Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-08-06
FARMERS ARE ENTITLED TO
GREATER PROFITS FOR WORK.
News & Observer

The farmer is not getting the pro-
per value of his products commensu-
rate with the grain derived from the
manufactured articles" said DR.. H. @.
Alexander, of Mecklenburg county,
president of the Farmers Union Of
North Carolina, who was here yester-
day at the committee meeting Of thu
institutions and organizations for ru-
raj upbuilding, in an interview with
representative of The News and Obser-
yer.
This opinion was voiced in connec-
ton with the condition of the farmer.
mot with standing the good crops rails
ed by the agriculturist," he said, "The.
farmer was not sharing near so large,
~ in the profits as the non-proucer"
Continuing, he said:
"The non-producing class is getting
more than the producing class. The
latter class now largely outnumber the
former. Official figures show that
only Fl per cent of the people are Nv
ing on the farms of the United States..'''
AS remedy to improve the farm
els condition, he made the following
suggestions:
Means should be provided for OBJ
tajning money on long time, 20 to 80
years, for permanent improvements,
ad ready money on short time loans
at a rate not exceeding six per cent inc
terest. This is necessary inzorder thai
the FARMER may finance his business
en- "a cash basis and Gget awax :from
the long time basis of paying 405 to so
per cent - SIS gz;sE
SO Couldn't Get Money.
'z %You will recall the statement %:
Secretary Mckdoo recently, he said,
that there was In the banks of. the
country $500, 900 geo available for loans
on real estate for term 4of five years.
swell, it isn't working. Twill. give
you an instance. G. S.aRaFrett, presi-
dent of the National Farmers Union.
arasde application to three different
tanks in Atlanta, Ga.,c recently for
loans on real estate as provided under
the new currency law and could not
get the money. Two banks gave as, an
excuse that they did net have the mon
Fey to spare. The other. came out
frankly and said his baHk was not
seeking that kind OF business.
"The experience of President Bar.
|rett, in my poinion, Indicates the ne.T1
cessity of the Rural Credit System in
dependent of the. commercial banking
s.sten.''
The banks are giving preference to
the commercial interests to. the deri-
Eaent of the farming class. -
Wants Rural Credit System. =,
In view of this condition, think the
rural credit legislation proposed In
Congress should be pressed and enact
| ed as early as possible, It should be
done at the present session. as Il seems
to be- the only way that the farmer
will ever be able to secure adequate
Iloans at a cheap rate of interest,
1 Concerning the profits of the farm
er, he said:
The report of the Agricultural De
partment at Washington shows that
the average profit OF. agriculture is less
tIan five per cent. The average morS-
gage Indebtedness of the farms Of tn,
United States is given at $17.20 pei
farm. YOU can see the farmers pro-
fits is wiped out when he is paying ar
average of 10 per cent on. his indebt
edness.
i The thing for the farmer to do i
z, farm with less expense and produce
imore. He must do this by up to dat,
"a ming Fe must improve the soil
1otate crops and engage in stock rails
rs. A,cng with economic productios
must go economic marketing. Their,
l1Est be cooperation. The farme
must control the market if he expects
e get fair prices for his products. Co
Operation and control of market ar
, nost important matters
# .o, - Us-.c S.s-c.
Speaking of the organization, h
said
~The Farmers Union in North Carr