The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-07-29
BANKERS AND FARMERS

Aberdeen News; That not only is
the banker the farmers best friend,
but the farmer is, as well, the bankers
best friend. and while neither could
not we'll get along without the other,
the farmer could get along without the
banker better than the banker could
get along without the farmer, is just
coming to be realized by the layman-
the man who is neither banker nor
farmer-though it appears the bankers
and the farmers have discovered the
fact for themselves some time ago.
The farmers and the bankers have
been helping each other out for some
time, but ii is only lately that they
have taken TO holding conferences,
getting together, and telling each
other how best 10 get along together
and promote each others welfare.
Such a co%nference-a banker-farmer
conference, was held in Illinois the
other day, and was a great success.
The Chicago Herald, in discussing the
conference, sees in it a new develop
ment in American life-a new nation
al tendency. and discusses it as fol-
lows:
The most significant movements
are o recognized until they have
passed into history. The leaders are
familiar and often find the fate of
prophets in their own country. 1t is
difficult TO see the drama in a man
whose tailor and grocer and druggist
one knows. Intimacy doesn't breed
contempt, but it spells perspective.
THE banker-farmer conference late
ly held IN Chicago is a case in point.
There was nothing especially interest
ing 70 the Imagination in the meeting
OF some $50 farmers and bankers. SUI
perficially il was just one of a dozen
held in Chicago every week. But only
upon the outer edge was there any
thing ordinary or prosaic in the recent
convention staged by B. F. Harris of
Champaign.
Actually the banker-farmer alliance
has sounded a new note in American
life. More, perhaps. than any of the
great nations the United States has
let its separate citizens work out their
detached destinies. The most demo
cratic" of leaders have chung to the
Jefferson belief that the least govern
ment is the best. The consequences
of this faith may be seen in an unpre-
paredness which is as characteristic
of peaceful domestic life as it is of
war.
"The banker used to be the most in
dividual of individualists. In some
cases he is still. But the country bank
er is reversing the current. He has
come to see, as a habit Of mind, that
the welfare of his class is wrapped up
in the welfare of his neighbors. He
has arrived at the reasoned belief that
the neighbor is not to be regarded as
merely prey.
Twenty or twenty-five years ago the
typical Illinois farmer went to his
bank and asked for a loan of a hun
dred dollars. He was asked to pay s
or 10 per cent and to have two indoors
ers on his note. The bank did him a
favor and he was humbly aware Of 1t.
Today the farmer goes in and an.
nounces his wishes: II want $500;
you can give me half today and the
rest-Im let you know" The banker
respectfully assents. He asks only for
the farmers note and doesn't mention
indorsers. He charges the lowest mar.
ket rate. II gifted with q n Of
humor. he may note the change; but
he accepts 1t without protest.
"The banker does still more. All the
farmers problems he makes his own
The farmers son must be Kept on the
Iold place. The agricultural methods
must be the best The rural schools
mpst satisfy tho farmers family. The
lloluD andFthe ;zchool centsr must AFFORD
en4ertainment for the farmers wife.
.xhehonhar No arrived - : coacep