The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1913-08-21
AMERICAN FARMERS
BEHIND NEIGHBORS
Our Farmers Must Coop
crate Have Soil as Rich
AS Any Place.

AS Any Place. .
The United States Agricultural
Commission which has just re,
turned from a three months
trip abroad where they were
studying farming conditions has
brought back a lesson which
every farmer in this country
should take we'll to heart. Affairs
the world over at present are
such to prove that no man can do
things alone as we'll as they can
I be done when in cooperation with
others working along the same
line.
Though the soil here is equal
to any on the other side of the
water, the actual results accom-
plished here are far below those
of Europe. And the reasons why
conditions here rank far behind
those of our foreign neighbors is
the lack of cooperation is the
findings made by the commission
just back from the old world.
DR.. Hector Macpherson, pro-
fessor Of political science at Greg
on Agricultural college, one of
Oregon's representatives on the
commission, says that the "go-it-
alone" policy prevailingin Amer
lea is responsible for the back
wardness of the American farmer.
1t is probable that no investi-
eating body was ever accorded
such a reception as the commits
sion received from the different
countries of Europe" said the
professor in an interview. "Offi-
GERS of local cooperation socie-
ties, leading educators, depart
ments of agriculture and the
government officials in general
freely offered their services in
each of the countries visited.
The result is that the commission
has returned with body of in
formation and a fund of exper-
ience which ought to be a force
in the betterment of American
agriculture.
Among the countries visited
were Italy, Austria-Hungary,
Spain, Switzerland, Germany,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Holland, Belgium, England, Scot
land, Wales and Ireland.
There is no country in Europe
offering anything like the posi-
bilities for agricultural produc-
tion as can be found in America.
At present our crops are poorer
than those of most European
countries. Our m me thods of |
marketing are more eXtravagant |
and credit facilities more expen-
sive than are to be met with any
where in Europe. Many coun-
tries are also ahead of us in their I
methods of rural education. But
Notwithstanding these drawbacks |
/ feel certain that there does not
exist anywhere in the old world !
a higher average native ability |
than to be found upon American |
farms.
"The middle class American
farm home, especially in our best
settled sections. offers a higher
degree of comfort and luxury
than is to be found in the old I
world.
"The farmers of Europe were
forced to adopt scientific methods
of farming and cooperative sys-
tens for the preparation and
marketing Of their products.
They were also compelled to re-
sort to cooperative institutions
for the supply of credit on terms
suited to the needs of agriculture
in almost every country COM
munity.
The small farmers had been
reduced to the verge Of starva-
tion before cooperative methods
were adopted. The result of this
cooperation in practically every
case has been to place the small
farmer on his feet.
THE motive force with us
must be intelligence rather than
grim necessity. When the time
comes that American farmers are
as careful in their methods of
cultivation, as thoroughly organ
lied for marketing, insurance,
and finances as are the small
farmers of Europe, American
agriculture will have obtained a
footing exceeding anything to be
found in Europe.
$1,000, 600 pounds of butter in