Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-24
PRAISES
FARM CREDIT
Of EUROPE
Dr., Clarence J, Owens, Director
General of Commercial Con-
gress, Gives Views.
BY DR.. CLARENCE }. OWENS.

BY DR.. CLARENCE J. OWENS.
Director General of the american
Commission to Investigate Euro
pcaH agricultural Cooperation and
Managing Director of the Southern
Commercial Congress.
Special Gable to The Atlanta Georgian.
BERLIN, June 24-"The investiga-
ton Of the commission thus far has
given promise of a report to be made
to the American people that should
result in widening and defining agi-
tation in the United States in favor
Of the establishment of an agricul-
tural credit system and the adoption
of cooperative methods in farming
BY reason of>its division into Sc =
lions the commission has been able
in a comparatively short time spent
IN Europe, to make thorough studies
of the credit and cooperative sys-
TENS in Italy, Hungary, Austria, Rus
STA, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland
and Germany, and even the cotton
situation in Egypt, which is of par
ticular importance to the farmers Of
our South.
Inquiry Goes Deep.
From Berlin the commission goes
to Dresden. spending about seven
days more in Germany. then taking
up its studies in France, England
and Ireland. Although. of course, no
discussion has been held Dy the com
mission to determined the consen-
sus of opinion regarding the adapt
ability of the various systems 10
American conditions and though it
is impossible now to say what form
our report to the American people
will take. the investigation has prob
ed deep enough to show the great
assistance rendered to agriculture by
these systems
ut must be borne in mind that the
cooperative idea in Europe rests
upon the natural foundation of COM
munity life of the farmers.
In America we have no such
farming villages. The men who make
up our rural villages are chiefly mid
dlemen, merchants or retired farm
ers. In Europe, on the contrary,
farmers all live in villages, and walk
to their farms to work, while Amerl-
can farmers live in comparatively
isolated houses. Because OF this con-
dition, and several other factors,
American farmers have developed an
almost extreme individualism, which
though it has added greatly to ths
strength of the nation in the charac-
ter of its men, has not made for eco
nomic advancement.
Mortgage System Adaptable.
Just how far the cooperative idea
can be made to progress in the face
Of such conditions is difficult to say
From our studies thus far, II seems
probable, that the mortgage credit
systems of Europe can be adapted
with certain changes TO American
conditions, as well as the systems of
farmers educational political unions
so highly developed in Germany and
Germanic Austria, which will, I be-
lieve, afford a lesson Of great value
to American farmers.
Tn every country visited every
courtesy has been shown the COM
mission by governments, by bankers
and by the representatives of agri-
cultural systems In Italy we wecs
welcomed by the King. Since the day
Of our landing in Europe every con-
sideration has been extended us and
! am glad to announce tnat we viii
leave the Continent under no less
enjoyable circumstances, for Presi-
dent Poincaire of France, / am in
formed, will receive the commission
in Paris, which is the last city to be
visited on the Continent