The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-12-04
PRESIDENTS Mes
SAGE TO CONGRESS
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course ask and should be given no spe-
cial privilege such as extending to
them the credit of the government
itself. What they need and should OBJ
tain Is legislation which will make
their own abundant and substantial
credit resources available as a foun-
dalton for joint, concerted, local ac-
ton in their own behalf In getting the
capital they must use. Il is to this we
should now address ourselves.
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 its
development l need not stop So tell
you how fundamental to the life Of the
nation is the production Of its food.
Our thoughts may ordinarily be con-
centrated upon the cities and the hives
OF industry, upon the cries Of the
crowded market place and the clangor
Of the factory, but 1t is from the quiet
interspaces Of the open valleys and the
free hillsides that we draw the sources
Of life and Of prosperity, from the
farm and the ranch. from the forest
and the mine. without these every
street would be silent, every Office de-
serted, every factory fallen into disre-
pair
And yet the farmer does not stand
upon the same footing with the fores-
ter and the miner in the market Of
credit. He Is the servant of the sea-
sons. 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 its
maturity depends upon the season
when his crop natures and lies at the
gates Of the market where his prod
ucts are sold. And the security he
gives In OF character not known In
tho brokers' ofiice or as famiiiarly as
Il might bc on the counter Of the
banker.
Tho agricultural department Of the
government In seeking TO assist as
never before TO make farming an efii.
cient business, OF wide cooperative ef-
fort. In quick touch with the markets
for foodstuirs. The farmers and the
government will henceforth work to-
gether as real partners In this field
where wo now begin TO see our way
very clearly and where many intelli-
gent plans are already being put into
execution.
The treasury OF the United States
has by II timely and well considered
distribution OF its deposits facilitated
the moving OF the crops In the present
season and prevented the scarcity OF
available funds too often experienced
mt such times. But we must not allow
ourselves 10 depend upon extraordi-
nary expedients. We must add the
means 10y which the farmer may make
his credit constantly aud easily avail.
able and command when he will the
capital by which to support and ex-
pand his business. We lag behind
many other great countries OF the mod
ern world In attempting 10 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 In the
ordinary money market. You have
but to look about you In any rural dis
trlct 10 see the result. the handicap
and embarrassment which have been
put upon those who produce our food.
Conscious OF th'k 'ackwardness and
neglect on our pSS the congress re-
Gently authorized the creation OF
special commission TO study the vari-
Gus systems Of rural credit which have
been put into operation In Europe. and
this commission Is already prepared |
to report. Its report ought to make II
easier for us 10 determine what meth
DDS will be best suited 10 our own |
farmers. hope and believe that the
OF the senate and house
win address themselves 10 this matter
with the most fruitful results. and !
believe that the studies and recently |
ra... "A .lano n( tha dana rttnant 90