The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-03-31

The question of rural credits is
one receiving much attention of late
years. The president of the United
States has recommended it in his
messages, and some 92 bills have
been introduced in congress on the
subject. A commission was sent to
Europe to study and report on the
various systems of the nations OF
that continent. Two delegates were
appointed by the governor, and they
in the person of Ralph Metcalt ana
Clark G. Black accompanied dele
gates from other states in an exam
nation of the rural credits and CO.
operative systems of Germany, Italy,
Austria-Hungary, Roumania, Russia,
Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Bel
GUM, England, Ireland and France.
Their report has been printed by the
state and makes book of nearly
800 pages, copy of which l have in
my home, and other copies of which
no QOuDC Call Ue Opldihou iiohi YIN
secretary of state at Olympia. There
is much valuable information to be
obtained from this report.
David Lubin, who for some years
has been the American delegate to
the Agricultural congress at Rome
has also published and circulated
much information under the frank of
the members of congress
There has been no lack of agita-
ton and education along certain
lines, so much indeed that the aver
age citizen has been confused-not
knowing which plan of the many to
select. Hence under these circum'
stances it has been thought proper
that the organization of the farmers
should formulate a plan, and the
Grange as the oldest society of them
all and in point of numbers one OF
the strongest, should take the LEAD.
The national Grange is a somewhat
conservative body, while the Wash
ington state Grange is radical and
progressive. Our Worthy State Mas
ter, C. B. Kegley, has frequently
called attention to the subject OF ru
raj credits and the money question
in general, and said subjects have
been discussed by the members OF
the order in the Grange News fol
several years, your humble servant
has presented his views on several
occasions, hence the committee on
rural credits was appointed at the
!! Centralia session of the state Grange
in June, 1915, l was appointed chair
man of said committee, and the re
suit was the Washington State
Grange plan for rural credits, adopt
ed almost unanimously.
Therefore, it is my great pleasure
at this time, and on all occasions, tt
advocate, explain and defend tina
which | believe to be the first feas
ible plan adopted by any state grange
Although the principles here Sc
forth were first called to my atten
ton by the Farmers Alliance some
twenty-five years ago. So then dc
not understand me as claiming to be
the originator of any new idea as
am simply reviving doctrine advo
Gated by others, some of whom are
living and some dead.
The creation of a committee of the
state Grange is not cut and drleC
affair as it is in some societies. The
state master does indeed appoint the
committees several weeks before the
state Grange meets, but he does no
know at that time who can be abso
lutely depended on to attend. In the
case of the committee on rural cred
:. its at the Centralia session but very
few of those originally appointed
did attend, and as is the case of al
other committees, volunteers were
called for, so such a thing as pack
ing" committee can not be done
, AS a matter of fact | was a strange
personally to all the members OF tn
committee but had had correspond
ence with two of them. The sub
committee, consisting of j. l.. Free
man, w. H. Anderson and myself
drew up in as few words as possible
this plan which was recommended
unanimously by the whole commit
: tee and almost unanimously by tn
state Grange after brief discussion
Report of Rural Credits Committee
Government Loans on Farms
whereas, the farming class doe
not enjoy the prosperity it should
= by reason of high rates of interes
Z and high taxes, and the non-emplo!
! ment for a large part of the time, c