Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-30
TO PUT AGRICULTURE
ON BUSINESS BASIS
SENATOR FLETCHER ADVOCATES
CHAMBERS OF AcRlcuL.
TURE.
WOULD TEND TO DEVELOP
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION
contendsd That Result Would Be
Same as Organization Of Chambers
Of commeres-WouId Unity and Pro.
mote Efforts Of Asricuituralists-
outsrowth Of Foreign invsstisa tion.
tBy Special Correspondents


Washington, June 3O'.-Chambers Of
commerce and like organizations hav-
ing proven of great benefit in the
business world. the question is now
raised why not have chambers OF
agriculture.
! Senator Fletcher of Florida, who was
chosen by President Wilson AS
/ chairman of the commission
winch is now studying rural
CO. operative methods in Europe,
but who has been unable to go abroad
on account of the tariff bill, is respon-
sibe for this new idea. 1t has been
suggested to him by the reports which
ne has already received from Europe
as to what the American commission
is learning. He thinks 1t points way
to bring the agricultural efforts Of each
county or other small division of the
state to greater efficiency.
Develop Agricultural Cooperation.
Just as the chamber Of commerce Of
d town Or city seeks TO bring into a
measure of cooperation for mutual
benefit the business interests Of the
, locality. so. it is the idea OF Senator
/ =
each county or part Of county would
bring about a measure Of agricultural
cooperation. It would be the means
of correlating and stimulating agri-
cultural activities. SO as to prevent one
line from overrunning or interfering
with another.
Unity and Promote Efforts.
AS officially described by the pub
49,
of the United States, Senator Fletcher
Of stimulating agriculture which have
been adopted by the United States de-
partment Of agriculture the various
state departments Of agriculture. the
agricultural colleges. the experiment
stations and the organizations OF farm
ers already In existence dealing with
social insurance. legislative and other
features The plan is not TO have the
chambers of agriculture supersede any
present effort Of q cooperative sort.
Rather. the chamber Of agriculture
would be intended to unity and pro-
mote present efforts, keep in close
touch with them. promote them. and
act as q sort Of clearing house for
all other movements helpful to the
agriculture Of it, community.
Business. like Methods Of Operation.
It is pointed out that by organizing
chambers of agriculture there would be
brought to bear on every agricultural
problem, first. business-like handing
of the resources of the nation; and.
second. business-like methods Of OPP
Grafton among the farmers them
selves. The effect would tend to raise
agriculture to the level OF a we'll
organized business. Farmers would be
aided in matters OF management. In
dealing with costs. profits. markets and
the like.
Senator Fletcher feels that thru such
system the farmers would get the
real benefits Of those results in CO.
operation which have proven wise in
this country. He feels that in this
way the farmers would apply to their
business the latest knowledge regard
ing buying, marketing and financing
and the way would be paved for rural
credit or land mortgage banks. In
fact such chambers OF agriculture as
he proposes might become the point
| OF origfn for cooperative credit as
sociations. Eventually. 1t would, he
believes, be possible to cooperate In
, many ways with chambers Of COM
merce in towns and cities.