Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-14
FARMS PART Of
BUSINESSLIFE
IN EUROPE
American Expert Tells How
Old World Has Linked
Land With Commerce.
BY JUDGE S. A. LINDSEY,
Chairman Of Texas Farm Life Com
mission and Member Of Ameri-
80 a nran..Ia..r.I Hnn.n.lrr.nr

og = - I'VE - LiiN
Chairman Of Texas Farm Life Com
mission and Member Of Ameri
can Agricultural Commission.
Special Cable TO The Atlanta Georgian.
LONDON. July l4-What has my
investigation Of rural conditions in
Continental Europe taught me? ]
, can speak for myself only, for the
commission has made no verdict and
won't until a careful study Of all the
evidence gathered has been made.
Answering the question asked
above: First-Agricultural advance
within the last dozen years is evi-
dent. This advance is due mainly
10 the following causes: Rise in
prices Of farm products; better meth
DDS Of production. which are by in
telligent use Of fertilizers; universal
planting Of carefully bred and Sc
Iected seeds. raising Of best types
of farm animals obtainahle; coop
erative preparation cf farm products
for market; cooperative selling in
wholesale quantities, systems Of
finance and credit suited 10 agricul-
tural needs
Farming Also a Business.
Thus agriculture in Continental
Europe is not only an active indus
try but a business. as well thorough
~ efficient in production, marketing
and finance
Second: Prices Of agricultural
products in Continental Europe are
higher than they are in the United
States and that is due 20 ample home
market, protected in all instances
from competition with American
products by distance and transpor-
tation charges and in many instances
by tariff laws. and the excellent and
attractive condition farm products
are put into for the market. ...
Third. Agricultural prosperity
stimulates all branches Of industry
and fills a nation with strength. CON
tentment and general prosperity with
all appearances Of permanency
operation and Credit.
Fourth: Cooperative preparation
Of farm products for market, coop
erative marketing and cooperative
agricultural financing and credits
help the industries and business OF
"A nation because these are but com
plements of agriculture, without
which it is~inefiiCient and by means
OF which the nation is fed more
81 MI nd of
than in our own country, where ag
riCulture receives smaller returns
Fifth. Rural credits and rural
finance are built upon the same prin-
Ciples as commercial credits and
finance Il is as feasible TO construct
q system Of finance and credit for
agriculture as II is for commerce. and
the system of credits and tinanca
suited TO the needs Of agriculture rs
as helpful and stimulating 10 agricul-
ture as IL is to commerce and bust
ness.
Commerce and agriculture are so
unlike in their nature that u is quite
improbable that one system Of finance
and credit can be constructed that
VIII comprehend the needs Of both.
Rural Banks Aid Others.
Rural banks and credit societies
are not hurtfnl to commercial banks,
but are helpful. ] have seen many
Instances where commercial banks
have purchased dehenturcs Of land
mortgage institutions and discounted
paper of rural banks and credit socie-
ties
Sixth The greatest good OF CO.
operative preparations of farm prod
nee for market, cooperative selling
and cooperative financing is that
they educate the farmer in the
school of business, build character by
rewarding il. open his mind to ways
and needs Of our business with which
he becomes an ally and his heart %
his fellow imam whom he aids and
from whom he has received aid
Education Helps Greatly.
He comes 10 realize, as only expert
enCe can teach. the value and strength
OF collective enterprise.
seventh Compulsory and collective
education gives to the citizens IF
Europe preparation for life and hah-
its of thoroughness which. n our peo-
pie possessed them along with their
initiative and resourCefulness would
make ours easily the strongest peo-
pie of the world,
s=~=z-ss--~--z-------------