204 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



fashion about the needs and wants and demands of the 

 farmers as has the working farmer or the official desig- 

 nated by the farmers' organization to speak for it. 

 The official may appreciate the farmers' attitude, and 

 he should have the courage to tell the farmers at times 

 that they are wrong in their attitudes. But no govern- 

 ment department can exercise complete leadership in 

 agriculture for the reason that they are not of and by 

 the farmers. 



Political action lies outside the jurisdiction of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture and of the colleges of agricul- 

 ture; yet there can be no adequate agricultural leader- 

 ship that does not have in it the possibilities and the 

 power of political action. If we are to have a democ- 

 racy, the agricultural part of it must not be voiceless or 

 dependent upon any government agency for expression 

 of its political power. At times it may be necessary 

 for the farmers to exercise their political power in op- 

 position to the government agency. 



Although urging the enlargement of the activities of 

 the government as a source of information to farmers, 

 it is realized that over-much dependence upon the gov- 

 ernment may check individual and community initiative, 

 and prevent what after all is the great aim in govern- 

 mental activity, to help the individual and his local 

 group to help themselves. European states with the 

 most efficient agriculture do not depend upon the gov- 

 ernment nearly so much as they do upon voluntary or- 

 ganization. The government is the only agency to de- 

 velop systems of agricultural education and regulation. 

 Governmental authority is indispensable. But it will 

 be most unfortunate if the American farmers fail to 

 organize themselves in the community and in the state 

 and in the nation; it will be deplorable if they become 



