Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-05-19

istration might do. Likely nothing,
Judging from past performance. But
If they passed tariff commission bill,
would your guess not be that there
would be seven members, four from
the republican side and three from
the democratic side? That might be a
Republican view of a nOn-partlsan
commission but all will agree that a
commission made up of one.half from
each side is more fair and shows the
good faith of the democrats.
Rural Credits.
The need of some properly worked
out system of rural credits as an aid
to farmers is generally recognized.
Some system which will enable a
young man to buy land, some plan
OF securing money which will assist
the farmer during the hrst few years
when he is getting established.
The farmers of the nation add nine
billion dollars yearly to the country's
wealth. They are doing this on bor-
rowed capital amounting to over six
billions of dollars, on which they pay
an annual interest charge Of five hun
dred millions of dollars. With COM
missions for securing the loans, fire.
quent renewal charges and an inter-
est charge that to say the least Is
high enough. the total cost is excess
sive. 1t puts burden upon agricul-
ture that it should not bear. The
farmers money is costing him more
than is that of the roalroads, indus
trial corporations or municipalities,
notwithstanding he has an unquestion-
ed security. He of course borrows
in smaller amounts and should likely
pay a slight advance over rates paid
by larger borrowers but today the
difference between what he pays and
many others pay is too great. The
whole problem is one of vital import
ance to the individual farmer needing
assistance and one of great moment
to the country as whole.
This Is another Of the measures
the people want. It is receiving at
tention at the hands Of President Will
son.
Merchant Marine.
VIC VI luS WObI VI 6CAI ACCOo Va SAS
country is a merchant marine. Our
wharves are piled high with unship-
ped products of farms and factories.
Our railroad terminals are crowded
with shipments for foreign lands. We
have no boats to relieve the conges-
ton and practical embargo has been
declared by leading railroads against
further shipments of grain from the
west.
Had the farmers themselves paid
the $50,0O0,OOO from their own peck
cts and bought or built the merchant
marine fleet asked for by President
Wilson of Congress, they would have
been millions of dollars ahead. As
sistant Secretary of Agriculture, Carl
Vrooman, declares that the farmers
could we'll have afforded to put up
5000, 100000 for merchant marine
and thereby saved the outrageous
shipping charges imposed by the
shipping trust, as well as have opened
the markets OF the world for the prod
ucts now on dock i'm. this country.
Cutting the markets and keeping
prices down.
At the beginning OF the war 1t cost
about four cents bushel to trans
port wheat from New York to Liver
pool. The ocean freight rate now is
4S cents a bushel. You can readily
see what this has cost our farmers.
The people have expressed them
selves to the effect that they do not
want and will not have ship subsidy. |
Private capital has failed to come to
the relief of the shippers, 80 the call
Of the people is for government OPP !
Grated or controlled merchant marine.
useful in charging our markets In
times Of peace, and necessary as
transports in times Of war.
VIII you put this problem up to re-
publicans who have on other occasions
favored subsidies, or taken no inter-
est at all in the matter, or will you
trust the working out Of this measure
to those who have shown their inter
est in 1t and their desire to give the
people what they want?
The people want preparedness
along reasonable lines. They want
manufacture OF war munitions SO far
As 1t is practical in government plants.
President Wilson is on record for 1t.
European Policy.
The people want peace, and Presi-
dent Wilson is for peace. as has been
emonstrated,-p with honor
but fight If we must and that is the
position of all high minded citizens.
With all these important problems
awaiting solution and completion
with a president and q party in power
who have been tried and found true
to the will Of the people,-who would
for minute think Of changing the
man at the helm? Service is what
the people wish and not mere prom
ises. They have had service at the
hands of Woodrow Wilson and the
responsibility is upon the democrats