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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1915)
iftSwvif n ?,! : The Commoner OCTOBER, 1915 - 31 Germany's Rural Credits System Mr. David Lubln, American dele gate to the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome, is a world au thority on rural credits. The follow ing condensation of an address de livered by him at tho Cincinnati Grain and Hay Exchange, AugU3t 6, was furnished the Farm Life by the Chamber of Commerce of that city. As our lands were practically given away free, and as the life of our na tion is but a century and a quarter old, we should by this time not have had moro tban a trace of renters. Wo Bhould be a country of freehold own ers ot farming laud, where the rent BOOKS RK0E1VKD India and tho War. With an in troduction by Lord Sydonhnm ot Combe, formerly governor of Bom bay,. With 62 illustrations. Hoddor and Stoughton, Publishers, London, New York, Toronto. Price 1b. net. America and tho New World-Slate. A plea for American leadership in in ternational organization. By Norman ing system should, in substance, bo'AnBell, author of "The Groat Ilia Some two years ago when the American commission was at Nie weid, a town -several hours from Co .blentz on the Rhein, there was a cel ebration commemorating tho life of one of the founders of rural credit tu Germany, Father Reiffeisen, and tho committee of arrangements asked me to speak in the name of tho American commission. I did so by stating that in my opinion there was no one nation among the great powers that possessed greater resist ing force; that would when put to the test transcend the -strength and en durance of all the other powers that might bo brought to bear against it that this power was Germany. A close study will show that the real strength of the German nation came as a result of her Landwyrt schaftsrat system of scientific distri bution of her agricultural products, and her efficient anil effective systems of rural credit. Especially so her Landschaft syBtem of rural credit. It was these two systems that en abled the farmers of Germany to see, hear and walk within the field of commercial experience as radically and normally as those engaged in financial and commercial projects in the cities. This is the cause that made Germany strong. In recent times a change has come about in agricultural conditions. The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20 th century brought forth1 some new conditions. The rapid carriage and rapid communication and modern means have wonderfully! sharpened the wit of the urban to an extent that he has substantially taken possession of the domain of distribution of the products of the farmer. We must adapt and adopt a system which shall give the American farm ers the necessary commercial knowl edge, and this can be done by the adaptation and adoptation of the German Landschaft system. There should be a semi-official organization under charters from the United States government for the forming of a township organization in each township in every county in tho United States and for the election by the township organizations of their county organizations, and for the election by-the county organizations of a state organization, and for the election by the state organization of their national organization. These organizations should have two-fold function. There should be the legislative function by the un paid representatives and the working functions by the paid employees. This semi-official organization when com pleted would embrace four, five or six million units. The working por- unknown. But what does tho census tell us? The United States census of 1910 shows that 37 per cent of all the ag ricultural land in tho United States is now in tho hands of renters and that 1G per cent of these renters were made during tho past ton years. This was in 1910. It is now 1915, very near 1916, and at the same rate of increase we may now have 60 per cent of renters; and shall tho 50 per cent increase to 60 per cent, then to 70 per cent and then on to 80 per cent and 90 per cent? Shall we follow in the footsteps of old Rome that perished, and perished miserably as she deserved to perish, as all nations deserve to perish who think less of their birthright? This is not merely a local question as to time and place, it is a broaa econ omic question that is even a broader question than is a great political question. It Ib a question' of the life of this nation. The Landschaft system of rural credits in substance is a merger of land by a number of land owners. These land owners obtain a charter from the central government. Tho Landschaft is formed and they elect a board of