760 THE RURAL COMMUNITY 



Conclusion 



In this brief analysis of the social problems of American farmers 

 it has been possible merely to outline those aspects of the subject that 

 seem to be fundamental. It is hoped that the importance of each 

 problem has been duly emphasized, that the wisest methods of 

 progress have been indicated, and that the relation of the various 

 social agencies to the main question has been clearly brought out. 

 Let us leave the subject by emphasizing once more the character of 

 the ultimate farm problem. This problem may be stated more con- 

 cretely, if not more accurately, than was done at the opening of the 

 paper, by saying that the ideal of rural betterment is to preserve upon 

 our farms the typical American farmer. The American farmer has 

 been essentially a middle-class man. It is this type we must main- 

 tain. Agriculture must be made to yield returns in wealth, in oppor- 

 tunity, in contentment, in social position, sufficient to attract and to 

 hold to it a class of intelligent, educated American citizens. This is 

 an end vital to the preservation of American democratic ideals. It 

 is a result that will not achieve itself; social agencies must be invoked 

 for its accomplishment. It demands the intelligent and earnest 

 cooperation of all who love the soil and who seek America's perman- 

 ent welfare. 



SHORT PAPER 



MR. JOHN M. STAHL, of Quincy, Illinois, read a paper before this Section on 

 " Present Problems in Social Science affecting the Rural Community." 



