RURAL STATESMANSHIP 193 



cial students of economic and political affairs as related 

 to rural matters and able, broad-minded, representative 

 farmers. Such an association is intended not so much 

 for propaganda purposes as for sober, hard thinking 

 about fundamentals. Its written expressions ought to 

 be worth while, possibly even authoritative. They will 

 not be infallible but they should secure the attention of 

 the great farmers' organizations as well as legislatures 

 and Congress. Another helpful agency would be na- 

 tional and state councils of agriculture and country life, 

 which would gather around a conference board the 

 representative leaders of all the different institutions 

 interested in rural affairs in order to reach some agree- 

 ment as to what is wise and best. No doubt the growth 

 of a powerful farmers' organization which definitely 

 represents the voting farmers would have the backing 

 that is absolutely necessary in political propaganda. 

 But this powerful farmers' organization should not 

 make its demands simply because it is powerful, but 

 because its demands are just and wise. There is need 

 that this entire field of agricultural legislation should 

 receive the best thought of our best minds. 



A Governmental Rural Policy. In an earlier part 

 of this book, it was stated that a policy may be simply 

 that which actually happens through a series of years, 

 but that a policy for the New Day, a real policy, im- 

 plies adequate knowledge, definite plans, correlation of 

 effort. So in our governmental affairs, whatever is 

 done or advocated by departments, boards or bureaus, 

 should be the result of a well-founded and well- 

 rounded policy. Probably there is in these agencies 

 no lack of definite knowledge, and it should be easy 

 for them to make plans. But it is more difficult to 

 secure their cooperation. Within the state, for exam- 



