24 COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



in town and country should understand that 

 there are country phases as well as city phases of 

 our civilization, and that one phase needs help as 

 much as the other. All these agencies should 

 recognize their responsibility to society. Many 

 existing organizations and institutions might 

 become practically cooperative or mutual in 

 spirit, as, for example, all agricultural societies, 

 libraries, Young Men's Christian Associations 

 and churches. All the organizations standing for 

 rural progress should be federated, in states and 

 nation. 



THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM OF COUNTRY LIFE. 



The mere enumeration of the foregoing de- 

 ficiencies and remedies indicates that the problem 

 of country life is one of reconstruction, and that 

 temporary measures and defense work alone will 

 not solve it. The underlying problem is to 

 develop and maintain on our farms a civilization 

 in full harmony with the best American ideals. 

 To build up and retain this civilization means, 

 first of all, that the business of agriculture must 

 be made to yield a reasonable return to those who 

 follow it intelligently; and life on the farm must 

 be made permanently satisfying to intelligent, 

 progressive people. The work before us, there- 

 fore, is nothing more or less than the gradual 

 rebuilding of a new agriculture and new rural 



