Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-20
NOW AIDS FARMER
IN MAKING MONEY
GOVERNMENT Is MEETING THE
FARMER HALF WAY IN FIGHT
FOR IMPROVEMENT.

steps that have been taken in the last
few years to benefit the economic con-
dition of the farmer is contained in
an article by Carl Vrooman, assistant
secretary of agriculture, published in
the Forthcoming yearbook of the de-
partment.
In this article Mr.. Vrooman points
out that for so years the United
States department of agriculture has
been studying how to increase pro-
duction on the farms, but that 1t is
only very recently that stress has
been laid on study of the problem
of making that production profitable.
In the past, he says, there has been
mistaken theory that everybody Is
interested in increasing agricultural
production, but that nobody but the
farmer is interested in making that
production profitable.
That this theory has at last been
recognized as fallacious Is indicated
by important legislation enacted in
the last few years. he says. Promi-
nent in this legislation was the crea-
ton, in 1913, of the office of markets
and rural organization. "The crea-
ton of this office" says Mr.. vroo-
man. was an innovation of epoch
making significance"
First Official Step.
This office represents the first at
tempt on the part of the government
to remedy through scientific investi-
cation the waste and extravaganza in
our present methods of distributing
and disposing of farm products. Long
before there was any official recogni-
ton Of the need for this step, the
farmers themselves realized the ne
cessity for it. The Grange move
ment, the Farmers Alliance move
ment, and the Populist movement
were all inspired by the conviction
on the part of the producers that or
ganization on their part was essen
tial to improvement in their economic
condition.
The assistant secretary points out
that while many of the specific rene
dies demanded by the leaders of these
movements were impracticable, their
basic demands were just. and he en-
phasizes the necessity of applying to
these problems much the same meth
DDS of scientific study which have
made possible such extraordinary ad-
vances in the production of crops.
In addition to the creation of the
office of markets and rural organiza-
ton. number of laws have been
passed which are characterized as be-
ing of immense economic Importance
to the farmer. Perhaps the most i'm
portant one of these is that financial
magma charta of the farmer" the
farm loan act.
This" declares the assistant Sec
rotary, sis the first great financial
measure ever passed by congress pri-
marily in the interest of the farmer.
] have no doubt that in the future it
will be strengthened by amendments
with regard to some of its minor de-
tails, as was the federal reserve bill,
but in all fairness 1t must be admit
ted that this bill will do for the
farmer very much what the federal
reserve act is doing for the business
man. 1t will furnish the farmer with
those fundamental necessities that he
has been asking for. voting for, and
praying for, during the past half GEN.
tury."
Defines Necessities.
These fundamental necessities are
defined as:
First-Available capital in suffi-
cient quantities for the farmers le-
climate needs.
Second-Loans on longer time and
easier terms of payment.
Third-Lower rates of interest.
Another measure cited in this con-
nection is the bonded warehouse act
of August II, 1915. This legislation
was passed in response to a demand
on the part of the farmers for a mech
anism that would enable them to bor-
row money more easily, and at low
er rate of interest on stored crops.
1t permits farmer to place produce
in a bonded warehouse and secure a
receipt for it. On this receipt he can
easily borrow money, for it represents
gilt-edged security.
The risk which in the old days the
banker took in lending money, even
to farmers with good credit, is elm
mated by this method and the rates
of interest therefore lowered. In ad-
dition. the farmer now has a much
larger field in which to negotiate his
loans than in the days when he was
practically limited to those bankers
who knew him personally.
Cites Other Acts.
The cotton futures act and the
United States grain standards act are