directors and these directors are sworn in as govern ment officials and are ready to pro ceed to business. One of the members presents him self to the board of directors for a mortgage for ?10,000 on property worth say $20,000. The mortgage is made out-and Is exchanged by tho board of directors for a bond. The bond is sold in the open mark et and the farmer puts his money in his pocket, and that ends the trans action so far as borrowing is con cerned. He pays his interest to the board of directors. The board of directors pay it out to the bond-holders. An additional one-half per cent is paid for on account of amortization, which pays off the debt. The loan is made for from 50 to 75 years, at the end of which time the Interest and principal is paid through tho amortization. The rate of interest Is 3, 3J6 and 4 per cent. This system has been In operation in Germany for 161 years and there has never been a single failure. The bond Is eagerly bought up by that vast number of people who de mand first of all unquestioned secur ity. The Landschaft bonds of Ger many have been rendered so safe that tho law directs that the widows' and orphans' trust funds shall be in vested in these bonds. There is no necessity for the United States In enacting the ncces sion." etc. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London. Price $1.20, net. An Art Philosopher's Cabinet. Be PreM. London: IlHinpltrey MM fort, Oxford University Press. Pric $1.61, Tho Two Virginias. Genesis of 014 and Now. (Pamphlet) "A Romano of American History." By Granvilto Davlsson Hall, 240 Beach Koafl, Glcncoc, 111. Price 25 cento. The Co-Cltlzons. By Cora Harris. Doubleday, Pago & Company, Garden City, Now York. Prlco $1.00, not. Tho Japanese Problem In tho United Stateo. An Investigation for the commission of rotations with Japan, appointed by tho federal coun- ing salient passages from tho works ;cl1 of the Churches of Christ of Amor- on Comparative Aesthetics of George Lansing Raymond, L.H.D., former professor of aesthetic criticism In Princeton university. Selected and arranged according to subject by Marion Mills Miliar, Lltt. D. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and Lon don. Prlco $1.50. Economic Aspects of tho War. Neutral rights, belligerent claims and American commerco in tho years 1914-1915. By Edwin J. Clapp, pro fessor of economics, New York uni versity. New Haven: Yalo University lea. By II. A. MlUIs. professor of Economics, Univorsity of Kansas. Tho Macmlllan Company, New York, A Smile, Lovo and a Tear. A little book ot versos, tragedy, sentiment and humorous dialect. By Robert T, Owens. Tho Gorham PrcBs, Boston. Tho Mighty and tho Lowly. By Katrina Trask. Tho Macmlllan Com pany, Now York. Prlco $1.00. Tho Conklings in America. By Ira B. Conkllng, Washington, D. C. Pub lished by Chas H. Potter & Co., Wash ington, D.C. Prlco $1.00. six million units, tug wonting poi- u..v - :. .w stnte It tion of this organization would con- sary Jaws to coerce any .state. it RiRf nf o .BWDt.n wFh a Rfciff of would simply provide a cnarter con certain stipulations sist of a secretary with a staff of typewriters, messengers and corres pondents. In substance: What the chambers of commerce, boards of any state firt he comDlied with trad A nionrin.. Tin. Rtoclc ex-' could and would be compiiea wuu toinlmr certain stipulations. iu charters would freely be given to nnv fltate where tne bupuikuuub trade, clearing houses, stock ex changes, bursars, pits and the mer cantile agencies are to commerce and finance. In place of the farmer, as today, seeing things commercial through his two eyes, he would, under the system here outlined, see through many millions of eyes. His commer cial power would be vastly augment ed and with one bound the commer cial pygmy that was will rise up the commercial giant that he will be. ,i hr held from those wnero . CThis1rural credit system together with the scientific distributive sys tem would give this nation that strength, that soundness to the core which would enable it to carry out Its mission: Its mission Is not merely l. m comfort the store-man, the mechanic, the professional man or the farmer, but its mission Is to be the servant of the nation. -pSQUTHERra IDAHO IRRIGATED LANDS No drouths. No floods. No crop failures. Mild winters Cool summers. Good water rights. Land very fertile and pro ductive. Price $45.00 per acre up for fully paid up water right For further information write W. B. MILLSON Jome, Idaho, Box 266 Self Filling Pen $2.50 The Commoner 1 year.... 1.00 Fhe Homestead 1 year. ... .25 Patent Oif Ihlder $3.75 Send Only 11.98 This offer open to both old and new subscriber. 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