Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-12-04

not known in the brokers' once o
as familiarly as il might be on tn
counter OF the banker.
The Agricultural Department Of tn
Government is seeking 70 assist a
never before TO make farming an EN-
cient business, OF wide cooperative
/ effort. in quick touch with the mar
kets for foOdstufis The farmers anC
the Government viii henceforth wOrl
together as real partners in this field
where we now begin to see our way
very clearly and where many intel
ligent plans are already being pu
| into execution. The Treasury OF the
United States has, by a timely and
Well-cOnsidered distribution Of its de
posits, facilitated the moving of the
crops in the present season and pre-
vented the scarcity of available funds
too often experienced at such times
But we must not allow ourselves to
depend upon extraordinary expedi
ents. We must add the means by
which the farmer may make his credit
constantly and easily available and
command when he will the capital by
which to support and expand his bust
ness. We lag behind many other
great countries of the modern world
in attempting to do this. Systems of
rural credit have been studied and
developed on the other side Of the
water while we left our farmers to
shift for themselves in the ordinary
money market. You have but to look
about you in any rural district to see
the result, the handicap and embar-
rassment which have been put upon
those who produce our food.
Conscious of this backwardness
and neglect on our part, the Con-
gress recently authorized the crea-
ton of a special commission to
study the various systems of rural
credit which have been put into OPP
Grafton in Europe, and this commits
sion is already prepared to report.
Its report ought to make it easier
for us to determine what methods
will be best suited to our own farm
ers. | hope and believe that the
committees of the Senate and House
will address themselves to this mat
ter with the most fruitful results
and l believe that the studies and
recently formed plans of the Depart
ment of Agriculture may be made
to serve them very greatly in their
work of framing appropriate and
adequate legislation. 1t would be
indiscreet and presumptuous in any
one to dogmatize upon so great and
question, but | feel
that common counsel will
produce the results we must all de-
sire.
Turn from the farm to the world
Of business which centers in tsk city
and in the factory, and th tstiothat
all thoughtful observers wiz agree
that the Immediate sersdJf cont owe
he busine - COMMERCIAL arrangeshe
is 10 prevefTes Lieuten. il n
opoIy 5r~s effectualls sN1 TIM has
yet been Prevented. thinE 4 will
be easily agreed that we shduid let
the Sherman antitrust law stand,
unaltered, as it is with its dehatable
ground about it, but that we should
as much as possible reduce the area
of that debatable ground by further
and more explicit legislationg and
should also supplement that great
act by legislation which will not only
clarity it but also facilitate its ad-.
and make it fairer to
all concerned. No doubt we shall
all wish, and the country will expect,
this to be the central subject OF our
deliberations during the present
session; but it is subject so many
sided and so deserving of careful
and discriminating discussion that
shall take the liberty of addressing
you upon it in a special message at
a later date than this. 1t is of CAPT
tai Importance that the business
men of this country should be re-
lieved of all uncertainties of law
with regard to their enterprises and
and a clear path indi-
Gated which they can travel without
1t is as important that
they should be relieved OF embar-
rassment and set free to prosper as
that private monopoly should be de-
stroyed. The ways of action should
be thrown wide open.
/ turn to a subject which hope
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy of any kind.
I mean the method of selecting NOM
inees for the Presidency of the
United States. | feel confident that
| do not misinterpret the wishes or
the expectations of the country when
l urge the prompt enactment of leg
islation which will provide for prl-
mary elections throughout the coun-
try at which the voters of the several
parties may choose their nominees
for the Presidency without the in
of nominating conven-
lions. ] venture the suggestion that
this legislation should provide for
the retention of party conventions,
but only for the purpose of declar-
ing and accepting the verdict of the
primaries and formulating the plat
forms of the parties; and suggest
that these conventions should con-
,4 mt of dalapates chosen for this