RURAL STATESMANSHIP 205 



completely dependent upon the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for initiative and leadership and 

 statesmanship. 



Is not this unduly minimizing the work of the depart- 

 ment? No; it is merely indicating its limitations as the 

 one source of agricultural leadership. The depart- 

 ment in the New Day should: 



Keep abreast, even in advance, of the most progres- 

 sive thought of the world concerning absolutely all as- 

 pects of the problem of agriculture and country life and 

 how the problem may be met. 



Frame a clear-cut, statesmanlike policy and a very 

 definite progressive program for its own activities. 



Assist in securing complete coordination with other 

 publicly supported agencies, national, state, and local. 



Maintain the fullest and freest cooperative relations 

 with voluntary associations of farmers, especially with 

 the great national organizations of agriculture and 

 country life. 



THE LEADERSHIP OF ORGANIZED FARMERS 



It is difficult to discuss this question of agricultural 

 leadership without seeming to criticize governmental 

 agencies and to show lack of faith in the wisdom of or- 

 ganized agriculture, and it is hoped that nothing that 

 has thus far been said will be construed as criticism. 

 It is simply a point of view based on the earnest con- 

 viction that the farmers of a free country must not be- 

 come dependent upon government. So we look for the 

 farmers of the New Day to get together, to unify and 

 organize interests, to present a solid front not in antag- 

 onism to the government agencies, but in cooperation 

 with them. It is only in this way that it is at all pos- 

 sible to have a genuine statesmanship of rural affairs. 



