The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-10-27
Jacksonville Confident of Selection by Farm Board
 Because of Influence
NO STRONG CASE IS
 PRESENTED TO BOARD
It Is Understood That Hope of Bir- mingham Depends on Location of Only Three Institutions in the
 South Instead of Four
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Jacksonville, Fla, October 26-(Special.) Inasrnuch as Jacksonville in its effort to acquire one of the 12 farm loan banks wt i'll soon be established is, despite graphical isolation, exceed ingly q S 1t, the spectator instantly concluf o S 1t the propagandsts of this city s pendent almost entirely on the il Q Q @ of Senator Fletcher.
 I'll CS or senator of this state is re- gar < 2 the father of the thought of ruf Q edits. It was he who headed tt Q mission of Congress which some- = 70 investigated the intricate subject in Europe. In addition to prestige which followed in the wake of such service, Senator Fletcher occupies warm place of the Treasury. MT. McAdoo is the guiding spirit of the farm loan board.
 BOARD DELAYED BY WRECK
 The members of the board reached four hours late from Columbia. They were greeted by large and enthusiastic audience, composed chiefly of business men. Senator Fletcher, while discreetly silent, was obviously the hand behind the scene. Following the morning ses- sion the members of the board partoolS of a luncheon served by the local Cham Der of Commerce. There, when the eyes of the world were turned elsewhere. the orator of Jacksonville laid his heart bare. He told of the work in behalf of rural credits achieved by Senator Fletcher, mentioned his influence with and friend ship for Secretary McAdoo, and intimated that it would be a worthy compliment to the senator and source of satisfaction to the secretary, were the board to place a bank in this city.
 SENATOR FLETCHER'S PLAN
 Senator Fletcher, as heretofore repre- sented in The Age-Herald, would estab- fish four banks in the south. He would include with Florida che states of Geor gia, Alabama. Mississippi and possibly South Carolina. There is no question but that the members of the board are be- ginning to yield to the point that there should be more than three banks in the southern area. w. D. Manley, a banker of Atlanta, testified today. that. judging from the requirements of the southern farmer, six of the F banks should be given to Dixie. Commissioner Smith de- clared that whereas the people of the west and north and east evinced interest in the rural credits idea, the people of the south displayed their actual need. It is understood that Birminghams chief hope depends on the location in the south of only three banks.
 NO STRONG CASE FOR FLORIDA
 Florida did not present an unusually strong case It's argument in favor of Jacksonville was based on the fact that Jacksonville Is on a line separating south ern staple crop bearing states from that state, which makes a speciality of pro- ducing vegetables and semi-tropical fruits that, whereas Virginia, North and South Carolina can borrow money on crops at minimum of 6 per cent, the Florida farmer is compelled to pay F per cent; and that on account of the productivity of Florida, farmer, when prevented by crop failure from meeting
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