The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-28

crop cuts it's value one-third, what
would grain be worth if we increased
our yields as our well-meaning FRIEND
the better farming expert, demon
strates beyond question, that we can?
II isn't the number Of bushels that we
raise that brings comfort or distress
TO our family, and Is the measure Of the
success or failure Of our business: but
the number OF dollars that our product
brings over and above cost. 1t isn't
your duty or mine to see that the
worlds stomach is filled Cheaply at
own EXPENSE; but to do what we a
10 fill the minds and stomachs and
cover the backs of those that are de-
pendent upon us. There are. / fancy,
few consumers worrying greatly about
us. We live in a selfish nation. in a
sedfsh age, in a selfish world, and we
might as well recognize it. Do you
know that the government has just
discovered that because Of our lack OF
some system for farm credits, the
American farmer (the bulwark OF the
nation at election time) Is paying an
average of 81 per cent IN the money
he borrows, while the farmers Of
France, Germany, Switzerland, and
some other countries have through: the
aid assistance and agency OF their re-
speCtiVe countries been furnished with
a system by which they borrow for
from 81 to AZ per cent, and this has
been going on for about 100. years? |
have read everything ] can fine on this
subject, coming from anyone connected
with the government, and nowhere
does il seem to feel or intimate that it
may have been derelict in it's duty TO
the farmer in allowing these facts TO
remain so long undiscovered to itself
or in giving them to the American
public. Of course the government has
known 1t. To find out such things for
our beneit is the business Of our min
listers and consuls. They, or the gov
eminent must have had no interest or
considered 1t a matter of no import
ance. During all this time the Amer
lean farmer has competed with these
foreign farmers in the worlds markets.
Now there is great activity. The presi-
dent, our ministers and c%onsuls, a
special commission, and even some of
our representatives, are showing signs
Of uneasiness. Again, they are going
to do something for the American
farmer. To be suspicious without
some tangible reason is unwise. To
beware of the Greek bearing gifts
has been wisdom for ages. l have no
crouch against the government or any
one else, unless 1t may be the farmer
as a class. Individually he may be all
right. Collectively he is worse than a
failure. In these times OF concerted
action, understanding, agreement, CONF
bination, trust and monopoly. ..
On Oct. IL, 1912, the governors OF
many states met in conference. To
them President Taft wrote a letter in
which he aid Interest rates paid by
farmers Of this country is averaged at
81 per cent in comparison to a rata
Of from AZ to 81 paid by the farmers
for instance Of France and Germany"
Speaking of the German system he
says: Through all the changed con-
ditiOns of a century the s~oundness and
practicability OF this financial machin=
cry has been tried" Again he says:
But, the advantages to be gained by
the adoption Of this plan go beyond
the direct saving in interest charges To
h farmer. The great necessity which
prompted the establishment and extern
sion of this plan throughout Europe
was that of checking the rapidly adj
Vancing increase in the cost Of food
stuffs brought about by the inevitable
increase of consumption and the fail
ure of the long drained soil to afford a
corresponding increase in production.
That proposition faces the people
Of this country today; not in so severe
a form as 1t threatened the older coun-
tries of Europe. but still as a great and
pressing economic proposition"
Again he says: 1T must be made
profitable for him to place every acre
of his ground under cultivation. This
offers the relief from the in
creased cost of his God stuffs." He
also says: THE country today enjoys
great prosperity. The factories are
busy. The w~orkingmen employed, and
everywhere the wheels of industry
hum. The farmers share in the gem
eral prosperity. We have come to look
upon the farmer Of today as one of our
most prosperous citizens. The propos-
al which l. make is not to subsidize the
American farmer. Fortunately he does
not need 1t; nor would he accept il.
What this plan offers is a means to
secure to the country greater produc-
tIvity, at less cost from the farm now
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