The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-12-24
Rural Credit System
CONTINUED from first page)

"From 20 to 40 years ago the best
agricultural bone and muscle of Eu.
rope came to this country by hundreds
Of thousands. There were two reasons
for this great immigration. One was
to take the advantage of our CHEAP
agricultural lands and the other was
from the reason that farming in Eu-
rope was languishng for the want OF
care and consideration from the gov
ernment or ruling classes. This exodus
Of the toiers Of the farms of Norway
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England
Ireland and Scotland caused the ruling
classes and the business men of these
countries to wake up to a realization
that something must be done to make
farming more attractive and profit
able. AS a result the most of our for
eign countries have introduced many
features as a part of their government
in aiding and encouraging the farmer.
In many Of the foreign countries the
packing plants, creameries, cheese
factories and cold storage plants are
built by the government or the money
is loaned by the government to erect
them. Experts are furnished by the
government to get them started and
into successful operation, and in most
instances money is loaned to them at n
very low rate Of interest to carry their
perishable products in cold storage un-
til the market has reached a living
price. The government aided cream
cry and cold storage is coming to be
quite common In Canada, especially in
the provinces Of Alberta, Saskatche-
wan and Manitoba. The policy Of the
government seems to be that
the shortest route 10 general pros
perity is by first making the farmers
"one more idea along this line is
the farm credit system that prevails
In most Of our European countries as
you know all Of the we'll TO do coun-
tries Of Europe have farm credit asso-
Citations that are legalized by the gov
nrnment and encouraged by the bank
ers and business men in general
There has been movement on foot Of
this character In this country for some
time without material results. Presi-
lent Taft recommended It's considera-
lion in his last message and President
Wilson has recommended that farm
'redits be encouraged in this country,
Dut IL seems for some cause or other
hat little progress has been made.
Several bills have been introduced in
congress but Il seems impossible 20
get them out OF the committees In
which they have been assigned for con-
iideration. If something OF this char
lcter is not provided for our farmers
here Is going to a be a great deal Of
dissatisfaction among them and dis
,runtled feeling toward our country
md much fault finding will be heard
believe there is no class OF people
hat can do more TO help along with
arm credits than the bankers them
elves as their influence is far reach
ne, and their advice is usually con-
idered by all legislative bodies. Farm
redits cannot injure the bankers as
he short time business loans in which
c deals almost exclusively will al
rays command n high rate of interest
nd the extra money that would be
rought into the farming community
Y the low interest rates will mater
Ally increase the deposits of the
ounty banks. The question of rural
redits should not only be worked out
insure greater prosperity to every
ne not only as business proposition
ut there is sentiment in this matter
nat we should not overlook. II is not
My TO the country's material welfare
, have the farmer prosperous and
ltisfied but very essential to the
ifety and well being of the govern
lent. IL there is anything that will
lake an anarchist out of farmer it
for him to learn that some mort
age company is borrowing money at
per cent and loaning it to him for 8
sr cent, or that his brother farmer
Europe is borrowing money at 4
sr cent while he must pay s per cent