FARMERS TO THE FRONT 181 



make their combinations effective. They are even 

 as intelligent as the so-called captains of industry, 

 who, through their organizations, control both the 

 business and the politics of the American people. 

 What the mechanics and capitalists do, the farmers 

 can and will do. To say that they can not organize 

 effectively is to put them in a class by themselves 

 and to rank them infinitely below all other classes. 

 And that is absurd. 



One objection remains to be considered : There 

 are those who say that the scheme is too great — that 

 it is beyond the power of men to achieve. This is 

 but another way of stating an objection already 

 considered. But what are men put in this world for, 

 if not to achieve great things? The very greatness 

 of this enterprise, instead of being an objection to 

 it, ought to be one of its chief recommendations. 

 Further, if it has been shown that it is practicable, 

 what matters it how great it is? The greater the 

 better, one would think ; besides, system is the serv- 

 ant of the twentieth century business man, and great 

 enterprises frequently work out more definitely than 

 small ones. It is a stupendous campaign in which 

 the farmers are asked to enlist. But that very fact 

 ought to stir their ambition and inflame their zeal. 

 Instead of saying that the plan can not be put in op- 

 eration, we ought to set ourselves to a considera- 

 tion of those qualities that are necessary in those 

 who would make it work. Ralph Waldo Emerson — 

 an American prophet who was never staggered by 



