Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-06-01
LANDBANK BILL WILL AID MISSOURI
FARMERS TO HELP FEED EUROPE
No Matter What U. S. Government Does in Extending
Rural Credits, Gardner Bill Is First Measure-The
More the Better Agricultural Classes in This
State Alone Could Use Hundreds Of Millions
Of Dollars, at Low Interest Rates, in De-
veloping Farm Resources.
By OMAR o. oRAY.

0y S"TN
When Col. Fred D. Gardner began
work on his land bank bill, nearly
four years ago. no one foresaw the
great European war at this time.
Though legislation for the relief OF
the farmer by enabling him to borrow
money at reasonable rates has been
needed all along, such a measure is
doubly needed at this time when
America must be the great storehouss
Of the world for years to come.
Missouri must do its share. Ours
IS the first state in the Union to pro
ject land bank. The Gardner bill,
passed BY the F@ty.eighth General
Assembly Of Missouri, is to be voted
on under the initiative and referen-
dunn in November, in order to settle
all questions of constitutionality and
avoid court suits. The law Is to be.
come effective the first Of December
Of this year, and in all probability
ours will be the first land bank in op-
Grafton in this country. ...
You will notice that our federal
government is preparing to establish
IL banks in various parts OF the
United States TO extend rural credits.
Good! We need all We can set. Sew
eral hundred million dollars could be
used to advantage right here in Mis-
souri. Our farmers need state land
bank and also would welcome the
chance to borrow from Uncle Sam.
Look at the Ozarksi It's the best
stock, poultry and fruit country In the
world and virtually is undeveloped!
Look at the thousands Of acres OF
uncultivated lands in all parts Of our
state, and thousands Of other acres
where attempts are made to grow
crops but are poor from the lack Of
fertilizer and use of good machinery
An Example IN Congress.
It was pleasing to read how Speaker
Clark got down from his rostrum a
few days ago and took the floor in be-
half Of rural credits, using arguments
such as Col Gsrdaar ana oshsr Mis-.
sourians hare used sfor. years. There's
no question about the need OF land
banks, nor the soundness Of the plan,
when, as has been proven by expert
ence, European farmers have been
using twenty-five billion dollars at be-
tween 8 and per cent interest, and
have increased their exports of food
supplies while ours decreased.
There's no question about the safe
ty Of the Gardner measure. We can
lend money to farmers at 4.S per cent
on long time, let them pay little
each year on the principal and
through the sale of bonds put to work
many millions of dollars The bonds
will be the safest investment on earth,
being secured by the land appraised
at half Its cash value. The state, IN
lending the bank a million dollars as
working capital, will be fully protect.
ed. In time the reserve fund Of one
half Of per cent, paid by the Dor
rowers, will refund the million to the
state, and 1t will have cost the tax
payers nothing. Just think of it!
From a German Banker.
Returning to the subject of Europe,
Herr Gewinner, president Of the
Deutsche Bank of Berlin, told Col.
Gardner:
II told an American railroad presi.
dent that American exports of manu-.
factured articles were not your trou.
Bile. (This was before the war; This
is growing and will grow fast enough.
What YOU require IL development Of
your agricultural resources. Food is
what the world wants and must have,
and the supply is short. You must
give your people better educational
advantages, and you must give them
cheap capital.
IF YOU had good machinery for
rural credits your land bank debent-
ures (bonds) would sell anywhere at
as good rates a. your government
bonds"
Report From Great Britain.
A remarkable report on agricultural
credit recently was prepared and sub
mitted to the British government by q
large commission Of bank4fe,; farmers,
merchants and lsborers-men from all
walks of life. This report had much
to do with the back-to-the-farmm move
ment and the agitation for a law to
tax all uncultivated land at q pre-.
MUM. The report says, in part:
I'VE shall in the course Of our re.
port give our reasons for believing
that much improvement can 6s effect.
ed (throush land banks) in rural
credits WITHOUT IN ANY WAY
COMPETING WITH EXISTING
BANKS.
CLOSELY connected with the subject
Of rural credit and capital for the
Both Country and City.
There are many candidates in every
primary who are strong with the resi-
dents of the bigger towns. In every
primary there are men In whom the
country voters have confidence. II
is rarely the case, however, that one
man 10 equally strong with the farmer
and with the man in the big towns.
The party to whom such a man be.
longs is fortunate. Col. Fred D. Gard.
ner 10 known as the friend, the genu.
inc friend Of labor, and as the one
mau in Missouri who took the time