THE SOCIAL SIDE OF FARM LIFE 401 



strong local government. The present territorial units of rural 

 government, so far at least as they concern farmers, are, on the 

 whole, deficient in social cohesion. So reorganization will be 

 necessary under whichever theory prevails, democracy of 

 farm and town, or detached farmer municipality. 



The farmer is ready for a set of governmental powers which 

 shall enable him to accomplish in his own group what cities 

 are enabled to accomplish by charters for their population 

 groups. There should not be a period of long waiting until 

 the farmer demands this reorganization himself. The nation 

 needs this rural reorganization. This is demand sufficient for 

 thinkers and statesmen. 



Theory of organization. Social organization will proceed 

 as has been indicated upon one of two theories, or upon a com- 

 promise between the two. These two opposing theories should 

 be plainly known and reacted to. 



The first, and it is the traditional theory, is that farm life, 

 so far as possible, should for whatever purpose be organized 

 by itself, aloof from the people of other industries, professions, 

 or trades, who for the most part live in cities and villages. 



The second theory, and this is of recent origin, is that farm 

 life is only a part of national life, and more like than unlike all 

 the other parts, and should for democracy's sake be organized 

 along with these other parts within a natural community popu- 

 lation group. Just as the nation is a thorough-going democracy 

 of all kinds of occupations, represented in Congress and public 

 offices; just as the state is a pure democracy of farmer, in- 

 dustrialist, and professional, so the local community should 

 be a pure democracy. How a compromise may be effected, 

 combining the principles of detached farm life and a pure 

 democracy, some communities can already show. 



Rural legislation. The signs of hope for country life are 

 seen to advantage in recent attempts to put into statutes 

 freedom of action and power for farmers to employ the taxing 

 device and other modern social instruments. County agri- 

 cultural schools figure among the early endeavors to give priv- 

 ilege to rural folks. The county nurse is likely to become man- 



2D 



