BANKERS' DAY 



Saturday Morning, December 6, 1913, 10 o'Clock. 



GENERAL TOPIC: ''AGRICULTURAL CREDIT" 



Mrs. Smith : The first matter that I want to bring to your attention 

 is a resolution put before the management of the conference, which I 

 think we all feel interested in. 



There has been some trouble about the importation of potatoes into 

 this country. A potato disease is raging in Europe and we are anxious to 

 keep it out of this country. Mr. Calwell feels that for the Corn Exchange 

 Bank and for this conference to go on record as opposed to raising the 

 embargo it would express the sentiments of a part of the country on this 

 question. It is a very important thing to have an embargo on the importa- 

 tion of potatoes remain as it is. I will just read the resolution as it has 

 been worded. It is open to change: ''Resolved, That the Agricultural 

 Conference and the Corn Exchange National Bank are opposed to the 

 lifting of the embargo on the foreign potato importation now about 

 to be discussed by the Department of Agriculture in Washington." 



Mr. Wescott, you are acquainted with produce lines. Can you tell 

 us why there should be any question of raising the embargo? 



Mr. Wescott: I am sorry that our information does not relate 

 to the scientific aspects of this question. Coming from a section, however, 

 in which the production of potatoes is the chief industry, it would be ex- 

 tremely disastrous if any other burden were committed to the farmer 

 in the way that would interfere with the production of his crop. 



It seems a fair assumption that unless there were scientific probabiUty 

 of contagion through importation, the embargo would never have, in the 

 first place, been put upon the importation. That being the case, it would 

 seem unwise to take any chances that would result seriously, not only 

 to producing sections, but to this country at large through the importation 

 of any further potato disease. We are very heartily in sympathy with the 

 purpose of this resolution. 



Mrs. Smith: Is there any one who feels opposed to that? I think 

 that most all of us feel that it is a good thing to keep out. If there is any 

 person who would like to say a word why the embargo should be lifted, 

 we should hke to hear from him. 



A Delegate: Should not the resolution state why it should be 

 kept on? 



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