218 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



(4) It emphasizes the educational character of the pro- 

 gram because the plan is itself educational. 



DISADVANTAGES 



Too few states see any disadvantages whatever in the 

 plan an evidence of possible over-satisfaction, which may 

 limit progress because of absence of alertness and safe- 

 guards. Disadvantages mentioned by four states are : 



(1) The danger of becoming involved in political ques- 

 tions and engaging in politics. 



(2) The danger that the local association may undertake 

 enterprises, particularly of a commercial nature, in which 

 neither the public partner nor the joint representative 

 the county agent may properly take part. 



(3) The delegation to, or the assumption by, the county 

 agent of too much responsibility and too many duties, espe- 

 cially relatively unimportant details, to the detriment both 

 of local initiative and of the educational program for which 

 the bureau chiefly exists ; in other words, making the agent 

 a mere chore boy. 



HOW THE BUREAUS FUNCTION 



How do the county bureaus really function? Is the 

 county agent the real motive power and the farm bureau 

 simply his instrument, or is the bureau the real force in 

 the county and the agent its employee to carry out its pur- 

 poses and program, as arranged with the public institu- 

 tions ? 



We have discussed the ideals, the organization and the 

 relationships of the movement. We now need to see 

 whether the ideal is being realized and to what extent. 

 That there are now nearly one million members who pay 



