The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-26
GOVERNMENTS REL ALTON
TO THE FARMERS

It Is only in recent years that the
government has felt that it had any
duty to perform with reference to the
agricultural development Of the coun-
Try. After long agitation for its estab-
ttshment, the farmers secured a De-
partnent Of Agriculture. 1t did little
more than distribute seeds. Then the
farmers demanded that its scope
should be extended and that the head
of the agricultural forces be o mem
Der Of the cabinet and the department
be enlarged and made more efficient
Since then much has been done. some
wise, and some not SO wise. In the
past two or three years there have
oeen many plans proposed that
promise TO be of great value in stim-
uiating agricultural Development and
to improve the costly systems Of mar
keting, There is too wide margin
between the amount paid to the farm
er, who produces the crops. and the
ultimate consumer. 1t is no business
OF government TO invade tho domain
OF business but II is the concern OF
government to do al that it may do to
enable the people to obey the daily In
junction Back TO the Farm
What can be done? That IS q uues-
tion that is often asked by farmers
and others. There are two bills now
pending ia Congress that have receiv
ed much consideration by statesmen
and wide approval by farmers and
farm journals. At the request OF the
editor OF this paper. who wished TO
give plain and ciear-cut statement
OF the measures and what their ad-
socates hoped to SEQ accomplished,
Hon. HOke Smith, the author OF these
bills. has furnished the following:
There are two bills pending in
Congress which vitaliy concern the
welfare OF the farmers Of this coun
try. one has passed the Senate, and
one has passed the House. The bin
which has passed the Senate is known
the bill for department OF mar
hetS. 1t provides that there shall be
established in the Department Of Ag-
riculture a division with q chief and
necessary assistants. whose duty it
shall be to Investigate problems con-
ccrning the marketing Of agricultural
crops, with a view OF being able to
furnish the farmers information
which will aid them in disposing Of
their crops. 1t is promised eventually
that this department Of markets shall
be in q position to furnish by printed
literature, by letter, and by telegram,
Information which will facilitate the
diversfication OF crops and the dispo-
sition of the same on the part of the
farmers who grow them. 1t Is also
proposed that this division shall be in
a position to furnish customers who
desire to buy various agricultural pro-
ducts information that may aid them
IN their purchases
Much has been done in Europe to-
wards bringing about diversified crops,
and towards cooperation on the part
Of the farmers in the sale OF their
products It is believed that this dl-
vision OF markets in the Agricultural
Department while starting in conser-
yative way for investigation rather
than for active work. will develop into
one Of the largest and most usetul
branches OF the National Agricultural
Department. and be Of great service
10 all the people.
While / introduced the bill into
the Senate, 1 do not claim credit for
originating the idea, | drew II as re-
suit Of conference with Preslden1
Charles Barrett, OF the Farmers
Union, and I really presented It moro
at his request than at ny own IN
stance
Another important btu which is
pending now in the Senate, and Whlch
mas already passed the House. IS one
TO create an extension department IN
each OF the agricultural colleges or the
United States. This bill will appro-
pirate $3,OOO.O00. most of which viii
De distributed to the State Colleges OF
Agriculture proportioned to the rura
population Of the respective states
and conditioned upon contributor
Dy the State Of an amount similar to
that received from the national gov
ernment. This money is to estao',sf'