The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-02

teaches. European farmers believe
that everything produced has a value,
and use effectively every by-product.
They raise that which they need for
their own use. as also that of their
stock. They also employ the idea OF
cooperative selling AS explained
above.
Further. as to sections four and
five; II must be admitted hat the
application of intelligent business
methods is a desirable foundation
for any line of endeavor II should.
theoretically, at least, apply to the
farmer as well as To other a~vocations
in life. This is where cooperative
rural community work has such an
effective opportunity to reach and
spread broadcast among it's affiliated
membership reforms Of this charac-
ter.
Men are slaves OF rut. habit and
custom; hence when a few strong
leaders Of any rural community take
advanced stands for the public good,
it In not difficult to get others to read
lily follow.
Many forceful illustrations Of this
Idea were found In the rural sections
of Italy, Austria and Germany. where
country life has beer raised 10 a hap
by, c~ontented and attractive state,
which Is the direct result of the va
rtous forms Of community life mad
possible by genuine cooperative eff
fort along all lines.
Summary.
This, then. is but the briefest pos
sible outline of what European co-op-
erative rural effort means, and, as
stated above. will be treated far more
comprehensively In the commissions
official report when issued.
In pBOrIuSipn nart1tt me tn CAV
that / appreciate to the fullest extent
that ] was not Instructed by the State
to make recommendations as 81 result
of the stuay-ef this subject; yet If
some suggestion as to a possible plan
Of action to use some Of the striking
features developed be not made the
question naturally arises rs TO the pur-
pose of attending at all. Hence the
following suggestions are made solely
as such, and If there be any practi-
cality in them / shall he glad and feel
fully repaid for the sacrifice of time
and can employed.
Suggestions.
1st.--At the forthcoming session of
the Legislature. a commission should
be raised. of which the commissioner
Of agriculture should he either chair
man or a member; the purpose of
said commission being to personally
visit all magisterial districts Of the
State and spread broadcast among
the farmers of same, this new and
progressive method Of finance and
marketing.
Rural banking societies should then
and there be formed, either with or
without share capital contributed by
the farmers themselves. These So
clety banks should then clear through
and deposit with a parent bank of the
State, centrally located, either some
institution now in existence or here
after to he formed for the purpose.
2nd.-By all means, h farmers
of the State hould ave new n I'm
proved facilities for using q and mort
gage system with long time amortiza-
ton features for the purpose of &C
curing additional land and also for
assisting tenants to become owners
It Is hoped that as a result of the
Fletcher bill already introduced In
congress-, such a great national fnsti-
tuition may be formed. with branches
located centrally in every State,
1t is proposed by this bill that such
land mortgage bank shan he run an
and not for profit. on the contrary "a
/ afford the farmer the opportunity tn
borrow mono IN the lowest possible
interest basis, If Virginia Is 10 have
access 10 such an Institution, it Will
no doubt be necessary to have an in
telligeut reConstruction OF our present
homestead registration and other land
laws.
Srd-An outright repeal of the
State and other IKE on land mort