The Raymer enterprise., 1914-04-23
Operative Farm
Products Marketing
How II Is Done in Europe and May Be Done
in America to the Profit OF Both
Farmer and Consumer
WILL THE BANKERS REFORM?
BY MATTHEW S. DUDGEoN.

Copenhagen, Denmark.-The Ameri-
can banker must reform. IL he does
not he will be up against 1t as are
others who refuse to mend their ways.
The American farmer cannot get
money OF American bankers upon
terms suited to his needs. He is 60
Ing to have the money from some
source II the banker will not give
1t to him he will organize a new kind
Of bank, for you may rest assured
that the American farmer Is going
to have an opportunity to borrow
money upon some suitable basis. The
Irish farmer can get money on favor
able terms; the Belgian farmer co.
operating with his neighbors does his
own banking; in Germany the CO.
operative banks do a business that is
astonishing in It's volume; In Denmark
It is easy to get money for buying a
farm or for temporary investment in
seeds, fertilizers or stock. The same
is true OF the farmer in Italy and
France, even In benlghted Russia
farm credits are cared for by Co
operative organizations
Do the bankers of America think
that the American farmer is going TO
consent TO continue to be the only
civilized agriculturist who has no ade.
quate borrowing facilities. That Is
not the American way. What, then.
can possibly prevent the formation OF
cooperative credit associations all
over America? Nothing, except the
presence Of some institution that will
do for the American farmer what CO.
operative credit is doing for the Eu.
ropean farmer If the American bank
er wishes to do the banking business
Of America so far as the farm is con-
cerued, he and he alone can give the
farmer this sort of an institution and
thus make cooperative credit socie-
ties unnecessary. 1t is up to the
banker.
Capital for Farming.
Formerly when an American farm
could be acquired by living upon il,
when horses and cows and implements
were cheap, and when fertilizers,
blooded stock, and special high.grade
seeds were unknown, young man
with comparatively little capital could
begin farming. Now considerable capi.
tai Is as necessary to success in agri-
culture as II is in the manufacturing
industries. Every wise farmer knows
that money judiciously expended in
better stock, better buildings, labor.
saving machinery, proper fertilizers,
and good seed will net large returns.
But it takes money to do these things.
Consequently there is a demand for
loans.
In America the farmer can seldom
get a loan on terms that meet his
needs, In Ireland. Belgium, Germany
Holland, Denmark. France, Italy aud
elsewhere upon the continent the
banks have forced the farmers to or,
ganize cooperative credit societies. In
many instances the government also
has aided the cooperative banks in
obtaining money for loans These so.
cieties are taking a safe, profitable
business away from The bank Now
when IL Is too late the banks realize
their mistake.
The question Just now is this: VIII
The American bankers forestall CO
operative credit companies by meet
lng the needs OF rural borrowers or
viii they force the farmer to go into
The banking business as did the bank.
ars OF Europe? 1t is up TO them. VIII
they beat cooperative credit banks
by beating them to It?
Buying Farm Easy In Denmark.
To buy farm there are number
of different methods open to the Dan.
sh farmer 1t must be remembered
hat In Denmark a farm is consid,
sred as having live stock and lmpie.
nents used in working the land in.
separably attached to It. hence the
purchase price to be paid includes all
equipment necessary to the operation
II the farm and all mortgages are Sc
ured BY pledge OF this personal
property as well as of the real estate.
I the wouldbe buyer has forty per
.ent. Of the purchase price he may
ipply TO credit eoeiety for a long.
line loan amounting to sixty per cent.
II the value of the farm and all equip