Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-08

importance of the Banker Farmer
movement Of the American Bankers
Association is to be the keynote OF
conference which started today and
continues Two days. The agencies par
tlcipating are:
The Agricultural Commission Of the
American Bankers Association, chair
men and members of the committee on
agriculture and education Of the vari-
Gus state bankers associations as well
as other officers Of these organizations;
deans OF colleges Of agriculture and
other members Of thes faculties: edi-
tors Of representative farm journals;
individual bankers selected because of
exceptional success in cooperation
with farmers and such Of these farm
ers as could be persuaded to attend;
and representatives of the United
States department of agriculture.
The conference is the outgrowth Of
a policy of the American Bankers As
ISOLATION by which 1t Is hoped to in
crease the cooperative efforts of the
agricultural and financial interests Of
the country toward improved rural
life and farm standards in the United
association recently gave voice to this
aim in a resolution which recited the
responsibility Of the banker to aid ag-
riculture and the Importance Of coop
Grafton both by improved organization
and individuals with all movements
looking toward improved farm condi
tions. The movement contemplates not
only increased banking facilities for
the tillers of the soil giving them direct
aid in the financing of crops, but also
encouragement Of efforts 70 train the
farmer so that Increased acreage re-
turns will be the rule.
The American Bankers Association
| committees early found in their studies
Of the problems connected with the
movement. that effective methods Of
forwardin. these ideas had been put
in practice in various communities. II
was the thought that inter-changes of
| ideas and experience between bank
crs, farmers and educators might give
a helpful definition of the lines on
which the ba mixers are 10 proceed that
caused the special conference TO be
called
The chief interest Of the first day
! centered IN a deans session" Heads
of various state agricultural schools
will participate. among them being H.
J.. Russell. director of the College OF
Agriculture Of the University Of Wis
consin, and f. E. Mumford, who holds
a similar position with the University
cf Missouri
Mr. Mumford said that the farmers
|
The solution Of the economics Of
a agriculture as related to the actual
business Of farming, Will carry with
il the solution of many Of the other
problems Of the rural community,
he said. But because European coun-
tries produce a much larger WELD per
acre than the United States. il does
not necessarily follow that the Ameri-
can farmer would find il profitable or
possible to produce yields as large or
j 10 bring under cultivation land rel2-
I lively so poor The factors of labor.
/ price Of product and many other con-
/ ditions must be recognized. But talk
ing all factors into account. il remains
true that the American farmer can
! largely increase his profits. better
1IdlDlalu the leTLulS O1 Liz SUI anu
Incidentally materially increase crops.
! Prof Mumford pointed out that the
/ American farmers as a class have been
slow to adopt new methods and told
I Of the difficulties facing the agricul-
4 tural colleges when the institutions try
4 to get the results of their experiments
adopted generally. He said that the
bankers of the country ARE peculiar
IL well situated 10 help in advancing
the cause Of better agriculture" and
added:
4 Recent Investigations have clearly
! indicated that agriculture in America
/ is under capitalized. The very first
step in farm betterment required a
much larger amount Of capital in our
agricultural operations than has been
( utilized in the past half century. Fer
I tilizers can not be purchased without
money and money can not be obtain
ed except through the bankers. Mel
Their can the American farmer buy
the best types Of domestic animals
without money. The real reason in
many cases why agricultural improve
ment has not been more rapid is be-