The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-29
And Which Sailed From New
York On Saturday
win Visit Many OF The
Countries Of Europe
On Investigation In The In.
tefest Of The Farmers

New York, April 26--When the
steamship Saxonia Of the Cunard line
sailed from this port today it had on
board about eighty OF the members
of the American Commission on Ag-
ricultural Cooperation, bound for
Europe to make thorough and sys.
tematic study of the rural credit and
banking systems in use In fourteen OF
the countries of Europe. The commits
siol has a total membership of one
hundred. but some OF its members,
who are United States Senators or
Representatives In Congress are de-
tanned by the exigencies Of the extra
session of Congress and will not be
able TO join the other members Of the
commission until after the adjourn
ment of Congress.
One OF the Ohio members of the
cmmission Is Senator John Cunning.
ham of Knox county.
Practically all the members of the
commission and several prominent
government officials arrived here
two days ago and completed their ar.
rangements for the trip which will o..
cupy several months. Yesterday they
attended a banquet given in their hon.
or at which the Secretary of Agricul-
ture and several other prominent gov
ernment officials were also present
The plan Of sending a commission
Of investigation to Europe originated
at the meeting OF the Southern Com.
mercial Congress which was held in
April OF last year at Nashville, Tenn.
The plan evolved at that gathering
met with the hearty approval Of the
federal government and of the gov
ernments of the States of the Union
ami in accordance with each State ap'
pointed two delegates to the commits
sion, whose expenses are to be paic
by their respective states. President
Wilson appointed commission ei
seven to represent the federal govern
ment, with Senator Duncan U. Fletch
| er, Of Florida, as chairman: the com
mission also includes the delegates
appointed by the Secretary Of State Il
attend the International institute o
Agriculture which will open at Rome
on May z.
In accordance with the plan elabor
ated for the work Ut the commission
the scope Of the investigation provides
d for an examination Of the methods EN-
ployed by progressive agriculture
communities in Europe in production
and marketing, and in the financing Q
both these operations. In addition
Ito that the following special subject
are to be investigated. The parts pla,
ed, respectively. in the promotion q
agriculture by the governments an
by voluntary organizations OF the agr
cultural classes; the application Z
/, the cooperative system to asricu
3 tural production, distribution and
nance; tho effect of cooperative o
ganixations upon social conditions
rural communities; the relation Of tn
cost Of living to the business organ
!. cation Of the food-producing classe
+ It has long been recognized throug
. out the United States that the farr
. |ers Of the country, who number abo'
= IL 900, 900 and who annually add u
d l00, ,000, 900 to the national wealth. a
I seriously handicapped by the lack
., financial credit system adequate
= their, needs. 1t is estimated that Il
s farmers OF the United States are 81
Il ploying about $4,000 900. 900 Of borro'
. ed capital on which they annualiy hal
to pay $51o,0Oo,ooo interest. Cour
ing commissions and rouewal charge
n the rate averages IL per cent. Will
D. the farmers In Germany and 9TH
European countries can obtain al Il
n capital required by them at ra
1. of interest Of from 8 IL to I IL p
D. cent In Germany as we'll as in 9th
European countries the rural credi
1t system has been developed with
v, cellent results and to great benefit
b the agricultural classes and II Is
I,..,h,, tha rro,uotorc ~ the, ~