Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-12-22
ATTENDED FARMER
BANKER CONFERENCE
Attempts Made to Locate Cause
and Prescribe Remedy for
Present Crisis

A farmer ana banker meeting was
held at St. Cloud last Friday after
noon in the Elks Club rooms and was
attended by a large representation
from each class, the spacious room
being taxed to it's capacity. Pres.
Potter of the State Federation of
Farm Bureaus presided over the
meeting and announced that the en-
tire afternoon was thrown open to
the free discussion and exchange of
views on the big problems facing the
farmers and bankers in the state and
nation at large Some hesitancy was
shown at first as no one volunteered
to offer any remarks--un Pres. Pot
ter drafted several to start the ball
rolling. Following such Introductory
talks and the facts presented in par
ticular by the representative of the
Federal Reserve Bank in this Ninth
District, farmers and bankers freely
expressed themselves and heart-to-
heart discussion ensued.
1t appeared evident that both farm
ers and bankers desired to be mutual
in their efforts to solve the trouble
and the conference began with this
idea before it. As the discussion
waxed it became evident however
that there was a strain on the friend
ly relations and some personal and
mplicatory remarks were cast by
both sides. Mr. Mcguire, we'll
known and progressive farmer In
Stearns County appeared to have q
tirmer and more clear understanding
needs and in brief outlined their pre-
Foil
summer the farmer, besides facing his
constant mortgage menace was COM
PEELED to pay fantastic prices for his
engage farm help at almost prohibit
DRY wages. Thru it all however he
expected to overcome his expenses
by a reasonable return on his crop
when marketed. On the contrary he
found that the price per bushel of
his wheat and other measures of his
produce had been established by 9TH
ers for him and that said price was
far below the cost sof production. In
such a situation it would benefit him
little to sell so he ordained to with
hold his produce and no one questions
| the Justice of that act. Yet when his
| mortgages come due and other out
| lays must be made he is financially
helpless and appeals to the banks to
advance him loans. The small bankers
in turn are powerless to help him and
he is in a condition fraught with
many uncertainties.
! Mr.. Mcclure concluded by stating
| that the farmer had done all in his
power to produce for the nation anc
| had nobly acquitted himself and now
| it was for the men who control the
money situation or the institution:
which have that within their scope
Of influence to rescue the farmer ant
supply the cure The farmers in thu
audience gave evidence of their har
mony with the speaker by cheers ant
favorable remarks.
The representative of the Fedora
Reserve Bank of Minneapolis was TN
concentration point for deluge
inquiries and questions on the par
of both bankers and farmers VIII
hoped that said parsonage Nigh
know the direct cause and offer so
ution. The representative appeale
to every one in country and town t
aid the local banks by depositing wit
them as much currency as could b
spared and thus mitigate the none
crisis a little A mass of statistic
we're offered but appeared idle fact
as no solution or cause were draw
from them.
One farmer ventured the suggestio
that the cause of the money crisI
was found higher up" and could NJ
be laid at the doors of the small bal
ker or the farmer. The small bal
ker and the farmer are dependel
upon each in a large sense and bot
are working together for their joi1
benefit.
A banker from Western Minneso1
who gave his name as Nelson pre<
plated a rupture during the discu
sion when he charged that the ia
mers were slowing away their coin
old socks in place of entrusting
with the banks. This unjust accus
ton aroused hot retorts from tt
farmers and in large measure thre
cold water on the good work that h:
been done and the prospects for
friendly discussion of the question
1t became clear edwards the clio
Of the meeting that no one had d
covered the exact cause Or causes
the present paralysis in our econom
system and no convincing renee
had been proposed. A set of resol
tions, prepared and ready for the &C
rection and adoption OF the gatheTil
were preented and passed. These !
solutions, cloaked In general tern
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