Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-12-12
DR.. sym ONS
EMPHASIZES
ORGANIZATION

In an address before the annual
meeting of the Maryland State
Grange at Frederick last week, DR.. T,
B. Symons, director of the Universe
ty of Maryland Extension Service
placed emphasis on greater organi-
cation of farmers during the present
emergency.
Speaking on Farm Organizations
in Defense" DR.. Symons declared
that at is desirable to have judgment
of the rank and file of farmers in
dealing with the problems affecting
agriculture, such as price control,
taxation, and economy in non-defense
Government activities" He pointed
out that less than % percent of the
farming population in Maryland are
members of general farm organiza-
tions, such as the Grange and Farm
Bureau.
Referring to the influence of la
Dor through organization, DR.. Symons
expressed the belief that sit is in the
interest of good government that
farmers organizations be equally
representative and unified as to poll
cy, not for the purpose of selfish in
terest, but to aid in seeing that ag-
riculture is given a square deal and
that the sane thinking of rural peo-
pie is felt in deciding the many i'm
portant issues that are affecting the
public generally"
I'm times of STRESS" he said, "de-
cisions are made and things are done
in hurry, often without the mature
consideration and elaboration that
would be given them under more nor
NAL circumstances. 1t is time when
it is more important for the leader
ship in any great industry to keep
their feet upon the ground. The fu-
ture of agriculture in this country
and the kind of agriculture we have
after this emergency is over will be
determined in large measure by the
success with which a stable, far-see-
ing leadership succeeds in guiding the
program that is carried out in con-
nection with the defense effort, al
ways keeping before them the well
fare of the industry and rural peo-
pie in succeeding years."
In his opening address at the an
nual conference of the Extension Ser.
vice, which was held at Frederick
from December a to 6, Director 7. B
Symons, expressed "the utmost con.
fidence that permanent and ultimate
solution of our farm problems is tc
be obtained through the educationa,
approach, through democratic sys'
tenn of education and cooperation
which is based on the sound founda.
ton of helping farm people to help
themselves"
Admitting that other measures may
be necessary to assist in making rad.
:ical adjustments in our economic
system, he declared that "the funda.
mental fact remains that people in
any walk of life have an inherent
desire to grow, to develop in their
chosen calling, and that they must
either progress or go in the other di-
rection. although they may be alb
sorbed for time with the economic
adjustment" he asserted, "their de.
sire for self-development will persist
and will come to the front even more
strongly when conditions permit"
DR.. Symons emphasized that ex
tension work was founded on the
pr&nciple of teaching by practica
demonstrations-of showing people
how to do the things that were advo
Gated, and that had been proved
sound by research. He cautioned a
gainst getting away from that prin
ciple. "In our hectic lives, meeting
appointments here and there, attend
ing meetings day and night he sale
81 fear we are likely to forget tn
fundamental philosophy of the grea
founder of extension work"
Referring to the present emerger
cy, DR.. Symons told the extensio
workers that perhaps our create:
contribution in the immediate futul
is to assist in whatever way we ca
in aiding people to meet the nations
call for increased production and
diffusion of knowledge so that tt
rank and file will under stand ii
reasons that dictate our nations pc
ICY" eve are glad" he said, "to C