be  improved)  sections 
of  county  or  township  roads  branching 
off  and  leading  to  the  little  selioolhouses 
farther  back,  will  show  how  easily  con¬ 
solidation  could  be  managed,  only  for  the 
matter  of  expense. 
And  there  is  where  the  bill  comes  out 
strong.  In  places  like  those  described 
by  Mrs.  M.  R.  C.  II.  they  will  not  want 
and  need  not  have  consolidation.  "But 
why  deny  it  to  others,  who  will  in  time 
want  it,  and  who  under  the  new  law  could 
have  it,  and  the  State  would  help  them? 
Now  the  latter  sections  can  get  no  State 
help,  no  matter  how  badly  they  want  it. 
The  hilly  or  mountainous  sections  would 
go  on  about  as  they  have,  excepting  that 
the  new  law  would  make  the  richer  dis¬ 
tricts  help  those  poorer  sections  with  their 
taxes- — not  increase  them,  as  so  many 
fear.  The  writer  knows,  as  her  district 
has  inquired  into  consolidation,  though 
it  is  one  of  those  poor  hill  districts,  that 
have  been  struggling  along,  paying  a  tax 
of  about  $12  on  a  thousand  of  assessed 
valuation.  It  is  estimated  that  under  the 
new  law  the  average  tax  rate  of  the  State 
will  be  about  $6  on  a  thousand,  some  a 
little  more,  some  a  little  less;  but  a  fail- 
average  will  be  maintained.  Some  of  the 
rich  valley  districts  that  have  been  helped 
by  the  railroads  and  other  public  organi¬ 
zations.  and  with  valuable  farms  close 
together,  whose  rates  in  the  past  have 
been  very  low,  will  have  a  real,  though 
selfish,  reason  to  fight  this  bill.  But  what 
reason  in  the  world  has  the  poor  hill  dis¬ 
trict  to  fight  it,  when  once  they  under¬ 
stand  that  all  consolidation  will  be  op¬ 
tional.  and  that  their  taxes  will  be  less? 
The  equalization  of  taxes  alone  should 
make  the  more  remote  sections  get  out 
and  work  wTith  might  and  main  for  this 
bill. 
Then  as  to  the  present  schools  being 
satisfactory,  why  are  so  many  parents 
paying  these  exorbitant  taxes  in  their 
home  districts  ( really  to  maintain  a 
school  for  the  little  children  living  close 
to  the  school-house)  and  paying  tuition 
in  the  village,  for  the  privilege  of  sending 
their  children  so  far  at  theft-  ow-n  ex¬ 
pense?  They  are  anxious  to  get  their 
children  into  the  bigger  classes  that  are 
taught  by  professionally  trained  teachers. 
Would  they  go  to  this  trouble  if  the  little 
district  schools  were  satisfactory?  There 
are  five  children  in  four  families  within 
calling  distance  of  the  writer’s  home  who 
have  done  this  during  the  past  three 
years.  Their  parents  want  their  children 
to  have  the  best  chance  possible  for  an 
education.  They  cannot  afford-  the  double 
expense.  They  have  a  right  to  demand 
better  things.  One  family  pays  over  $70 
a  year  tax  at  home  and  $25  a  year  per 
pupil  to  get  them  into  the  village  school. 
One  other  provision  of  the  bill  alone 
makes  it  worth  while.  It  is  the  one 
removing  the  silly  restrictions  now  laid 
on  voting  at  school  meetings.  ?  In  the 
writer’s  district  there  are  half  a  dozen 
women  who  are  .  considered  qualified  to 
vote  for  national  and  State  officials,  yet 
who  cannot  vote  for  school  trustee.  They 
are  competent  and  progressive,  and  are 
as  much  taxpayers  as  their  husbands.  If 
they  had  had  a  voice  in  school  affairs  for 
the  past  year,  a  much  better  type  of 
school  would  have  been  maintained.  There 
should  be  no  special  qualifications  for 
voting  at  school  meetings.  If  any  adult 
is  competent  to  vote  for  President  or 
Governor,  he  or  she  is  surely  competent 
to  help  select  the  man  to  rule  a  little 
school  district. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  under  the  bill  the 
cities  would  be  taxed  heavily  to  support 
rural  education,  as  they  never  have  be¬ 
fore.  Yet  a  city  man  introduced  the  bill 
and  recognizes  the  fact  that  this  is  a 
matter  that  will  profoundly  influence  for 
the  better  rural  conditions  for  future  gen¬ 
erations.  He  sees  his  food  supply  en¬ 
dangered  if  present  conditions  continue. 
The  better  class  rural  people  are  now 
highly  dissatisfied  with  the  educational 
conditions  confronting  their  children,  re¬ 
gardless  of  the  lack  of  recognition  of  this 
by  some  who  are  not  conversant  with  the 
better  chances  offered  in  the  larger 
schools.  These  people  are  not  going  to 
stay  in  the  country. 
No  one  can  afford  to  ignore  this  matter 
because  they  have  no  children  in  the 
schools  now.  They  may  have  later. 
Their  children’s  children  should  certainly 
be  considered.  This  is  not  a  matter  of 
today  or  tomorrow,  but  of  generations. 
With  liberal  education  will  come  all  that 
rural  people  need.  Let  us  put  ourselves 
into  a  position  where  those  who  want  an 
education  may  get  it.  sirs.  si.  g.  feiat. 
Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y. 
