The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-06
CONGRESS TRYING HARD
TO ORGANIZE FARMERS
Safety Of U. s. Depends on Cealiioa
Of Rural Interests, Dr.. Clareaee
]. Owens Declares.

In an address before the mems organi-
zation OF the Mount Pleasant Congrega-
tional Church last night. Dr. Clarence j.
err Commercial Congress. called atten-
ton to the interest that centers In the
question for agricultural cooperation As
It relates to finance, distribution. produs-
ton. and the organization Of rural life.
He pointed out that after a campaign
Of fifteen months. which was initiated by
the Southern Commercial Congress, the
national mind has been stirred to the
extent that the Importance OF agricultural
cooperation has been written into the
constructive policy OF our three parties:
that an investigation has been made by
the American commission in eighteen
European countries. and that. based upon
the report Of the commission. Federal
legislation Is now contemplated, as Presi-
dent Wilson devoted major attention in
his last message to Congress to the ques-
ton Of agricultural credits, and now has
before him the report on which an adj
ministration measure will. no doubt. be
based for the solution OF this problem
IN American life. DR.. Owens said. in part:
The American Commission on Agri-
cultural Cooperation represents one Of
the three great forces within our de-
mocracy. A second force Is labor: the
third is capital. The experiment of de-
mocracy has been carried far enough 10
establish these facts-that for the de-
velopment of strength. self-reliarce, and
resourcefulness within the individual
there is no other form OF government
comparable to our own. But. secondly.
that democracy demands. not only a high
standard OF citizenship, but a poise and
balance among the social forces OF the
republic.
1T is with the maintenance of this bal
ance that the commission is concerned.
The balance to be maintained within our
republic Is between the radical and the
speak In favor of the sane
the American farmer.
The movement in which this commits
sion is engaged seeks added strength for
our farmers You will say that they are
strong. That is true, but there have
come changes in the organization of civil
ization today which our farmers have
not adopted. II is the principle OF coali-
ton. Among capitalists IL Is called COM
hination; among laborers unionism. For
the farmers We speak of II as co-opera-
ton.
But the farmers have not yet learned
this lesson Of coalition. Obviously, our
cannot maintain that balance
essential to its existence II our rural
forces continue in this state of disorgani-
cation as opposed to the astounding or
ganization of the forces OF capital AMI
labor This commission seeks first to bet
ter the financial standing OF our farmers
II seeks to increase their production
through the expending influence of capt.
tai Then IL seeks TO increase the control
c: the producers over the marketing OF
their products II seeks to strengthen
the position OF the farmers as buyers.
All of these matters, however. are but
means to an end. That end is to weld
the farmers of our country into Goa
lesced force. Whether you see IL or not
now, this problem is of direct and vital
Importance to you-to every American.