260 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



ALONE OB TOGETHER? 



In spite of this apparently well established and quite 

 satisfactory relationship, one of the most frequent pro- 

 posals of uninformed but enthusiastic persons is that farm- 

 ers should take over the farm bureau idea and the county 

 agent movement and "run it" themselves, solely for their 

 own benefit. It is a plausible argument. Why not? We 

 believe in self-help. Why accept any aid from the gov- 

 ernment? Why not be free from this "fettering" alliance 

 with the public to do as we please? No greater mistake 

 could be made. 



The present plan of a partnership with the government 

 looking toward the solution of agricultural problems is a 

 new thing under the sun. Federal, state and county gov- 

 ernments, departing from their time-honored policy of 

 dealing even with local problems directly with their facili- 

 ties and personnel, have entered into cooperation with a 

 great group of the population farmers to work out the 

 solution of agricultural problems locally and nationally. 

 Which is most in the interests of the farming industry and 

 of the people generally to have the government attempt 

 the solution of these problems alone and directly, or to try 

 to work them out in cooperation with those who are most 

 concerned and who therefore should know most about them ? 

 Is it better for farmers to help the government and to be 

 helped by it in the solution of these problems and in the 

 determination of agricultural policies, to cooperate, or to 

 "go it alone"? The answer is obvious. 



The present organization of the farm bureaus is non- 

 partizan. It is in the public as well as the farmers' inter- 

 ests. Organized strictly as a farmers' movement, it will 

 be regarded by the public as partizan whether or not it 

 actually is. In such a case it will lose the public sympathy 

 as well as the public cooperation, and is likely eventually 



