The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-15
CURRENT COMMENT
Tafts High Cost Remedy.

No one is farther than President Taft from
proposing panaeeas for any existing Ill. No
one is more thoughtfully employed in advanc-
ing measures for the development of social
conditions as to modify existing ills. The
plan laid by the head of the nation before the
governors of the States whereby the farmers
Of the country would be afforded credit sys-
tenn under State and federal guarantees, and
whereby the utilization of the farm acreage. Is
one that has very much of plausibility in ITS
favor. besides being in accord with the expert
ence Of Germany. that. has worked out the
scheme OF farmland banks In to
place decided check upon the high cost OF
living. AT its base the problem of the high
cost of foodstufs is of production. The
distributve processes are admittedly faulty.
but the deeper evil lies In the fact that the
former has to pay for mortgage renewals more
than double what the German farmer has to
pay for similar accommodations and much in
excess of what those engaged in Industrial
activities called upon to pay 1t Is mani
testify the case that IL the farmer has first
pay IL per cent for the privilege of farming
this charge must be placed upon the cost OF
the product and reach the consumer magnifled.
1t is evident that under such an exaction
| 1t is not found profitable to till acreage that
/ Is not in a good state of fertility that is
mote from transportation. With the system
| OF mortgage loan banks in existence-which.
after all, are only specialized form of finan-
cal convenience with public guarantees for the
protection of their customers money would be
readily secured by the farmer who is more
mote from the financial centers and who has to
| negotiate loans at a great cost than almost any
other class of persons. A reduction of this cost
| by rs to so per cent-and the latter figure may
| be feasbe-would mean the development OF
| farming and farm products by rs or so per
cent for the responsiveness of the appeal of
the farmers is in proportion to the inducements
of profit By this means much of the acreage
that is now UTILIZED would be tillea; farms that
thaye been Abandoned would be again cuti-
waited; the farmer would have wider margin
of cost for modern fertilizers. and the entire
| farming interests of the country would be ad-
Vanced.
The proposal of the president points TO the
TACT that the area OF diminishing returns in
agriculture upon the wide plane Of the 14atien
has been reached. and that the requirements
Tor intensive cultivation involve the application
OF money upon the American farms at less
cost than it has been obtainable The direct
bearing upon this to the lowering of. the cost of
living liz obvious. The consumer would be the
one benefited by the proposal of the president
put in operation. This plan looks to the CO.
operative action of the farmers themselves In
societies to obtain personal credit and to create
, sound security in land mortgages, SO to
gain national or International markets for bonds
based upon farmland mortgages. The absolute
necessity for the assumption by the federal and
state governments of responsibility for eco
inornically and honestly conducted institutions
r Is laid stress upon by Mr.. Taft
Here then, is proposition that does more
c o point the way to logical and economically
Imperative advance of the country in the d.
rection of lowered cost of living than anything
: hat has yet been advanced. 1t Is sure TO
y make a profound sensation. The results OF
e such plan would not be limited to farm pro-
@ tucts, but would extend to cattle-raisng as
y we'll dts t4e passing OF the vast grazing tracts
d 7ecessitates the turning Of attention by the
O farmer to the raising of stock so as
}, 20 provide the country with needed meat
: The wider the range of farming interests the
greater the amount of beef and mutton and
veal that will be raised.
e Significant of the appreciation by the rail.
1t "oads of the traffic value of stimulated farming
IL IS the vast sums being spent by the roads oil
O the great West in the development of farmins
interests in areas with a low percentage of ra IA
fall and other initial handcaps. What is beins
II lone to bring into the field of cultivation mul
l. titudes of acres through dry farming and othe,
means would be supplemented by the bring
Ing into the area of cultivation OF many time.
| more acres of lands that because of the higf
cost or mortgages are not cultivated or ar.
But inadequately responsive to the needs Of tn,
II nation.
II The subject is one that in It's ramificat tom
caches to every home. Its semi socalistlc as
oects VIII be dwelt upon but the government
that maintains the interstate commerce com
mission. the Commerce court and such lk,
Is business agencies has no neea to apologize 70
j, considering a plan whereby the initiative O
" he farmers shall be stimulated in the direction
of securing better financing of their funda
g. mentally important industry.-Baltimor Sun
ir
u \ Doctors Strike.
- When the British government under the in
:. surance act, offered the physicians s1.0s yea
= to look after the health Of each insured person
=. sick and well--the doctors demurred I,
- other words, they aaid las,