The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29

white farmer, Mrs. Mathis stated that
in some places it would be all right,
while in other sections separate organi-
cation would be better. Asked If in her
travels and speeches to the farmers, she
found things encouraging, Mrs. Mathis
replied that they were very encouraging.
and farmers were not only willing to
take to the opportunity of the federal
farm loan bank, but were anxiously
awaiting it's coming. 'They will come
in all right for Mr.. Boil Weevil will
make Them" said Mrs. Mathis.
We'll" replied Mr. Norris. with the
boil weevil pushing and you pulling them,
| they ought to come in"
| Replying to questions regarding the
| farmers conceptions of the farm loan act,
Mrs. Mathis stated that a great many
| Of them understood it, while there were
! some who did not. "One farmer in
Alabama" said Mrs. Mathis, wrote to
! his congressman that he understood that
the government was going to let out
money without maturity, or security, and
/ he wanted $3.50 at once"
TALLADEGA MAN HEARD
| D. A. Shelton, prosperous farmer Of
| Talladega county, was the second wit
| ness put on the stand, and gave the
board good idea of the farming condi-
tons of the state, relating his own expe-
| riences He stated that in his opinion
| Birmingham was the logical location for
| the farm loan bank, and that it would
| serve more people from this location, and
/ do it more conveniently, than any other
place.
State Commissioner of Agriculture j. A.
| Wade was put on the stand, and closely
| questioned regarding the farming needs
| of the state. Mr. Wade, being in a good
position and we'll informed. gave the
| board a great deal of information re-
I garding the agricultural needs of the
| state, as well as the present conditions.
! Clarendon Davis, farmer banker of
Huntsville, told the board that he had
talked to several hundred farmers in
| that section of the state, and found
them willing to take stock in the bank,
and to become borrowers. He said that
he would buy stock in every farm loan
association in his county. He reported
| that the small farmer had made re-
markable progress in that section with
the limited means at his disposal.
NEGRO WITNESS IMPRESSIVE
| One of the best witnesses put on the
| stand was w. s. Buchanan, president
| of the A. &s NJ. negro college at Nor
NAL. He was questioned regarding the
negro situation and what could be ex-
pected from the negro in dealing with
| the farm loan bank. He stated that the
! more prosperous negro farmers were
anxious for it,, and only the ignorant
negro who did not understand the act.
would fail to appreciate the advantages
| of the bank.
| In way that showed that he had
| given the matter careful study, he
pointed out to the board the advantage
| of locating the bank in Birmingham
and Alabama, as direct benefit to the
negro. Pointing to the maps prepared
\ H. !. i. s.FTTf-
proposed district as shown by the com
mittee, covers more than one-half OF
the negro populace of the United
States, therefore it would be of the
greatest benefit to the negroes located
here. Besides that, every negro, that is
every good negro, before he dies, longs
to spend week in Birmingham"
| H. l.. McE1dery of Talladega, a farm
banker, was examined on the bor-
rowing conditions of the state, and the
per cent charged the farmers on the
farm loans. Mr.. McEldery stated that
he handled more than $250,000 annual
| ly aside from his banks business in
farm loans, and that an interest rate of
IS per cent was charged. He also
stressed the probability of locating
the bank in Birmingham.
]. P. McGaha of Marion county stated
that the farmers of his county had al
lions, and were waiting for the bank
to open to begin business. More than
so farmers are organized in his county,
with a borrowing subscription of $780,
l000
FOR FARMERS UNION
w. A. Morris, representing the farm
ers' union, and former president, stated
that the farmers were willing and anx-
ious to cooperate with the farm loan
bank. He also Endorsed Birmingham as
a logical point of location, pointing out
the advantages OF the farmer coming
to Birmingham on account of the food
demand here.
George Gordon Crawford was asked
to take the stand by Oscar Wells and
tell the board something in regard to
the thrift of the laboring class. Mr.
Crawford repeated to the board what
he had told them earlier in the morn
ing while driving over the Highlands
in Mr.. Crawford's car.
Before adjourning for lunch, and de-
string to hear as much testimony as
possible, J. #. Watt, government state
agent, was put up and Questioned rela-
tive to farm conditions. Mrs. w. B.
Edmondson of Albany, practical
farmer, was also examined. She stated
that with the aid of the farm loan
bank much wooded land that now lay
that it would stop the influx of young
men from the farm to the city.
AFTER LUNCHEON
Following a luncheon at the Tut
wiler hotel, the board reassembled at
23o o. p. Ford president of the Farm
ers' union of Alabama, came in in the
afternoon and testified to the willing
ness of the farmers for the bank and
the benefit that would accrue there
from. I'VE are all agreed" said Pres
ident Ford, that the tenant must be
eliminated by making him a land
owner
]. n. Wyatt of Siluria, demonstra-
Ttion agent for Shelby county, testified
as to conditions in Shelby county. THE
farmers in my section think the farm
land bank proposition too good toebe-
leve,' he said. when it is explained
and they understand the act, they are
for it to the man."
Judge j. A. Broughton of Jackson
vile said: Our banks are inadequate
to supply the needs of our farmers and
to encourage more agricultural devel-
opment.'
Miss Rittenberry made a plea for cot
ton, and remedy for the boil weevil
Mr.. Conway, demonstration agent for
Chiffon county, said the lack of finances
q t<x, of =