Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-17
Washington Bankers Favor
Expert Aid to Farmers.
WILL APPEAL TO SENATE
Measure Provides for Advisers in Soil
Treatment.
ADDRESS MADE BY ITS AUTHOR
New York Clearing House Asked to
Put Washington Banks on Foot
ing With Others.

The Bankers Association Of the District
| Of Columbia, at a meeting in the New
Willard Hotel last night, voted unani-
mously to support the Lever agricultural
extension bill. which aims to furnish
agricultural experts who shall be to the
farmer what the physician rs to the fam
lily. Representative Asbury F. Lever Of
South Carolina, author OF the bill. deliver
ed an address explaining the features Of
| his bill.
Upon motion Of Charles ]. Bell. presi-
dent Of the American Security and Trust
Company. a resolution was adopted, de-
| claring that the bankers association be-
lieved the whole country would be greatly
benefited by the enactment of the Lever
bill into law. and providing for the ap-
pointment Of a committee to urge the
Senate to pass the bill. The measure has
already passed the House and been ap-
proved by the Senate committee on agri-
culture. The bankers committee, ap-
pointed by the president of the associa-
ton. Fl. III. Mckee, consists of Charles
j. Bell, chairman; w. V. Cox, John Joy
| Edison, George W. White and Mr. Mckee.
Compliments Secretary Wilson.
L
complimented Secretary Wilson upon the
manner in which the Department of Agri-
| culture has been developed during his ad-
ministration. Mr.. Lever said his bill con-
templated furnishing a trained man to
| every agricultural county in the country.
who would advise the farmers as to the
best means Of getting results out of their
land. He predicted that by such intensive
| farming as this would bring about the
crops of the country could be doubled or
tripled. This he said. would be equiva-
lent to the discovery and annexation of
new territory equal in size to the whole
United States. His bill provides an ap
preparation Of 100000 to be extenued
over a period Of ten years.
Agriculture is this nations greatest
asset" Mr.. Lever said, 1.-The agricultural
products being worth approximately ST.
OUOOUOOO. or practically four times as
much as the capitalization of the nations
much as the total capitalization of its
national banks
Should the farmers of the country de-
termine to go upon a strike for twelve
months every bank in the nation would
he compelled within a few brief months
to close its doors; not a railroad would
be able to turn a wheel. and every city
| in the land would be. within six months.
upon the verge Of starvation"
Problem for Solution.
This problem Of agriculture" he con-
| tinued, which many Of the unthinking
| are inclined to laugh and sheer at, is the
| most important UP for solution at the
| hands of the American people. The high
| cost OF living Is a vital question for the
people of the city. 1t will never be
solved until we have solved the prob
| lem of production of food and raiment
and reached a more direct route for the
passage Of these products from the man
who produces them to him who con-
Sumes.
How many Of you bankers are aware
| that within a radius of 500 miles Of the
National Capital there are living 1920
600 peoples per cent of the cOuntry's
population. More than 65 per cent of
this vast number are nOn-producers of
food and raiment. You bankers are the
Intermediates by which the producers
are made to produce. and the consumer
to secure his necessities at prices within
his reach.
I'm 1880 more than 20 per cent of he
nations population was living in the ru-
raj districts; today but SO per cent Of the
population is rural. In other words, near
ly half of the population Is not producing
food and clothing. The farmer struggles
to educate his boys and girls. and they.
in turn, go to the city. Our political doc
back to the farms / do not agree unless
you are going to guarantee that farm
conditions are going to be just as good.
just as wholesome and just as attractive
as the conditions which maintain in the
cities.
Bulletins Wasted.
1--WE sent out bulletins to teach the
farmer, but about 90 per cent of them
are thrown away, or used to kindle the
fire on cold mornings. We then sent out
speakers to explain. The farmers did not
in many cases take the advice offered. 1t
is not that the farmer is a fool, but that
he has been the worst humbugged man in
the land. Now to convince the farmer
you must demonstrate to him right on
| the farm. That is what we mean by ex-
tensive teaching, talking, writing and
demonstrating"
Mr.. Lever said that recently in Madison
Square. in New York. he found one morn
ing probably 1000 men asleep on the
benches. The men, he was told, would not
work.
II could see in those idle men the great
est menace to the safety OF the country"
declared the speaker. when the red
flag of anarchy goes up, and the rumble
of revolution resOunds. it will not be the
cities, but the hills and valleys. the home
| of conservatism. that will supply the de-
tense for the nations"
Plea for Washington Financiers.
report Of the committee recently ap-
pointed by the bankers association to
| confer with the New York clearing house
In regard to having Washington banks
placed on the same footing as those of
| Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities
| by making this discretionary point"
| was submitted by A. G. Chaplain, presi-
| dent of the Commercial National Bank.
| He said his committee had corresponded
| with the inland exchange committee.
which recently recommended that certain
of the eastern states be relieved from
| the payment Of exchange. This commit
| tee has now completed its work. said
Mr.. Chaplain, and it would be necessary
| for the Wa ShingtOn committee IN com.