The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-03-28
I HREE HUNDRED
FARMERS ATTEND
BOOSTER NEE I
Large Assembly Hall Of High School
Filled by Tillers Of Soil and Mem
bers Of Merchants League
COOPERATION URGED BY ALL
President Barker Explains Origin Of
Association and Connection With
Settlers-Ritchie Talks
COOPERATION URGED BY ALL
COMPETITION TO BE EXPECTED
McGhee of Eckles Tells Business Men
That Bargains Must be Made
Known to Country Folks

--..s.. A1lVWu W VOuuIIy COlkS
Even greater was the enthusiasm
shown at the Bemidji Merchants as
ISOLATION FARMERS meetingtoday thar
had been the hope of the most inter.
ested, and when b. A. Barker, presi
dent of the mercantile league, called
for order the large assembly hall Of
the high school building was filled
more than three hundred of the coun.
TVS most progressive tillers of the
soil and business men of the city be.
ing in attendance
Mr.. Barker explained that the
real and only purpose of the meetine
was to bring the farmer and the
business man closer together and
that by cooperation better fit the
community to meet the op.
portunities offered and aid in its pro-
gress. He told the farmers that the
Merchants association was first or
ganized for the purpose of causing
the merchants to pull together among
themselves, but that it had proved
SO successful 'that we now want the
farmer and farmers clubs to come
in with us. Through this co-opera-
tion we will be able to settle diff
culties that may arise from time to
time.'
Friend of the Farmer
w. L. Brooks, cashier of the Nor
thern National bank was the first
speaker to follow NJ. Barker and in
explaining the relation of the banks
of Bemidji to The farmers of the coun-
try said. II am interested in this
movement, and think
that the banks should be if anybody
is. I couldn't tell you anything
about farming and I don't intend to-
but I do want to tell you why we are
your friends.
There is certain feeling that the
banks discriminate against the farm.
er. This is a mistake. We bank
ers treat you all alike. A banker has
a right to know the business of a per.
SON when he wishes to borrow money
but you should not worry about hin
telling your private affairs to some.
one else, for it is one of the essen.
tial requirements of a banker to kee1
his mouth shut.
The FARMERS, as a rule, are not az
prompt to pay notes as is the mer.
chant. We don't like to foreclose
but we are loaning peoples money
and we must protect them, that il
why we ask good security.
Don't Ask Credit"
f'The merchants carry too much OF
their books" continued Mr.. Brooks
Don't ask him to loan you money
get it from the banker, he's the man
If you pay the merchant cash he will
be able to sell cheaper, for If 70,
ask him to carry you along for $5l
or 500 and a hundred others do tn
same thing, he must borrow none,
and pay interest. Consequently yo1
must pay more for your merchan
Disc y
Mr.. Brooks spoke of and explaine,
the new banking law, and said tina
in all cases the banks ought to )
told what the borrower wants to us
the money for
Farmer Point Of View
A. p Ritchie, formerly superinten
dent of the Bemidji schools and a
the present time one of Beltram
county's biggest boosters and promin
ent farmer and dairy man, and wh,
was elected at a meeting of the farm
ers a week ago to talk for them toda,
spoke.
ct fully believe, ;" said Mr.. Richie
"that there is somewhat of a feelinI