The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-05-15
FARM LOAN BILL TO
CREATE STIMULUS
b. An Adaptation to American Condi-
lions of the Principal Credit Sys-
TENS Successful In England.
MEANS SCIENTIFIC FARMING
representative Buckley, Author of
Measure, Says Competition Among
Laboring Men Will End.
BY Congressman G. H. Tavenner.

By Congressman G. H. Tavenner.
Washington, May 15.-American
'Arming should receive the greatest
stimulus ever injected into it when
Congress passes the farm loan bank
bill The bill is an adoption to
American conditions of the principal
rural credit systems which have
revolutionized European farming.
Before the adoption of systems which
gave easy credit to agriculture, the
European peasants were worse than
beggars, for they were in grip of
pittiless system Of usury which kept
for the benefit of the usurers.
Rural credit changed that condi-
lion. AS soon as the peasant farm
ers pooled their honesty for credit
they shook off the Insurers, and with
cheap capital began wonderful de-
velopment of their farms. Coop
GRAFTON in borrowing led to Coop
grafton in other things, 50 that in
most European countries the farm
FRS now buy through mutual compa-
mics and sell through mutual COM
,anies, and they have waxed pros
DerOus.
In less degree, similar develop
IAent can be expected in this coun-
Try. American farmers are much
better off than were the European
PEASANTS a. half century ago. But
in many sections farm development
is crippled because Of high interest
rates, and in these sections particul-
Arly the effect of the bill will be seen
first.
But the measure is not only Of
'~nefit and interest to faIners. It's
legendary effect should be :. wonder
f,iil benefit TO workin gmen in the
towns and cities. Representative
<. J. Bulkley of Ohio, the author
VI the bill, explained it to me as fol-
lows
THE rural credit legislation will
act on the country as if an enormous
IeW area of free farm lands were
4dded to this country,' he said.
Prosperity in the past in this coun-
Try has been largely due to the fact
mat we have had plenty Of free land
'nr honesteaders. That kept down
rae price Of land everywhere The
'eSnlt was that not only could men
let free farm in the west, but in the
east land stayed cheap, making it
>sasy for men to acquire farms
But that condition is at an end
There is no more free land. The re-
>'ult is an increasing pressure on the
land by the city dWellers Farm
values are mounting 1t is harder
md harder for men to go on to
farms Of their own, and with this
rbecked development the cost of liv-
IHg increases.
"The rural credit bill should act
upon this condition just as an ad-
clifton of free land might do. 1t
will enable the farm laborer and ten
Snt to get money on easy terms for
NE purchase of farms City work.
rrs will also be enabled to buy farms
without UNDERGOING the burden of ,
mortgage which swallows the farm
'ncome. Moreover. cheap capital
should encourage the adoption of mo-
dern scientific farming methods and
lead to preater productivity from
Line land now under cultivation.
''This means more men on the
farms, increased farm production and
lower cost of living. Moreover, by
making it easier for men to own
EARNS the number of laboring men