STATE AND NATIONAL FEDERATIONS 241 



or if this is not practicable, then between sub-committees 

 of the two groups. On these occasions each should discuss 

 its own problems and plans for the future, with a view 

 to mutual understanding and cooperation where necessary 

 or desirable. 



On its part the cooperative should give its active moral 

 support and endorsement to farm bureaus and to the fed- 

 eration and its program so far as it can, and is concerned. 

 It should place the federation secretary on its mailing list 

 to receive all printed and circular material sent out by it, 

 including general or circular letters to members, letters 

 to the trade and quarterly, annual or other reports. Espe- 

 cially should the cooperative maintain a regular certified 

 audit and see that the federation gets a copy of this 

 promptly. 



Such a relationship puts in practice the fundamentally 

 sound principles of self-help and of service. It leaves re- 

 sponsibility where it belongs and where it will develop 

 initiative and leadership. Yet it provides for cooperation 

 and mutual help. Incidentally, it frees the federation 

 from the oft-made charge of trying to control or dominate 

 all farm organizations by gathering them all under its 

 protecting and fostering wing a wrong method, a mis- 

 conception of function and a source of much justified 

 criticism. 



Up to this time women's part in the farm bureau move- 

 ment has found little expression in the program or organi- 

 zation of the state federations, which have so far confined 

 their efforts to lines of work generally considered as pri- 

 marily those of men. The special interests of women, 

 seldom given the place in the local farm bureau program 

 which their importance deserves, have not as yet made 



