The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-13
BANKERS AND FARMERS.
How Manufacturing Industries by DnNers %
Nv - CropD iverficaon
fsY NJ. =. FosTER.)

fBY M. Y. FosTER.)
There are Just as many rascafs wearing
jean pants as there are rascals wearing
diamonds.
There are Just as many dishonest farm
ers as there are dishonest bankers.
The farmer who knowingly sends a coop
o. cholera stricken chickens to market Is
as much an enemy OF mankind and as
much to be censured rs the blosted IMAM
cier who steals from the widows and tho
orphans.
There are Just as many deceitful and
unprinciplcd bankers as there are dema-
eogic and prejudice invoking farmers
There is socialism of the banking IN
terests that is Just as detrimental to tnis
country as the most socialistic and reyo-
lutionary tendencies of the farming eie-
ment.
There are many ignorant farmers. In
proportion to their numbers there are ,us'
as many ignorant bankers.
The bankers need to be educated. So
do the farmers.
~
At that State meeting of Texas bankers
held In San Antonio this week several
OF the speakers spent all their wealth OF
mind and oratory in convincing those as
sem pled that Texas is today suffering from
the evils of legislation inimical TO bankers
and to capitalists.
Such stuff as that Injuries the state just
as much as a gathering Of wild and woolly
men from the forks OF the creeks who
take advantage OF the occasion to make in
fiammatory speeches and to blame the
bankers and the monsyed men generally
for the low price of cotton and all other
evils from which they suffer.
In fact, there is more excuse for
farmer to indulge In such talk than there
Is for banker to complain of Texas laws.
The bankers of this State have prospered
have suffered greatly in some sections The
bankers should view everything from an
optimistic standpoint and should certainly
refrain from unjust criticisms OF a State
whose laws give them every needed pro-
lection. The farmers are toling under
many difficulties. and it is natural for
them to grumbls against the oppression
and entertainments for which they think
the trusts and the wealthy classes are
mainly responsible.
~
But while some OF the speakers at that
San Antonio meeting wasted much elo-
Quence In abusing the Texas lawmakers
and Texas laws, they did one thing for
which they should surely be commended.
They advocated crop diversifcation.
The papers and the people have been
talking on this subject for the last twenty
lve years. At last the bankers have found
that there must be change II the State,
and incidentally the bankers, shall con-
tinue to grow In wealth and prosperity.
They went so far at this meeting as to
agree to help farmers who diversified They
promised to make advances on grain and
other crops, as we'll as to give financial
assistance to those who raised cattle.
Such talk as this by the bankers will do
"'N'S w 'NiAio'" 'ho vi lue IdTu-
ers than any other one thing that could
be advocated Furthermore, 1t shows that
the bankers realize that their prosperity
depends to great extent upon the pros
perity of the farmers, and that their in
terests are identical.
~
Something more, however. than the loan
Ing of money on prospective grain crops or
hog and cattle interests, is needed in this
State in order to secure crop diversified
tion.
The bankers have seen the necessity ot
diversity of crops, and they have real
lied that they themselves can do much to
bring about the desired result in Texas.
Now. let them see that crop diversified
tion depends entirely upon an expansion
and diversifcation of the manufacturing
interests and let them act accordingly.
Instead of promising to advance money
on diversified crops, why not helm a few
mon who want to start manufactures in
Texas?
How can there be any lasting and snc-
cessful diversfcation by the farmers unti,