The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-19
UNCLE SAM AND THE FARMER.

UNCLE SAM AND THE FARMER.
A review of the most significant
steps that have been taken in the last
few years to benefit the economic
condition of the farmer is contained
in an article by Carl Vrooman. assist
ant secretary of agriculture, pub
lished in the forthcoming yearbook
of the department. In the past. he
says, there has been a mistaken the
DRY that everybody is interested in in
creasing agricultural production, but
that nobody but the farmer is inter-
ested in making the production prof
table.
That this theory has at last been
recognized as fallacious is indicated
by important legislation enacted in the
last few years Prominent in this leg
islation was the creation, in 1913. of
the office of markets and rural or
ganization. This office represents the
first attempt on the part of the gov
eminent to remedy thru scientific in
vestigation the waste and extrava-
gance in our present methods of dis
tributing and disposing of farm prod
ucts. Long before there was any Of
fetal recognition of the need for this
step. the farmers themselves realized
the necessity for it. The grange
movement, the Farmers Alliance
movement, and the Populist move
ment were all inspired by the convic-
ton on the part of the producers that
organization 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 impracticahle, their
basic demands were just and he en-
phasizs 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, a number of laws have been
passed which are characterized as be-
| ing of immense economic importance
to the farmer. Perhaps the most inn
portant one of these is the farm loan
act. This" declares the assistant
secretary, lis the first great financial
measure ever passed by congress pri-
marily in the interest of the farmer.
! l 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 it must be admitted
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 pray
ing for. during the past half century,
These fundamental necessities are
defined as:
First. Available capital in suffi-
cient quantities for the farmers legit-
innate 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. 1916. This legislation
was passed in response to a demand
on the part of the farmers for a
mechanism that would enable them to
borrow money more easily, and at a
lower rate of interest on stored crops
| 1t permits a farmer to place produce
in bonded warehouse and secure a
receipt for it. On this receipt he car
easily borrow money. for it repre-
sents gilt-edged security. The risk
which in the old days the banker took
in lending money, even to farmers
with good credit, is eliminated by this
method and the rates of interest
therefore lowered.
In summing up the effect of these
and other laws, Mr.. Vrooman says:
1T is clear. I think, that as a result OF
this splendid program of constructive
legislation, a new agricultural epoch
has begun. At last what for so Ions
was merely the hope the aspiration
the dream of the widely scattered, i'm.
perfectly organized tillers of our sol
has become the avowed policy of the
federal department of agriculture
and has been written by congress into
the law of the land"
. GEyRNFANv,c uTrDDv