THE DEMONSTRATION WORK 



They saw the importance of the seed which had been planted. 

 They realized the necessity for its cultivation. Some edu- 

 cators who were really closer up to the problem seemed to 

 have their vision somewhat obscured by the proximity. This 

 was not true with the members of Congress who gave the most 

 thought to the situation and prospect. 



In outlining the scope of the work, the ultimate democracy 

 of the whole scheme was considered. They did not depend 

 upon the old hackneyed theory of educating the leaders only, 

 in the fond, but fallacious hope, that they would educate the 

 rest. They could see that every demonstration would stimu- 

 late others and that, by and by, all might become demon- 

 strators. It is a fact that, in some communities, every farm 

 and every home is demonstrating some phase of the work. Of 

 course all cannot reach the ideal in a short time, but all can 

 make progress towards it and when that condition exists, the 

 elements of life and growth are there. This eventually means 

 reformation. 



Senator Cummins, of Iowa, gave a graphic description of 

 his conception of the working plan of the bill in the following 

 language : 



"If it is thought that this bill is intended to educate only the 

 particular farmer upon whose land the demonstration is made, there 

 is error somewhere. I do not understand it so. The demonstrator 

 goes to a farm, selecting in a community a farm best adapted for 

 his purpose, and begins his demonstration, but that is intended to 

 educate the community. It is intended to extend the information to 

 all those who may live thereabout and who will come to see what has 

 been done and to learn how it was done." 



Representative McLaughlin, of Michigan, also, states the 

 vital provision of the proposed Act in the following paragraph : 



"This bill provides for practical work. It provides for the tak- 

 ing out to the people in such a form that they can understand and 

 make practical use of it, the results of the work of the Department 



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