Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-01-03
SUBJECT OF RURAL CREDITS
President Barrett Believes Modified
System In America ls Feasible
Time for Action.

To the oficers and Members of the
Farmers Union:
Discussion the country over Is rag
ing around the subject of rural credits,
At the outset. want to say | have
made some investigation of the mat
ter. that believe a modified system
of rural credits feasible in America,
that am convinced the time has
come for action, and not merely talk.
and that rural credits may be
used to stem the tendency toward
landlordism which | know to be one
of the gravest menaces facing this ma
ton.
There is little use for me to dwell
upon the various plans offered where
by some system Of rural credits can
be made effectual. II Is only essen
tial to say that the Raiffeisen and 9TH
er plans have been followed in Ger
many and other old world countries
with signal success for more than a
century. 1t is possible. under one of
these plans, for a number of farmers
In given community to become mu-
tually responsible for loans extended
to their respective members II Is
also possible for rural credits to be
materialized by constituting the land
itself the basis of loans-and that
plan is meritorious and economically
sound. for the simple reason that in
the last analysis the soil is the source
of all wealth.
The International Institute of Agri-
culture in Rome. under the direction
of David Lubin, has made thorough
inquiry into all these plans. and II
any American farmer desires detailed
information. Mr.. Lubin will be glad to
furnish It.
L want to stress. right now to every
farmer in this country who is talking
excitedly about plans" and who
thinks that all that is necessary to sue
coed with rural credits or anything
else is to find "plans"-that there are
plans galore. What is needed right
now is men bold enough and with suf-
ficient initiative in every community
to carry these plans into execution.
and to do It in the face Of discourage
ment. difficulties and sacrifice of time
and health. If that is necessary.
It is just as well, therefore. to stop
worrying so much about plans" and
think more about how we are going to
find the men to execute the plans, not
just for one week. but right on to
the end of the chapter.
II Is necessary to remember. how
ever. that Germany is a country of
thickly settled. small communities.
and that the plans which have proved
advisable there may have to be alter
ed to take into account separation OF
agricultural units in America This
process resolves itself. therefore. into
a matter of detail, and the main por-
ton of the task is, as have stated.
the location and training of the men
to carry into effect any system of ru-
raj credits that may be devised, wheth-
er under governmental or private su.
pervision.
Now. to the second feature; that Of
landlordism In America. believe
that perfected system of rural cred
Its can do much to overcome or at
least lessen this evil. II you doubt
that It exists. only ask that you in
vestigate In your own neighborhood
as to the number Of men who own
their farms. and as to the number of
acres, wild or cultivated. owned by an
absentee landlord.
After all is said. 1t remains that
America is a land the prosperity and
progress or which are founded on ag.
riculture. If we allow to form in this
country class of controlling land
owners. and corresponding class of
tenants to these landlords, we create