The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-03
COL. Won EMGELKEM
EXPLAINS OBJECT
OF Commissions Visit to Europe

OF what benefit TO the people ol
Florida was the recent visit OF special
commission TO stndy the plan OF rural
/ credits which obtain in Europe?
This and similar questions have ire
ouently been asked OF The News. See
ing Col ]. H. Won Engelken on the
streets last Monday, the Palatka News
asked that gentleman 10 answer the
question, which he kindly consented to
do.
II will be remembered that Col. Won
Engleken, whose home, Vingolf-on.the'
81. Iohns, is in East Paiatka, was the
only Florida member of this commits
sion 10 make the trip and the report OF
his trip, published in the Times. Union
since bis return has shed much light on
the subject and has been read with great
interest. In fact SO much was thought
of bis report that il has been incorporat-
ed in the Journal OF the United States
Senate.
"You ask what is the benefit 10 be
derived from our participation in the
work. of the American Commission"
responded Col Won Engelken. 81 can
answer that The best by giving an out
line of what the American Commission
has done and what il proposes to do. =.
"As you know the Commission OF
which | am a member, spent three
months in Europe investigating the
systems so successfully employed there
for providing financial assistance 10 The
agricultural interests. 1t was the inten-
ton 10 carefully analyze these systems
to determine how they might be adapt
ed to use in this country. If found i'm
practicable for use here in their entire
| ty, then to devise for ourselves work
able system, based upon the principles
of those in use abroad.
"This part OF the work has been ac
complished, insofar as the investigation
abroad is. concerned Every facility
was accorded the Commission by the
European governments for conducting
its investigations, and the members re-
turned with the conviction that some.
thing must and can be done in our
country TO place agriculture upon the
same healthy footing financially as that
upon which il now stands in Europe.
"The investigation in Europe having
been concluded, The American Com
mission was made a permanent organi-
Zation with headquarters in Washing
ton; the work before the permanent or
ganization, of which, by the way, Sena-
tor Fletcher is chairman, is the import
ant one of studying and analyzing the
data collected while abroad. In No
yember the entire Commission will as
semble in session in Washington for the
purpose of issuing its report. That this
work is of extreme importance and thai
the sphere of influence of the American
Commission will be comprehensive and
will have an important bearing upon
agricultural progress can be seen from
the attitude of President Wilson toward
the Commission, as outlined in his ad-
dress of August 18th, when, among
other things, the President said:
IA Government commission is now
in Europe studying the interesting and
highly successful methods which have
been employed in several countries oil
the old orld, and its report will be
made TO Congress at regular session
next winter. II is confidently 10 be ex-
peeled that the Congress will at thai
session act upon the recommendations
of that report and establish complete
and adequate system OF rural credits.
"There is no subject more importan
10 the welfare or the industrial develop
ment of the United States, there is nc
reform in which would myself feel i
greater honor or privilege TO take
part, because should feel that 1t was :
service TO the whole country OF the tirs
magnitude and significance.
ut should have accompanied ant
gone hand in hand with the reform o
our banking and currency system If W.
had been ready 10 act wisely and Will