The Detroit times., 1913-04-15
AMERICAN JEWS
TURN INEARNEST
TO AGRICULTURE
They Already Operate Some
1900 Farms Located i'm
Nearly Every State
MONEY LOANED TO THEM
BY COOPERATIVE BANK
TailOrs, Peddlers, Cloth Pressers
and StOrekeepers BACK
to the Land"

NEW YORK--The back TO the
farm movement in America is being
joined by many Jews, most OF them
from this city. according TO Leonard
q. Robinson, general manager OF the
Jewish Agricultural and Industrial
Aid society. which has its headquar-
ters here. In his annual report he
gives figures showing the extent OF
the agricultural movement among the
Jews in America. He says the move
ment is a natural one and bids fair
TO he permanent
The time has gone by said the
late Or Morris Loeb In an editorial
In the Survey, "rhen Il was proper 10
class Jewish farmers with horse
marines and uniforms
To which Director Robinson now
adds.
The Jewish farmer is not only a
fact but is gradually becoming factor
Failures, il ia true. have been numer-
Gus. but 1t issno longer popular TO
dismiss them with the off-hand state
mept that the Jew cannot be a farm
err Every failure can be traced 70
specific causes-causes that are mex
orable and that operate without re-
gard 10 creed. race, color or previous
condition OF servltude Every colony
that failed lacked one. most OF them
all, OF the elements requisite for sue
cessful agriculture.
A Movement Of the People.
Colonization from the top has
ceased. and the Jewish agricultural
movement has become movement OF
ha 70
established Jewish farmers have
found their bearings. their economic
POSITION is becoming stronger. and
their children show a marked tenden-
cy to follow in their footsteps No
better material is needed TO make the
Jew force in the agricultural devel-
cpment OF our country.
With several thousands Jewish
farmers prosperous and econtented.
with their children taking up farms
near the parental homesteads; with
hundreds of Jewish laborers acquiring
experience Oh farms in every part or
the country. with many Jewish young
men In our agricultural colleges pre-
pairing to enter agricultural as pro-
fession, and a number who have al
ready made their mark in the profess
sion, and, finally, with the many forms
OF agricultural education agricultural
cooperation. land agricultural credit,
In which the Jew has shown pioneer
ing qualities Of high order, II Is far
from an Idle hope that the Jew Is
destined 10 make his influence felt In
agriculture as he has in other fields OF
usefulness, and that he will prove q
factor TO be reckened with In the
agricultural upbuilding OF our coun-
try"
Now Run 4,60O Farms.
There are now in the United States,
Ii Is estimated by Mr.. Robinson,
about 1900 farms run by Jews, cover
Ing zoe, 600 acres, and worth $4,000
600 These farms are mostly In New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut,
though they are scattered In every
state and territory OF the union
or the 465 persons whom the society
put into agriculture in the last year,
70 had been tailors, Il storekeepers,
&c peddlers, "a cloth pressers, 20 car
penters and two dentists.
The society has begun the organiza-
ton of cooperative agricultural credit
unions. on the German plan-short
time small loans TO Jewish farmers
There are eight OF these unions. locat
ed as follows: Rensselaer, county, n
Y: al Briggs Station, y. Y; Falls.
burg, y. Y; Hurleyville. " Y; In
fairfield county, Conn; Ellington,
Conn. Lebanon, Conn: Colchester,
Conn
These are the pioneer cooperative
agricultural credit banks on American
soil They are controlled entirely by
the members. The shares are IS each
and the holder OF one share has the
same voice and the same rights as
the holder OF 100 shares Member.
ship IL open only 10 members In good
standing OF the local Jewish Farmers
associations The entire member
ship OF credit union constitutes the
General Assembly. which has the final
decision on all questions. The direct
management Is In the hands OF q
board OF directors OF seven members,
four OF whom are of'icers-namely
the president. vice president. secretary
and treasury The four officers also
constitute the credit committee and
are In complete charge OF the granting
Of loans The other three members OF
the board constitute supervisory
committee. whose duty IL Is 10 audit
The books and 20 supervise the acts OF
me credit committee Appeals from
the credit committee. AZ we'll as from
the supervisory committee can be
taken 10 the general assembly.