The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-14
KANSAS CANE
IN NICK OF TIME

bSsOUN - esbe
Continues From PAGE ODe-Y
better. t,:an to- occupy one of the two
houses which your governor has at
his disposal
Study Rural Problems.
Il hope very much that cities like
Topeka recognize that their existence
depends upon the rural districts. The
rural districts should be given the
same sort of opportunities in educa-
ton. public health and other things
that the cities enjoy. II you do not
do 1T you '. ill have to get out of the
cities an / do the farming yourselves.
You should study the problems the
people of the rural districts are called
upon to solve themselves"
Secretary Houston was given an ova-
ton. The 100 persons present at the
meeting rose to their feet. and hand
kerchiefs were waved. Arthur Capper,
governor OF Kansas, and DIR. Henry ].
Waters. president Of the State Agricul7
tural college, who were both called
upon by the presiding officer, L. NJ.
Penwell. were also received with en-
thusiasm. A few Introductory remarks
were made by Charles s. Elliott. the
new president of the Commercial club
to arrange for reservations were turned
away because of lack Of accommoda-
tiOns.
Waters on Kansas.
President Waters gave some interest
ing figures about Kansas. Secretary
Houston will hear more than he ever
dreamed of about the great Kansas
wheat crop and the alfalfa fields" he
said. "He may be interested in know
ing how the money received from these
crops is utilized. Today Kansas has
more of her sons and daughters in her
institutions of higher education prepar-
ing for larger responsibilities than any
other state in the union according to
population.
Kansas has 7one-sixtieth Of the
population of the United States and
approximately one-thirtieth of the
students in these institutions. Kansas
has one-fortieth of the farms of the
United States and has at the Agricul-
tural college one-fifteenth of all the
culture. One fourth OF all the girls
in the United Stafes who are studying
domestic science are doing SO in Kan
SaS." .,..~--
Before Board of Agriculture.
In speaking before the members of
the state board OF agriculture, Kansas
legislators and several hundred inter-
ested persons In Representative hall
this afternoon. d. f. Houston. secre-
tary of the United States department
of agriculture, took an optimistic view
Of the future of American agriculture.
and strongly urged the enactment Of
rural credits legislation.
ing on rural life today" declared
Secretary Houston, than ever before
in the history of the nation. The
American farmer need not fear the
competition Of the world He will
inevitably control the home market
things which
produced here, and will be called upon
increasingly to supply the demands Of
foreign nations"
Federal and Rural Credits.
Declaring that he strongly favored
both federal and rural credits leEisla-
ton. Secretary Houston said:
Il favor federal land-mortsage
on the amortization principle oper-
ating through private funds. and I
favor legislation. especially by the
states. and If possible also by the fed
eral government. stimulating and en-
couraging personal cooperative credit
unions.
II do not favor Intervention by the
federal government or the state to the
extent of voting money out of the
treasury or of using the credit of state
either system, which would mean in
effect. to take money contributed to
our fundamental governmental prin-
ciples. Such aid or subsidy Is neither
necessary nor desirable"
Pointing out that there mad been too
much misconception Of the meaning Of
rural credits and of results abroad,
Secretary Houston said that many mis-
informed persons believed it was pro-
posed to give farmers federal money
at lower rates than economic conditions
could possibly justify and even without
security. He characterized as fallaciOus
the notion in the minds of many that
rural credits is synonymous with gov
ernmental financial aid. He added that
there was no foundation for the as
sumption that cooperation abroad re-
| alone and at rates far below that pre-
vailing in financial circles.
Farm Loans.
Secretary Houston said that notwith-
standing the wide prevalence of special
rural financial establishments abroad.
the great mass Of farm loans were
| made by private instructions, adding
that in this country no matter what
federal or state rural credits legislation
was had. much of the lending on
farm securities would be done by pri-
vate establishments. The department
had ascertain.d after investigation. he
said, that $3.50. 0Oe. 900 IL lent on farm
mortgages in the United States by
banking institutions and state and pri-
vate funds and that insurance COM
panies had invested $600. 900 900 in farm
mortgage loans
More would be invested and at more
favorable rates." he continued. III
reliable machinery were devised for in
specting and offering rural securities.
and the business conducted under eff
ficient governmental supervision. and