256 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



is the policy of service! Unselfish, service is always sure 

 to win in the long run over action taken with selfish 

 motives, and the surest way for an organization to help 

 itself is to be really helpful to other groups. 



Most farmers' organizations were created because of 

 definite needs, exist for very definite purposes, and accom- 

 plish worthwhile things. In seeking these ends they ought 

 to be assisted and encouraged without thought of self-in- 

 terest or the effect on the helper, and not ignored, blocked 

 or actively opposed. Most of the jealousies and " scrap- 

 ping" among farmers' organizations, not due to the per- 

 sonal ambitions and spites of individuals, is the result of 

 misunderstandings. The best preventive and corrective to 

 this is frequent conference between the directors, officers 

 and committees whose programs seem to clash. Confer- 

 ences well arranged and persisted in almost invariably 

 lead to understanding and agreement if not active coop- 

 eration. 



In a few states the executive committees of the leading 

 state-wide organizations of farmers hold more or less regu- 

 lar conferences under an informal organization, known by 

 some such name as "The Conference Board of Farm Or- 

 ganizations," with a president and secretary and provi- 

 sion for calling meetings as occasion may require. The 

 action of such a group should not be binding on any of the 

 conferees unless it is unanimous. It is usually simply in- 

 formative, suggestive and advisory, but it leads to mutual 

 understanding and cooperation. 



The question of farm bureau relations with other farm- 

 ers' organizations will have an important bearing on the 

 future of this as well as other farmers' organizations. It 

 involves either a deliberate policy of cooperation con- 

 sciously followed, or a policy of drifting with consequent 

 lack of good relationship and possibly friction. It is of 