R.  N.-Y. — Mrs.  Feint  should  under¬ 
stand  that  The  R.  N.-Y.  is  not  doing  any 
special  pleading  for  this  proposed  law. 
We  want  to  let  all  sides  be  heard-,  and  the 
letter  referred  to  is  very  typical  of  many. 
The  backers  of  this  bill  should  also  under¬ 
stand  that  many  farmers  are  suspicious. 
They  are  not  lawyers,  but  they  feel  that 
there  may  be  some  “joker”  in  this  bill 
which  they  do  not  understand.  Instead 
of  ignoring  or  ridiculing  this  feeling,  we 
think  the  backers  of  the  bill  should  meet 
it  with  the  fullest  explanation. 
Will  the  Farmers  Submit? 
Were  we  to  see  a  representation  of 
ministers  attempting  to  make  rules  and 
laws  governing  merchants,  or  should  we 
see  farmers  formulating  a  code  of  laws 
to  govern  the  miners,  we  would  instinc¬ 
tively  be  amused.  Yet  a  similar  case  of 
stupendous  moment  to  the  farmers  is  be¬ 
fore  us  now,  and  because  the  representa¬ 
tion  includes  prominent  men,  titled  men, 
etc.,  we  farmers  are  inclined  to  veer  away 
from  it  and  say:  “Well,  what  can  we 
do?”  I  have  reference  to  the  proposed 
changes  in  the  educational  laws  as  affect¬ 
ing  the  rural  schools. 
We  understand  that  the  recommenda¬ 
tions  of  the  Committee  of  Twenty-one 
are  now  before  the  Legislature  pending 
passage  by  that  body.  It  almost  looks 
as  if  its  passage  or  rejection  might  hinge 
upon  how  many  of  the  representatives 
know  farming,  or,  knowing  farming,  are 
honest  enough  in  their  convictions  to 
stand  by  the  farmers.  Governor  Smith 
may  be  strong  for  consolidation,  but  Gov¬ 
ernor  Smith  hasn’t  a  working  knowledge 
of  the  rural  sections,  or  else  he  is  simply 
jumping  in  with  the  popular  side  and 
shouting  loudly  for  the  sake  of  effect. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  Dr.  Frank 
Graves,  Commissioner  of  Education,  is 
a  great  man,  from  the  standpoint  of  edu¬ 
cation,  but  he  does  not  know  actual  rural 
conditions,  or  he  could  not  advocate  the 
plan  he  does.  On  every  hand  we  farmers 
are  fairly  deluged  with  advice  touching 
upon  everything  one  could  imagine,  from 
how,  when  and  where  to  plant  the  crops 
to  hints  on  how  to  keep  the  hired  man. 
Perhaps  some  people  think  we  don’t  ap¬ 
preciate  this  advice.  Well,  if  they  do 
•think  that,  we  won’t  disturb  their 
thoughts. 
The  proposed  plans  may  be  beautiful 
in  theory;  but  absolutely  unthinkable  in 
practice.  I  am  aware  that  it  is  decidedly 
unpopular  to  take  a  stand  against  the 
wonderful  work  of  the  Committee  of 
Twenty-one.  but  the  criticism  against  the 
farmers  and  the  teachers  in  general, 
which  has  crept  into  the  speeches  and 
press  from  the  committee,  is  not  only 
unfair,  but  in  the  farmer’s  case  is  un¬ 
democratic. 
You  can’t  load  a  horse  down  with  more 
than  he  can  draw,  and  make  him  pull  it 
because  you  tell  him  he  must.  When 
changes  that  are  practicable  and  gener¬ 
ally  beneficial  in  rural  sections  are  made 
in  the  educational  laws,  they  will  get 
their  inspiration  from-  the  genuine  dirt 
farmers,  and  will  not  originate  in  a  swivel 
chair.  When  a  committee  of  dirt  farmers 
(and  I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that 
they  must  be  actual  tillers  of  the  soil) 
give  an  estimate  of  transportation  costs 
in  the  case  of  consolidation,  it  will  have 
been  obtained  from  a  knowledge  of  actual 
conditions,  '  and  will  make  Governor 
Smith’s  estimate  a  mere  speck.  And  right 
here  it  might  be  in  order  to  say  that  it 
is  doubtful  if  the  farmers  would  send 
their  children  to  a  certain  place  to  wait 
for  the  school  wagon.  It  may  seem  en¬ 
tirely  feasible  to  talk  such  a  plan  as  that, 
when  you  sit  before  a  roll-top  desk  near 
a  good  hot  radiator,  but  just  get  out  in 
the  piercing  storms  of  Winter  in  one  of 
bur  up-hill,  sections  by  the  way.  that  up¬ 
hill  might  be  significant  in  two  ways), 
and  if  your  stamina  held  out  for  you 
to  walk  across  the  drifted  fields  for  per¬ 
haps  a  mile  or  more  and  stand,  say  15 
minutes,  waiting  for  a  w-agon  to  pick 
you  up  and  take  you  six  or  seven  miles 
further,  you  would  certainly  emerge  a 
much  wiser  man.  I.  for  one,  should  re¬ 
fuse  to  subject  my  children  to  the  attend¬ 
ing  perils  of  such  a  scheme. 
There  is  too  much  loss  in  time  and 
money  (though  it  does  give  a  goodly  num¬ 
ber  of  people  soft  jobs)  skimming  over 
