Smyrna times., 1927-09-14
HEAR PLEA FOR DEL-MAR-VA
FARMS AND COOPERATION
DIR. G. L. GRIER SEES AGRICUL-
TURE AS BUSINESS BACKBONE
He Tells Citizens and Bankers That
Most Everything on the Del-Mar-
Va Peninsula Depends on Farming

-
Va Peninsula Depends on Farming
Speaking before the annual meeting
Of the Delaware Bankers Association
at Rehoboth recently, DR.. G. Layton
Grier, of Milford, urged cooperation
on the part Of the State Banking In
stitutions and the farmers. He stress
ed the fact that agriculture is the
backbone for business in the state,
and showed that in this we have fal-
len behind many states.
Banks are urban institutions. Bank
ers generally, have an urban outlook
on life. Many Of our bankers are
landowners, some of them are farm
ers; and only few are good ones.
Taking the Peninsula as a whole,
we produce our wealth in the coun-
try and we store in the cities. Out
side Of Wilmington and a few other
centers agriculture, not industry, is
the backbone of business. Our fnan-
cial well-being rides with the farmer.
Annual crop values have a very de
cided effect upon deposits. They are
also quite frequently the factors that
determine whether or not city bust
ness men are able to discount their
bills promptly. AS bankers we ride
with the farmers; there isn't banker
here that will contradict that state
ment.
This isn't news, since everybody
knows it. And that being the case,
very few people do anything about it.
Indeed, so far as I have been able to
ascertain, the attitude Of the average
banker toward agriculture presents
really touching reliance upon Provi-
dence. If the frosts keep away, the
sun shines, and there is proper
amount of rain, crops will be right.
But if Providence falls down on the
Job, there is nothing to be done; par
ticularly there is nothing for the
banking fraternity to do.
Perhaps / am not talking by the
book. | am not a banker. | am only
a small bank stockholder, and incl
IDENTIFY a poor benighted bank director.
AS such, have long ago been taught
my place. And / realize how pre-
sumptious it is for me to speak out
boldly in the circles which Governor
Robinson, Tom Reed or our mutual
friend and president so conspiciously
adorn. However, conviction will en-
bolden even bank director. have
a few convictions regarding agrlcul-
ture, and the bankers proper relation
to it. Those Of US who have paid any
attention to such matters, realize that
during the past twenty years our ag-
ricultural population has steadily de-
clined. For there has been a relative
decline even where there has not been
a falling off in actual numbers. That
is. we have fallen behind the rest Of
the country. We have not only failed
to keep our native born sons and
daughters with us, but have likewise
failed to attract newcomers in appre-
ciable numbers. Moreover, we have
fallen behind the process a bit, so far
as the financial value Of our agricul-
tural output is concerned. New Jer-
sey. Florida, Colorado, California,
Washington, Oregon, and practically
every state in the Mississippi Valley
has been growing faster than we have
when progress is measured In terms
of crop increase percentage.
Holding Our Own
On the other hand, we have moi
done badly at all industrially. we
are holding our own in that realm
Indeed, the industrial progress Of
Wilmington for example, has beer
really amazing. Our industry is no
a financial orphan. 1t is not bank
ing orphan.Now / submit to you, tha'
we are as fortunately situated agri
culturally as we are, from the indus
trial standpoint. Indeed, it reall.
should be easier for us to stand II
the forefront Of agricultural progres
than it is for US to lead the industria
march. We have gotten ahead indus
trically / believe, because our banker
have not only understood our indus
trial problems, but have Joined con
structively in their solution. be
leve it would be money in the pocke
Of everyone, financier and farme
alike. if our bankers were more keenl
Interested in what takes place or fail
to take place on the farm.
Bank Resources
| am told that the resources Of De
aware banks are in the neighborhoo
of $50 million dollars. One Delawar
bank, which twenty years ago had rt
sources less than s4000,000 now ha
resources Of more than $19,000,0O'
That is evidence of progress Of cours
The resources of the bank have il
creased because there has been cor
slant increase in the resources Of th
community. Every banker in tn
audience, longs for the day when tn
resources Of Delaware's financial il
stitutions are s250,000,000. That da
is coming. It win probably arriy
even though none Of us do anythin
to hasten its advent. However, it
generally entirely possible to accelel
ate progress. At the present time, II