The State and Farmer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 Excerpt: ...is high time that it be worked directly into state government. The governmental function in agriculture is very much more than the making and executing of laws. The demand for fiats to exterminate bovine tuberculosis is a case in point. The real solution of this question is by means of popular education, conducted through colleges, schools, institutes and otherwise, combined with wise statutory regulation. In five years or less, any state could create public sentiment that would control the situation. A new statesmanship. Some of the largest questions now before the people are really rural questions; but many of the great rural questions--particularly those of a social kind--have not yet been recA New Leadership 93 ognized by public men. The solution of these questions will demand statesmanship of the very highest order. Statesmanship has been confined too much to so-called political questions. Many persons of first-class powers and thoroughly familiar with rural questions have had no opportunity to express themselves. I am convinced that the greatest present need in constructive statesmanship lies in the direction of agricultural affairs. Attitude of state governments. The lack of understanding of the relation of agricultural affairs to state government is well illustrated by the current attitude of such governments towards certain appropriations. Articles recently appearing in the press charge that directors of agricultural colleges and experiment stations are becoming politicians. If this charge is true it may be the direct result of methods of conducting state affairs. A state government is largely a business organization. It comprises departments that operate for the good of the whole. If a business man wishes to make his business thrive, he endeavors ...