The Springfield herald., 1912-05-17
FARM CONDITIONS IN SOUTH
Where Cooperation Has Not Been
Successful There Prima Facle
Evidence of "Hoq."

III tue course OF an auOTeSS OeiiN-
cred by State Agent b. l., Moss OF AL
ALBANIA at the Southern Educational
conference. recently held at Nashville.
Tenn. he said In reference to co-opera-
tion:
ASIDE from the Farmers union and
the press. both OF which have done
and are doing much commendable
work. we have three distinct agencies
ir Alabama that are Iaboring Tor the
betterment OF agricultural conditions.
Ihese are the state department OF ag-
riculture, the agricultural college and
experiment stations and the national
department OF agriculture. Realizing
that "a steady pull and all together
VIII secure far more satisfaction and
lasting results. 1t has been our con-
stant aim to secure harmonious Co
operation between these varied agen-
cies. This We believe We have at
tanned to marked degree.
Now. just word with reference to
cooperation. l believe that am
prepared to lay down this proposition.
namely. that where 1t is impossible to
cooperate. 1t is prima facie evidence
that there are one or several hogs in
one or all OF the organizations In Ques-
tfon. The state agent OF the demon
strat1on work may be the guilty swine.
or 1t may be the commissioner of agri-
culture. or the director OF experiment
stations. Just who is responsible in
such case Is difficult to determine,
since each man lays the blame on the
other. However, the patent fact re-
mains that in this work OF carrying
information to the farmer there is en-
urely too much duplication OF work.
too much OF desire to claim credit
for results accomplished. and too
much OF tendency to decry and be-
little the efforts OF the other fellow.
Many men have lost sight of the fact.
II they ever perceived 1t. that the pub
lie welfare is the goal Of the efforts
OF every real public servant.
Il wish to make plea for the other
fellow. Just as believe that all
knowledge has some value in educa-
ton. SO do believe that the efforts OF
all those engaged In the dissemina-
ton of agricultural information are
destined to bear fruit. 1t is unjust. un-
wise and highly undiplomatic for a
demonstration worker to place him.
self In skeptical attitude toward our
state departments OF agriculture and
our colleges and experiment stations
and the undeniably excellent work
they are doing. And the rule reversed
is equally true. So let us be charitable
toward those who in reality are our
fellow workers, though possibly along
dinerent lines: and when we do we
u-ually invoke the Golden Rule as the
guiding spirit In the attitude OF the
other man.
None OF US claim to have attained
perfection down our way; but we have
been able to establish our work on
what we have been told is an excellent
cooperative basis. unifying as 1t does
the best efforts of the different agen-
cies in the state. Not only are we CO.
operating. but we are pleased with the
results and We believe the people OF
Alabama are. So much SO. that We
hope. some time in the near future.
through a cooperative arrangement, to
have a really well organized state. AT
present we are only comparatively
we'll organized. When Alabama has.
in each of her 67 counties. highly
competent. adequately paid agent.
working six days in the week for II
months In the year, believe then. and
only then. can we boast OF well or
ganized state.
"Dr. Knapp. the best and greatest
man / ever knew. christened wisely
when he named our work the Go
operative Demonstration Work." for
he foresaw, even then, that the more
quickly all agencies Joined hands to
break down the barriers of ignorance
and build up progressive. prosperous
agriculture, the sooner would our
southern states blossom into that
fruitfuness of wealth and citizenship
to which nature has entitled them.
What success we have attained in
demonstration work in Alabama has
been based on this idea; and all that
we hope for in the future OF our work
is. in my opinion. to be attained
through these means"