The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-12-04

sideration a bill for the reform Of our
system Of banking and currency, for
which the country waits with impati,
ence, as for something fundamental
to it's whole business life and neces-
sary to set credit free from arbitrary
and artificial restraints. 1 need not say
how earnestly hope for it's early en-
actment into law. take leave TO beg
that the whole energy and attention
OF the senate be concentrated upon II
till the matter Is successfully disposed
Of And yet feel that the request Is
not needed-that the members OF that
great house need no urging in this
service to the country.
present to you, In addition, the
urgent necessity that special provision
be made also for facilitating the cred
it's needed by the farmers Of the coun-
try. The pending currency bill does
the farmers q great service. 1t puts
them upon an equal footing with 9th
er business men and masters OF en-
terprise, as Il should; and upon Its
passage they will find themselves quit
OF many Of the difficulties which now
hamper them in the field OF credit.
The farmers, of course, ask ana
should be given no special privilege
such as extending to them the credit
of the government itself. What they
need and should obtain is legislation
which will make their own abundant
and substantial credit resources avail
able as a foundation for joint, con-
certed local action in their own be-
half in getting the capital they must
use. It is TO this we should now ad-
dress ourselves.
Allowed to Lag.
II has. singularly enough, come to
pass that we have allowed the indus
try of our farms to lag behind the
other activities Of the country in It's
development. | need not stop to tell
you how fundamental to the life OF
the Nation is the production of its
food. Our thoughts may ordinarily
be concentrated upon the cities and
the hives of industry, upon the cries
of the crowded market place and the
clangor of the factory. but II is from
the quiet interspaces Of the open val
leys and the free hillsides that we
draw the sources Of life and OF pros
perity, from the farm and the ranch,
from the forest and the mine. With
out these every street would be 81
lent, every office deserted, every fac
tory fallen into disrepair. And yet
the farmer does not stand upon the
same footing with the forester and the
miner in the market of credit. He is
the servant OF the seasons. Nature
determines how long he must wait for
his crops, and will not be hurried In
her processes. He may give his note,
but the season OF it's maturity depends
upon the season when his crop ma
lures. lies at the gates OF the market
where his products are sold. And the
security he gives is of a character not
known In the brokers' off1ce or as IA
miliarly as it might be on the counter
OF the banker.
Efficiency In Farming.
The agricultural department Of the
government is seeking to assist as
never before to make farming an eff
cient business, of wide cooperative ef-
fort. in quick touch with the markets
for foodstuffs. The farmers and the
government will henceforth work to-
gether as real partners in this field,
where we now begin to see our way
very clearly and where many intelli-
gent plans are already being put into
execution. The treasury of the Uni
ted States has, by a timely and well
considered distribution Of its depos-
its, facilitated the moving OF the crops
in the present season and prevented
the scarcity OF available funds too oft
en- experienced at such times. But
we must not allow ourselves to de-
pend upon extraordinary expedients.
We must add the means by which the
farmer may make his credit constant
" and easily available and command
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 ia
the ordinary money market. You
have but to look about you in any
| rural district to see the result. the
handicap and embarrassment which
have been put upon those who pro-
duce our food.
Study Rural Credit.
Conscious OF this backwardness and
neglect on our part. the congress re.
Gently authorized the creation Of a
| special commission 10 study the vari
Gus systems OF rural credit which
have been put into operation In Eur
ope. and this commission 10 already
prepared to report, Its report ought
to make It easier for US to determine
what methods will be best suited To
! our own farmers. ] hope and believe
that the committees OF the senate and
house will address themselves to thii
matter with the most fruitful results
and believe that the studies and re
| Gently formed plans of the depart
ment OF Agriculture may be made &c
serve them very greatly In their WORK
OF framing appropriate and adequate
legislation. II would be indiscreei
and presumptuous In anyone 70, dog
Matte upon so great and many eidet
q question, but feel confident thai