The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-22
FLETCHER IS THE
LEADING FIGURE
IN THE FIGHT 1aHoRa RURAL
CREDITS NOWaBEFoRE
CONGRESS
Especial TO the Starr

CONGRESS
H-4R .tate
Especial 10 the Starr
Washington, Jan Jan 22-Rnral cred
its legislation now holds the eye Of the
statesmen in Washing Il ton right along
with the ship purchase. biz. Every
one knows the president wants a ship
purchase bin passed .at the present
session of Congress and everyone
knows now that the Senate and House
want a rural credits biII. 70 60 through
at the earliest practicable time.
1t was significant that At the con-
ference of democratic senators few
evenings ago there appeared an
unanimity for Legislation of some
kind to aid the farmer. It held the
spotlight of the conference right
along with the ship purchase bin al
though the conference was. called with
the idea of getting the ship. purchase
bill through. -
It is safe to say that the present
democratic administrator viii not
pass out of Office without doing some
thing for the farmer
Fletcher Leading Figure
Fletcher of Florida, is the COM
manding figure in the Senate in the
advocacy of rural credits. His bill,
1884, slight modifcationeof his pre-
vious bill 1916, is before the Senate
banking and currency committee.
Pending before that committee also
are other measures dealing with this
subject of aid to the tiIIers Of the soil.
The democratic conference, on mo-
ton of Senator Robinson of Arkan-
sas, resolved to push rural credits at
the earliest possible time. Conse-
quently the Senate banking and cur
rency committee is again among the
active committees of o5 the highest
branch of Congress.
President Wilson faVofs the Flet-
cher bill, which is also known as the
measure advocated by the United
States commission on rural credits.
j On all sides it is admitted that this is
1 the one great uuestioh about which
the next presidential and probably the
next congressional campaign, is to
be waged. The passage Of the bill
means democratic increases and vicA
tories in the west and middle west
instead of what might be democratic
DETECTION and defeats in that section.
There is a well defined movement in
favor of the legisletion. Members Of
both branches Of congress have been
. hearing from the folks back at home
and the action of the Senate confer
ence of democrats is "a direct result
) of this agitation and advocacy.
! It was practically p new thing and
to many an unheard Of proposition
: when the Florida senator introduced
( his first bill. But since that time it
! has been constantly. before the eoun-
try. Different oranges over the coun-
try have advocated it. Democrats and
republicans alike approve the idea
z and it looks now like Florida dem
| ocratic senator is to have initiated
r what many authorities have said,
: when enacted, viii be the greatest
t legislation of the century.
4 Both republicans and democrats
!, want the honor of being the party
e that viii be sponsor. for such legisla-
a ton but at this writing it appears
that the democrats viii be the ones
e to pull the prize. -
j 1t is probable the rural credits bill
: will be reported out OF the Senate
y banking and currency committee at
this session. If it is possible the bill
e will then be passed. Bat if this can not
y be done by March 4th, when Congress
d is compelled to bring its session to a
e close, it is not unlikely that an extra
n session of Congress will be called and
II that rural credits wiz be the Star
n number in the legislative program Of
a, that period.
h One finds in Congress some stub
II born opposition, both democratic and
1t republican, to the ship purchase bill
ID President Wilson's pet measure in the
I'd Legislative program of this session
~ and of which Senator Fletcher, as
l. acting chairman of the commerce
n committee, has charge.
To- But there is so far no opposition tS
e the rural credits legislation. Up t.
ic the present many statesmen have
ne been lukewarm with respect to the
So