The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-03
Make Farming an Efficient Business

Make Farming an Efficient Business
The agricultural department of the gov
ernment is seeking to assist as never be-
fore to make farming an efficient busi-
ness of wide cooperative effort, in quick
touch with the markets for foodstuffs
The farmers and the government will
henceforth work together as real partners
in this field, where we now begin to see
our way very clearly and where many
intelligent plans are already being put
into execution. The treasury of the Uni
ted States has, by a timely and we'll
considered distribution of it's deposits
facilitated the moving of the crops in the
present season and prevented the scarcity
of available funds too often experienced
at such times. But We must not allow
ourselves to depend upon extraordinary
expedients We must add the means by
which the farmer may make his credit
constantly and easily available and com
mand when he will the capital by which
to support and expand his business. 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
moLey market. You have but to look
about you in any rural district to see the
result the handicap and embarrassment
winch nave neen put upon those VINO
produce our food.
Conscious of this backwardness and
neglect on our part. the Congress re-
Gently authorized the creation of spe-
cial commission to study the various sys-
tens of rural credit which have been put
into operation in Europe, and this COM
mission Is already prepared to report
Its report ought to 1"alSe it easier for
us to determine what methods will be
fa hnn
and believe that the committees of t e
Senate and House will address them
selves to this matter with the most fruit
full results, and | believe that the studies
and recently formed plans OF the depart
ment of agriculture may be made TO serve
them very greatly in thei rork OF framing
appropriate and adequate legislation. 1t
would be indiscreet and presumptuous in
anyone to dognatize upon sc great and
many-slded a question, but / feel conf
dent that common counsel will produce
the results we must all desire
Turn from the farm to tho world of
business which centers in the city and
In the factory, and I think that all
thoughtful observers will agree that the
immediate service we owe the business
communities of the country is to- prevent
private monopoly more effectually than
II has vet been prevented. | think it will
be easily agreed that we should let the
sherman antitrust law stand, unaltered
as it is, with its debatable ground about
it, but that we should as much as pos
sible reduce the area of that deba ia Bile
ground by further and more explicit
iegislation and should also supplement
that great act by legislation which will
not only clarity it. but also facilitate its
administration and make 1t 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 a
subject so many sided and so deserving
of careful and discriminating discussion
that | shall take the liberty of address,
ing you upon it in a special message at
a later date than this. 1t is of capital
importance that the business men of this
country should be relieved of all uncer-
tainties of law with regard to their en-
terprises and investments and a clear
path indicated which they can travel
without anxiety. 1t is as important that
they should be relieved of embarrass-
ment and set free to prosper as that pri-
vate monopoly should be destroyed The
ways of action should be thrown wide
open
Presidential Nominees
] turn to subject which hone can
be handled promptly and without serious
controversy OF any kind | mean the
method of selecting nominees for the
presidency of the United States. feel
confident that I do not misnterpret the
wishes or the expectations of the country
when I urge the prompt enactment Of
legislation which will provide for primary
elections throughout the country at