Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-05-01
MORE MONEY" CRY.
" COMES FROM FARMERS, WHO HAVE
A REAL MONETARY GRIEVANCE.

and Remedy but Not a. to the Exist
ence of Their TroubIe-Why Interest Is
High In the West and south Statistics
OF Ranking Power In Different Sections.
Upon tracing the movement for
larger volume of circulation back for
score of years it will be found that it
has invariably manifested greatest
strength in the agricultural sections of
the country. Obviously, then, we must
seek for the underlying causes in these
communities.
When the subject is analysed, it will
be observed that the ground for discon-
tent at existing conditions lies in the
fact that Notwithstanding greatly i'm
proved means Of production, notwith-
standing greater facilities and materi-
ally reduced rates for the transporta-
tion and distribution Of products, the
ag1iculturist, upon whom so large a
part of our economic system is depend
ent, finds himself, generally speaking,
after twelvemonth Of hard work. no
farther ahead than at the beginning Of
the year, and in many instances his
status is worse. Through the failure to
make proportionate income he has not
been able to reduce, but has, in fact,
increased his money obligations.
1t Is not maintained that such is the
case throughout the land, nor are all
agriculturists entitled to equal credit
for care and economy. Many cases there
are, doubtless, where sympathy is not
deserved, but in most Of the commune
ties where discomfort prevails the rea-
son here given is the true one, the dis
sertations of self satisfied theorists to
the contrary notwithstanding.
Numerous examinations made by
painstaking investigators warrant the
statement that the unequal distribution
of capital and Of money and the conse-
quent gross inequality in interest rates
are the chief cause of the inability to
carry on the important business of agri-
culture profitably.
The sections of the country polling
the largest silver vote in 1896 have,
generally speaking, insufficient credit
facilities The small farmer who, adj
vancing from the condition of farm la
borer, seeks larger measure of indie
pendence and greater comforts for his
family, is not only compelled to mort
gage his realty, frequently at rates as
high as Is per cent, but is Under the
necessity of borrowing upon his pro-
speetiye crop. Having no banking Office
to call upon, he turns to the storekeep-
er, who extends credit for the needed
supplies and taxes the borrower first for
interest upon the loan, second i'll the
way of increased prices for staples fur
nished and finally in the way of dis
counts or commissions upon the product
of the farm turned in as payment.
These items not infrequently aggregate
80 per cent upon the actual credit ex-
tended, and in a very large number of
cases the total exceeds 20 per cent.
1t is perhaps unnecessary to add that
business of any kind under such condi-
tons would be unpofitable.
Is it, then, surprising when the agri-
culturist, who knows little relatively of
the principles of sound finance, imagines
that an increase in the volume of money
would benefit him? Is it to be wondered
at, when he hears or reads of money GO
ing begging at 3 per cent in the metrop-
oils, he fancies that, by some hocus
pocus, Wall street is constantly striving
to grind him down?
1t is our business to teach him other
wise; to teach him that the prosperity
of the commercial centers is closely in
terwoven with his-is, in fact largely
dependent upon his welfare-but the
lesson can only be brought home to him
by the introduction of means through
which his own prosperity shall be as
sured. For, even as it is impossible to
interest starving man in the plan OF
salvation, so the debt ridden farmer can
only acquire faith in our views of sound
finance when relieved of his present on
erous burdens. To him a system which
operates SO unequally as the existing
one does must appear not only unsound,
but absolutely tyrannical Any change,
he feels, would be for the better. Con
sequently the southern farmer demand
ed the reinstatement of the state bank
note system four years ago, and last
year the free coinage of silver appeared
to him the best solution of the difficulty.
The remedy is manifestly not to be
found in any form Of initiation of our
circulation, but in providing by legisla-
ton or otherwise increased credit facili-
ties, both for long term loans upon
mortgages and short term credits upon
crops, and better distribution of the
circulation which we have.
In this. as in many other matters, we
must refer for guidance to human expe-
rience elsewhere. In no country has the
system of advancing short time credits
TO agriculturists reached the high state
of development which is found in Scot
land The Scotch banker has learned
that the farmer is, under well guard
ed system, as fairly entitled to credits
to float his venture as the merchant or
the manufacturer.
Scotland has one banking firm for
each A 1000 Of population and ratio OF
banking capital to total resources OF
banks of l to 12. By this economy in