FEDERATION FOR RURAL PROGRESS 239 



The need for federation exists in the desirability 

 of securing both the intensity and the breadth. 



The precise method of securing this federa- 

 tion of effort is not easy to foresee. It can be 

 determined only by trial. It must be worked out 

 in harmony with varying conditions. Some 

 very general plans at once suggest themselves : 

 (1) Let the agricultural college in each state take 

 the lead in the movement, acting not so much 

 as an organization as a clearing-house and a go- 

 between. Let it direct conferences on the 

 subject, and seek to bring all who are interested 

 in rural affairs into touch and sympathy. (2) 

 Have a " League for Rural Progress," made up 

 of representatives from the churches, the agri- 

 cultural colleges, the departments of public 

 instruction, the farm press, various farmers' 

 organizations, etc. (3) Enlarge the "Hesperia 

 movement," which now seeks to secure co-opera- 

 tion between school and farmers' organization, 

 by including in it the church. 



It may be of interest to note that this idea of a 

 federation of rural social forces is getting a 

 foothold and has indeed already crystallized 

 into organization. A brief description of what 

 has actually been done will therefore not be out 

 of place. 



