THE PROBLEM 47 



The means that may be suggested for amelio- 

 ration of country life fall under one or more of 

 three general classes: (a) definite recommend- 

 ations for executive or legislative action by the 

 federal government; (b) suggestions for legis- 

 lative enactment on the part of states; (c) sug- 

 gestions or recommendations to the public at 

 large as to what the Commission thinks would be 

 the most fruitful lines of action and policy on the 

 part of individuals, communities or states. 



The problem before the Commission is to 

 state, with some fulness of detail, the present 

 conditions of country life, to point out the causes 

 that may have led to its present lack of organ- 

 ization, to suggest methods by which it may be 

 redirected, the drift to the city arrested, the 

 natural rights of the farmer maintained, and an 

 organized rural life developed that will promote 

 the prosperity of the whole nation. 



We are convinced that the forces that make for 

 rural betterment must themselves be rural. We 

 must arouse the country folk to the necessity for 

 action, and suggest agencies which, when properly 

 employed, will set them to work to develop a 

 distinctly rural civilization. 



