Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-21
TO EXAMINE RURAL
CREDIT SYSTEM
American Commission to Visit Europe
and Study Systems of Foreign
Loans to Farmers,

Washington, March 2l.-mstructions
to the American diplomatic officers in
Europe to secure courtesies from the
foreign governments for the American
commission which is to visit Europe
this spring under the auspices of the
Southern Commercial congress to inves-
tigate rural credit systems we're issued
today by Secretary Of State William
Jennings Bryan,
Before leaving office Secretary Knox
gave the state department s approval
to the rural credit investigation but
since that time the American commits
sion has received approval by congress
and President Wilson points out that
congress has appropriated $4,000 for
the expenses of several commissioners,
who will be appointed by President
Wilson, to cooperate with the American
commission. No salaries will be paid
to these commissioners. Congress also
passed joint resolution directing the
secretary of state "tO bespeak for the
proposed American commission the dip.
lomatic cOurtesies of the various Euro.
pean governments. In carrying out
these directions Secretary Bryan has in.
structed the American ambassadors in
Europe to secure for the commission
such courteses and assistance in the
line Of its endeavors as it may be posi-.
BILE to obtain" and adds cit will be
seen that by this joint resolution the
commission under the direction of the
southern Commercial congress is given
standing"
This act of Secretary Bryan raises
the American commission to the stand.
ing of semi.official body and assures
it every facility that can be extended
by the European governments for the
conduct of its investigations. The com.
mission is directed by congress to sub.
nit to that body report on the subject
or rural credit systems and the question
of adopting the cooperative principle
in all lines of agricultural production
and distribution.
Though the Southern Commercial con.
gress began its efforts in a campaign
for the adoption of rural credit systems
it has received such strong support both
from the federal and state governments
and from private sources that it has
been able to enlarge the scope of its
work to include a thorough investiga.
tion of all forms of cooperative pro.
duction and distribution in the agricul.
tural field. Cooperative credit is only
a part Of the immense system of co.
operative organizations which has
spread all over Europe. Cooperative
purchasing organizations, cooperative
and municipal markets, where farmers
produce is sold by agents at a fixed
commission, the entire balance of the
going to the farmer direct,
and cooperative associations for pack.
ing and distributing farm products, will
all be investigated.
The Democratic national platform, on
which President Wilson was elected,
contains a plank endorsing the agricul.
.ural cooperative movement and Pres.
lent Wilson has already evinced keen
interest in the subject There now ex.
sts a committee of nine governors of
'tatcs to consider legislation necessary
or the organization Of cooperative
rcdit and other associations. This
.ommittce, as well as the federal con.
,rcss, will receive the report Of the ma
ional commission, and it appears now
hat next fall a nationwide campaign
will be wagcd in the interest Of the co.
operative movement among American
armcrs as means to increase agricul.
nral production and lower the cost Of
iyiup