CHAPTER IX 



THE LEVER ACT 



THE DEMONSTRATION WORK was the inspiration of 

 the Lever Bill. It created the demand for such legislation. 

 Most of the congressmen from the South had seen successful 

 work by county agents in their districts. Some of the northern 

 congressmen had witnessed similar work because the Office of 

 Farm Management in the Department of Agriculture had 

 begun to extend the demonstration plan into several northern 

 states. Furthermore, newspapers, magazines and farm jour- 

 nals had published many articles in regard to what Dr. Knapp 

 and his agents were doing. Students of educational move- 

 ments in this and other countries had written theses in regard 

 to the motives and purposes of this plan of action. Educa- 

 tional associations had given it prominence on their programs 

 and the founder, as well as his agents, had appeared to 

 explain its principles and its methods. Bankers' conventions 

 and business men's organizations were expressing approval, 

 and even the Corn Club boys and the Canning Club girls had 

 been called upon to tell the public of their achievements. 

 The debates on the floor of the House and Senate and the 

 hearings before agricultural committees clearly indicate what 

 was in the minds of the lawmakers when this legislation was 

 pending. Congressman Lever, himself, outlined the problem 

 and gave the purposes of the proposed bill in the following 

 extracts taken from his speeches and reports while his bill was 

 pending : 



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