The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-01-30
WE ARE NOT BEHIND


tive plans to establish a system of
farm loans for actual tillers of
the soil.
This report advised strongly
that such a plan be made Gov
ornamental enterprise by the ar
rangement of cooperative loan
societies of farmers. These So
cieties were to issue bonds which
the government would guarantee.
The land itself would be the Sc
curity. The plan was explained
by which the system was to be
self-supporting, although its prin-
cipal weakness seemed to be the
strong tinge of bureaucracy. spe-
cial government appraisers be-
ing necessary for the furtherance
of the work.
Barely was last weeks issue of
the Home and Farm Magazine
Section on the press when the
Associated Press tapped out the
following dispatch:
WASHINGTON a result of
an investigation into rural credits
Senator Norris, of Nebraska, plans
to introduce bill for bureau of
farm loans in the Department OF
Agriculture.
The bureau would loan directly
to farmers for the purpose of
making part payments on homes
farming implements. Payments
could be made at any time by in
stallments, and the amount to be
loaned would be limited to either
one-half or three-fourths of the
value of the lands.
through the army of postoffice in
spectors, postmasters, district at.
torneys and others the government
could carry on the business practi-
cally.
If such an idea proves of inter-
est to the farmers of this district
and we believe it should--they
can help Senator Norris forward
in no mean way.
With direct election of Sem
ators, the upper house is now
much closer to the people than
was once the case. A general
election is not so far off that
members of both houses are not
keeping their ears close to the
ground, in a metaphorical sense.
II the farmers of Washington
feel that legislation is impending
affecting their interests, why let
them tell official Washington
about it.
The Home and Farm Magazine
Section suggests, first of all, that
farmers write to their Repre-
sentatives and Senators, letting
them know their views. Here,
for example, is a suggested form:
81 see by the newspapers that
Senator Norris of Nebraska pro-
poses to introduce a measure to
provide for farm loans. This is a
matter that affects vitality the
farming interests of the country
and particularly those of WASH
ington. / want to urge that you
give your utmost support to such
a measure, not only when 1t comes
to vote, but in endeavoring to
expedite it on the calendar.
Kindly advise me of your views
on this matter"
That is the first step. The sec
ond is to press for action on the
part of farmers oranges, socie-
ties of equity and so forth. When
this has been done, write to farm
ing friends in the adjoining states
of oregon and Idaho, even Mon
tana and California, asking SIM
liar action on their part.
If this plan be followed, the
time will be amazingly brief be-
fore the whole farming popula-
ton of the Pacific Coast has i'm
pressed on Congress that it de-
mands farming legislation, and
particularly farm loan legislation.
Senator Norris will realize that
he has support of much-needed
kind and can be depended on to
raise widespread interest among
Eastern states; furthermore. it
can be taken as granted that the
Eastern states are not going to
lag behind when they see the Pa
cific Coast lined up in the cause
for progress.
And, IL you feel that Senator
Norris is iaboring in good cause.
you have a very easy method of
sailing hin, so lust drOD him a