Arizona republican., 1913-08-27
Senator Fletcher of Florida Chairman of American Commission, Delivers Stirring Message to Con ference of Governors.
RECOMMENDATION
 NOT OFFICIAL
Former and Present EX- ecutives from Twenty five States Gather at Opening Session and Are Welcomed By Governor.
TAssocrArED PRESS D1spATcH1

TAssoCTATED PRESS DIspATCH1
 COLORADO SPRINGS, Aug. 26.- Closer cooperation between the gov- ernment and settlers in the reclamation of many sections of the arid west was the keynote of an address this after noon by Secretary of the Interior Franklin K Lane, before the fifth an nual conference of governors, which opened here today.
 Lanes speech was taken as the an- nouncement of a new policy adopted by the interior department gained from a tour of the west. When there he in spected dozens of irrigation projects.
 Former and present executives from twenty five states gathered here at the opening of the conference. Colorados welcome was extended by Governor F. NJ. AmmOns. The response was by Governor William Spry of Utah. The appointment of a temporary chairman and committee on arrangements com. prised the morning program. That this set program is to be extended was in- dicated by an ante-conference discus sion by the governors who planned tG inject topics of either state or personal interest into the proceedings. Among these are Governor C. w. P. Hunt of Ari- zona, who would abolish state legisla- tures and turn the state government over to the governor and his cabinet, and Governor Amons of this state, who champions state, instead of fed eral control of natural resources.
 Farmers of the United States speedily must come to an under standing of the value of organization and union of forces in producing and selling farm crops. and in the financ- is of agricultural operations if this country is to keep pace with the de Velopment of European nations.
 This was the message from the American commission on rural credits delivered to the conference of govern ors here today in a report by Senator Duncan |. Fletcher, of Florida chair man of the commission. The first general report upon the extensive Flu ropean investigation made by the American commission, under joint authority of congress the govern ments of twenty nine states and the Southern Commercial Congress, was laid before the governors by Senator Fletcher, with recommendations for increased activity by the states in the extension of rural credits aud lco-operative farming enterprises
 The commission is deeply inn pressed with the vital importance of thoroughly organized and united rural population' Senator Fletcher said, in an authorized statement from the commission which he included in his report.
 Tn this respect the countries of Europe offer a lesson which may not long be disregarded in America with cut serious consequences. The agri-
 
 countries visited by the commission are organized along one or more of the following lines: credit, produce ton. distribution and social organic alton for the betterment of country life"
 Definite recommendation by the commission as the result of its eX- tensive investigation of European farming credit systems. will not be formulated until certain committees have gone through a mass or data and prepared it for consideration f the entire commission.
 Senator Fletcher made it clear however, that emphatic recommenda- tions would be made for a system of rural banking through which farmers could secure better loans. and through W hich they could finance their own cooperative producing, buying and selling organizations.
 President Wilson's recent statement that a distinct system of banking must be provided for if rural credits are to be successfully and adequate ly supplied was referred to by Sen ator Fletcher as a promise that fed eraI legislation will soon be taken up, with a view to relieving the fin ancial handicaps under which Amer jean farming is carried on.
 tContinued on Page Seven)