254 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



the action of administrative officers. There is a neces- 

 sity for a certain amount of system, order, precedent 

 and rule, but these easily degenerate into mere machin- 

 ery. Laws have to be interpreted, often by men with- 

 out insight into the need of the farmer or even the true 

 intent of the lawmakers. The personnel of responsible 

 government officials changes. New men may bring 

 new ideas, but may also have faulty ideas and inade- 

 quate training or a limited point of view. Moreover, 

 no public agent can speak permanently and fully for the 

 farmers in a democracy. His words may be wise, his 

 intent honest, and his judgment sound, but he does not 

 fully represent the farmer. Excessive governmental 

 activity and constant dependence upon government may 

 check initiative and real power. There are important 

 fields that no government institutions can cultivate 

 for example, the desire of farmers to take political ac- 

 tion, and the sway of the religious motive. 



AGRARIAN ASSOCIATIONS 



After all the farmers must direct their own destinies. 

 The best service that government can render farmers 

 is to help them to help themselves. The paternalism 

 of the state and the gratuitous benevolence of the city 

 are equally futile in the building of a rural democracy. 

 The cooperative efforts of farmers are indispensable to 

 real rural progress. Whether in securing better farm 

 practice, or in obtaining more satisfactory profits, or 

 in evolving a better country life, the collective intelli- 

 gence and planning of the great masses of farmers 

 should be added to all investigation and teaching by 

 specialists, all projects of government, all the work of 

 school and college, all laws for regulation or control. 



The farmers must " organize " first of all for self- 



