The Monte Vista journal., 1915-03-20

eIHHelt alu ana tne OtHeT ulu not.
The later commanded the support of
the conservatives and was regarded
as 1.-THE bankers crowd. The for
mer was denounced as "populistic"
and "unsound''. and even more un-
complimentary epithets were some
times applied
The government aiders" argued
that the government had never hes
itated to lend money to the national
banks and that Uncle Sam could af-
ford to be as generous to the farmer
as to the banker, especially in view
of the fact that the farmers security
was quite as good If not better than
the bankers.
The opponents of this idea con-
authorize the formation of LAND
banks" in farming communities and
supervise the operations of and ap-
prove the securities issued by these
institutions. Such securities. it was
urged, would command ready sale
at low rate of interest. Thus the
farmer would get cheap money with
out involving the credit of the ma
ton
McCumbcr's Amendment
AS neither side would yield, Pres
ident Wilson suggested that the
subject go over to the next Con-
gress.
That was the situation when the
Agricultural Appropriation bill
came before the Senate. The debate
dragged and tired Senators snoozed
in the cloak-rooms or worked in
their offices. An afternoon had been
devoted to a discussion of the best
way to destroy the coyotes which
were preying on cattle on some of
the forest reserves and not more
than dozen Senators were at their
desks, when Senator McCumber of
South Dakota arose and calmly of
fered an amendment.
1t was copy of his pet rural
credit bill-a clean-cut government
aid" proposition.
1t was clearly out of order, and
Hollis of New Hampshire sprang to
his feet to make the objection.
Gore, the blind Senator from Okla
homa, restrained him. There was
whispered conference, and then
''Thn
of the amendment offered by the
Senator from South Dakota" said
the Vice President, and he declared
1t carried on a viva voce vote.
Thus the august Senate disposed
of what many thoughtful men re-
gard as the most important legisla-
ton pending in Congress.
What Did Gore Say?
When the news of the action of
the upper house spread through the
Capitol Senators and Representatives
alike refused to believe it. Many
and varied were the stories told of
that whispered conference between
pOTe ana Hollis.
The generally accepted version
was that Gore urged Hollis to permit
the McCumber amendment to 90 in
to the bill in order that Hollis bill.
which did not provide for govern
ment aid, might be substituted by
the conference committee which
would seek to adjust the differences
between the House and the Senate
II that was the plan it failed sign
ally. When the appropriation bill
was returned to the House, some of
the "government-aiders" sought to
have the McCumber amendment ac-
cepted without change. They re-
allied that it was not perfect but
they believed it provided the skele-
ton for a genuine rural credit sys-
tenn and they contended that needed
additions could be supplied by the
next Congress.
They knew that If they permitted
the subject to go to conference
committee all reference to govern
ment aid would be eliminated and
that they would be compelled to ac-
cept the Hollis bill or no rural
| credit legislation.
1t was a pretty fight but the gov
ernment aiders" were out-generaled
They succeeded in voting down the