254 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



establish and to foster more local agencies, to build up a 

 more adequate and satisfying country life in other words, 

 to carry out a well-rounded educational program. And 

 the farm bureau movement will have retained its identity 

 and not have been swallowed up by one phase of the 

 problem. 



Fortunately, the American Federation under the guid- 

 ance of wise leadership has decided well in this matter and 

 averted an impending danger. On October 7, 1920, its 

 executive committee declared itself in respect to both state 

 and county units in the following language: 



"The farm bureau as an organization shall not engage in com- 

 mercial activities, nor shall it hold stocks and bonds in organiza- 

 tions undertaking such activities. It may encourage, however, the 

 organization of such activities or industries as may seem neces- 

 sary or advisable to its board of directors." 



This sane policy is now well-established and generalty, 

 though not universally, accepted. There will be many 

 temptations to deviate from it, and it will require clear 

 heads and strong minds on farm bureau boards of directors 

 to administer this policy wisely. Selfish political and dem- 

 agogic leadership is even now trying to put the farm 

 bureaus into business and to divert them from their larger 

 purposes. The danger of the farm bureaus getting directly 

 into commercial ativities will not wholly pass for some 

 years to come. 



SELFISH VERSUS UNSELFISH SERVICE 



Can any organization long endure except as it is built 

 upon the expectation of giving service? Is the farm bu- 

 reau an end in itself or simply the means to an end? In 

 other words, is the farm bureau an institution built to carry 



