Evening journal., 1916-10-11

that time farmers began agitating the
subject in farm meetings. Leaders
of agriculture made speeches upon
the subject more or less hazy and IN
many instances unsound. because the
subject was not understood clearly
even by economists. II was discussed
by the National Grange, then by the
Farmers Union, and by the Southern
Congress- noh-politicai farm or
ganization of the South. SO much
were they impressed in the Southern
Congress that they appointed an
American Commission of 100 repre-
sentative farmers to go to Europe at
their own expense, to study the sub
iect in company with the official Uni
ted States Commission.
Prior to that. President Taft had
secured from Congress an act ap-
pointing United States Commission
to 20 TO Europe for the same purpose
as an official body representing the
United States Government. So these
two commissions went together, and
as a result they urged the passage OF
a Rural Credits Law. based upon CO.
operation of farmers.
But 1 want to emphasize to you the
fact that not one step OF this prepar-
atory work is to be credited to the
Democrats, it was all done during the
Roosevelt and Taft Administrations
President Taft signed the law autho-
rizng the United States Commission
just before he went out Of office The
only thing that can be credited to the
Democrats is the BUNGLING LAW
WHICH THEY HAVE PASSED which
you will find absolutely imperative
because its makers don't know farm
ers nor farm conditions. and refused
10 take any advice from the Roose-
welt Farm Life Commission or from
the real farmers who Investigated the
subject in Europe, unless they hap
pened to be Democrats. They were
so eager to make political capital
that they forgot to study real farm
conditions.
Just as an illustration OF the politi-
cal poppycock of this Democratic
measure look how its expensive
Federal Loan Bill started its work
without even waiting to establish
headquarters, the first thing the Board
did with salaries of over $1,000
week. was to junket up to Maine
What for? They had no power to
change the law and no intention to
establish one of the twelve land
banks in Maine. All they could do
was to go up there and make noise
like a hearing" before farmers. FOL
it's effect on the political campaign.
so Maine turned in a whooping ma
iority against the Democratic Sena-
tors and Representatives. "Remem-
Der the Mainel" Ned, Remember the
Maine!"
The cooperative part Of the system
is loaded with local National Farm
Loan Association Of ten or more
neighbor farmers. VINO won't work
together, because they do not want
to consult each other about their in
innate affairs. The Democrats have
also in the same law set up a rival
system, which assures the failure OF
the cooperative system. II would
have been almost impossible to estab-
fish the cooperative system anyhow,
along the plan proposed. but to place
this extra obstacle in the form OF 4
Joint stock bank-a profit making
concern, to be owned by It's investors
and not by famers--is simply muir
dering their own child. The compli-
Gated plan (their child would proba-
ably have died anyhow. choked as It
Is. but one would expect its parents
to have done all they could to have
saved IL from death. instead Of TAX
ng such a club and beating out its
brains as the Joint Stock Proft-Tak-