The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-17

rope" said Or. owen, has long been
a serious national question. 1t is in
timately connected with miiitarism
and socialism, as we'll as with the
economic welfare of most European
countries. Since the question has
existed .ror a longer time in Europe.
and in more acute form. 1t is natural
that more attention should have been
given to IL there. and IL Is reasonable
to expect that America can find many
things Of value to study in European
agricultural life.
Report in December Probable.
ut was with this idea that the South
ern Commercial congress inaugurated
| the movement that resulted in the
sending of the American commission
! abroad. The commission has not yet
had time to digest the voluminousJ in
| formation which it secured in it's Eu-
4 ropean trip That report should be
1 made about next December, and. of
( course until then It would be improper
/ for me to comment upon the adapt
ability of European ideas to American
conditions.
THE difference between rural life in
( Europe and in America is that in Eu
rope II is organized and in America 1t
is disorganiZed.
| european rural life is highly or
ganized along business lines. Euro
mean farmers have organized to finance
themselves, to purchase their materials
and to sell their produce. Their fnan-
cial systems underlie their other forms
of organization, for without credit
their other business undertakings could
cultural financial system of Europe is
based upon the theory that hundred
weak units bound together make
strong unit. In their mortgage loans,
instead of each farmer selling his own
mortgages, q thousand or more mort
cages are pooled in a single institu-
ton. When you lend money on
mortgage in Europe you don't lend 1t
on a single farm, but on the combined
value of thousand farms.
Personal Security.
80 also in the case OF loans on per-
sonal security. Instead of taking the
pledge or the note of a single farmer,
as bank would do here the farmers
comb and stand surety for each
other. so that money is not loaned 10
one man. but to goo men
LAS a result of this thorough organi-
cation the European farmers are secur
ing more money to improve their
farms, are spending more upon them
and producing more from them, acre
for acre, than are our own farmers,
although an American farmer would
hardly believe the advantages which
he enjoys over his European colleagues
in the way of fertile soil and cheap
land unless he had seen Europe FOR
himself. Ii this organization can be
carried out in America the unneces-
sary profits of middlemen will he re-
duced: farmers viii produce more at
less cost and sell TO urban consumers
at lower prices. although the farmers
themselves viii take more profit out
Of the transaction.
Results fn Two Forms.
Two reports will result from the
studies of the commission. One of
these will be made by the seven COM
missioners appointed by the president.
This report will he submitted to con-
gress The other will be made by the
delegates to the governors Of the
thirty-six States IF the Union, the pro-
vlnciai governments Of Canada and to
the farmers organizations represented
upon the comm ssion. The commits
sion visited in all eighteen countries
and its studied covered territory from
4e-ss.=ff.*-ta- SaEIra+ from Russia To
ireland.
I'VE were welcomed to Europe by the
Rti- anu queen w iNssN @stU 'N4 ~sAf'N
reception upon the continent was given
us by President Poineare, of France.
feel that not the least accomplish
rnent of the commission has been TO
give hundred Americans-farmer s.
agricultural economists. and professors
and bankers-a thorough Idea of Eu-
ropear rural life"
Paints Glowing Opportunities.
Mr.. Barrett, who presented an amaz-
ing mass or statistics with reference
to the Panama canal and the countries
to the south Of 1t in the most interest
ing way imaginable urged the men
of Richmond and Virginia to be up and
doing and get ready for the opportuni-
ties that await them with the opening
Of the Panama canal At the head
now of an international organization
OF twcnty-one republics. there Is no
man who possesses more intimate
knowledge of the Central and South
American countries, and he spoke with
a dramatic fervor and force that held
the interest and attention Of his audi
ence.
The United States. he said had spent
500 GOO in China TO secure that trade
To the 81 ii had expended in the fertile
field of its near neighbors. and all be
cause this country has NOT awakened
TO an appreciation of the wealth and
culture of these near neighbors. He
cited some striking mples-Buenos
Ayres, with its 100000 inhabitants
and sl2. GOO GEO opera house. the finest
clubhouse and the most costly news
paper plant In the world. Would you
characterize these people as dagoes2 p
he exclaimed. There is no limit to the
opportunity for advantageous CONNER
cial relations, he declared, and the frst
port in the south to awaken to these
opportunities will receive the largest
share of the benefits.
Richmond First Stop,
DR. owen and Mr.. Barrett made
Richmond the first stop in an itinerary
of Southern cities on their mission of
awakening southern cities to the i'm
portance of the opening of the Panama
canal and the Introduction or adoption
of some system OF rural credits to be
garnered from the European methods
as result of the Investigation of the
special commission.
The distinguished visitors arrived in
Richmond yesterday afternoon on an
early train. and at O'Clock DIR. Owen
addressed a gathering of students of
the Massey Business college in the
auditorium of that institution on 1.-THE
Opportunities OF Young People In the
South"
Later in the afternoon President Al