Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-04-03

rubes are laughing a little al the
bankers" said successful farmer 70
us before we left the states. we
have actually farmed successfully for
years. have studied farming in agrt-
cultural colleges We think we know
our business fairly well. It's certain
ly funny to read speeches by bank
era telling us how to farm. have
come to the conclusion that the bank
ers know so little about farm loans
that they would do better to study
and discuss their own business than
TO try 10 teach us ours" And we
have concluded that there Is some
force in what the farmer says.
The American Bankers associa.
ton and thirty state bank associa-
tions are actively promoting agricul-
tural advancement. The work under
taken by them includes soil surveys,
experiments with fertilizers, hiring ex-
perts to make practical demonstration
upon the farm, education in road mat
tiers, and so on indefinitely. The bank
ers are duplicating what the federal
agricultural department IL doing,
what every agricultural college Is do.
ing. and what every farmers institute
Is doing, They are going into the
field of production which is important
but which after all is one In which
the farmer remarked. "one Is led to
think that the bankers of the country
have unanimously concluded that they
know their own business so thor
4 ho4 oil nhnEA-
tional instincts can get opportunity
for expression only by doing mission
airy work among US lowly farmers and
elevating this ignorant class to their
own high plane of intelligence"
Worst Banking for Farmers.
We have been going through Eur
ope accompanied by agricultural ex'
perts. We have talked with leaders
In agriculture in several countries.
We have read bulletins and books ga
lore on agricultural methods abroad
We consulted government specialists
We have seen and heard and studied
about all the most scientific up-to
date farming methods. But neither
the experts with W nor we ourselves
have been able to recall single idea
on agricultural production that is moi
being more or less widely worked out
In America by these lowly farmerI
whom the bankers are so benevolent
~ and condescendingly instructing
On the other hand 30 far as we car
discover the United States lie the only
country in the civilized world whers
banking methods have not been II
any degree adjusted to the needs 81
the farmer. Sometimes over here iT
Europe the joint stock bank does tn
work. More often It is a cooperative
credit bank that loans to farmers.
But some bank stands ready 4
meet the farmers needs everywhere
except in the United States. II
America, az nowhere else. the banke
takes the terms calculated to accom-
modate the city merchant and fnan
eiers and infiicts them upon the pro
testing farmer. Sixty and ninety da.
loans are Just what are needed in tn
city, but they are Of no possible use 4
the farmer. A merchant or commits
sion man gets his returns prompt.
and can meet ninety day paper a
maturity. But the farmer cannot bu.
calves or pigs and fatten them. mai
ket them, and get returns short Of
much longer period. The rural boz
rover who invests the borrowe'
money in seeds or fertilizers canno
hope to realize upon his inyestmen
short OF six or eight months. u
not 80 much a question OF interes
az of terms and methods. In man
localities interest rates are fair. i
some places interest on farm loans
too high. But IL 10 true eyerywher
in America that the bankers atul
born1y refuse TO the farmer the soT
Of loans which he needs. And III
: banker who sits behind the cashier
desk writing speeches about bette
: farming drops bis facile pen lon
enough to crowd down the throat q
some farmer patron who should hav
an eight months loan. q three month
loan. which ia a. apt to cripple a
10 help him.
How the man on the farm can bo
row money advantageously and ec'
IOMledAg Ii an iAiP0A tai4A NeFsatpi
Il may not be 30 important as goo
marketing but Il il important enopgl
His loan should be on terms Whie
e meet his occupation and his finAncii
, resources II he cannot get tbef
a terms from his banker he vi
? naturally try to get them slsewher
The question Is viii the banker fore
him 10 seek loans elsewhere. or wi
Z be meet the needs 81 the farme
D There Is little doubt that the bank
; could give longer time on safe pc
sonai paper. There Is little dou