Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-07-28
RURAL CREDITS
Reasons For Rural Credit System In
United States~-TwO Views Of The
Situation The Hollis Bill Farm
eFs Need Organization The Co
operative Principle.
By MyrOn T. Herrick.

When Mr.. Her~ick was in Fulton
county last week the editor of the Iri-
bune suggested to him that con-
siderable number of the citizens OF
this county were interested in the
question of Rural Credits, and know
ing that Mr.. Herrick had made a
thorough study of the Rural Credits
system Of Europe and that he is also
thoroughly conversant with conditions
which obtain In this country, we asked
him for a statement of his views on
this important question. Mr.. Herrick
very kindly gave us the following for
publication:
A generation ago, if farm lad was
bllghL and intelligent his parents us
ually thought he was born for city life
and they strove to give him a literary
or professional education or an oppor-
tunlty in some other way to use his
energies and abilities in the city.
The country was drained of it's tai
ent for the benefit Of the city. The
recruits thus gained for commerce, in
dustry, and all kinds Of city activity
have played an important part in
making TINS nation great and prosper
ous. And 1t is to be hoped that the
cities win continue to be supplied with
brain and Drawn from the farm. City
life would become decadent if it were
not constantly renewed and streng-
thened from that source.
But during recent years the indus
trial army of the cities has been
growing more rapidly than some other
elements of our population, and not
infrequently it has suffered from the
lack Of an adequate and regular supply
Of raw material for feeding and cloth
ing it and for keeping it at work.
As a result, the costs of living have
become higher; and in this industrial
army the terms Of enlistment are not
as easy nor the chances of promotion
as good as formerly. Life in the city
is not as alIuring as once it was. The
farm lad has begun to realize this
Moreover, the people in town and in
country are gaining a new apprecia-
ton of the fact that agriculture is the
mainstayof the nations prosperity and
that it cannot be neglected without
endangering that prosperity. They
know also that our agricultural re-
sources are so great that their de-
veiopment offers magnificent oppor-
tunities for youth, energy, and intelli-
Qence, while it would solve the most
acute problems respecting the costs Of
living.
So the cityward drift from the cOun.
try has been checked to noticeable ex-
tent. The students in agricultural
colleges are yearly becoming more
numerous. Agriculture Is being look
ed on as q pursuit, calling for educa-
lion Is we'll as Intelligence, and so il
Is being studied and discussed in all
Il branches more seriously than ever
before, with q view Of solving its own
particular problems and Of restoring
the balance between supply and de-
mand which was disturbed by the
rapid advance Of modern civilization.
This study has evolved two lines Of
thought. One is based on the idea thai
the farmers are not able to take care
Of themselves and manage their owl
affairs. SO it advocates the interven-
ton Of Government, the granting OF
financial Assistance by Government
and the regulation and even the con
troll Of agriculture through centraliz
ing agencies Of Government at Wash
ington.
The other line of thought is baseC
on the idea that the farmers are ca
pable and self-reliant, and that they
do not need Government aid or speeia
favors, that they are not seeking to b'
set aside as a privileged class to b
assisted Mt the expense of the rest o.
the taxpayers or made wards of Gov
eminent, ike Indians, or pampereS
from political motives. It believes
that the farmers simply want a square
deal and the enactment of laws whicl
win assure them equality with work
ers in other industries and enabl'
them to utilize their credit and re
sources TO best advantage and Obtain
adequate returns for the money, tim
and labor risked in agriculture.
The rural credits movement wa
these objects; to make available TO
started a few years ago to carry ou
all the needs Of agriculture the stu
pendous aggregate wealth and re
sources Of the farmers, so that farm
ers would be able to borrow money o.
the easiest conditions at long term 70
the purchase or improvement of farm
OF at short term for growing and mar
keting their crops.
But the movement has been distort
ed from its original objects, and Cor
gress has just passed a rural credi
measure committing the United State
to a system Of state-aided, govern