Daily globe., 1882-09-18
MINNEAPOLIS
CLEVERLY CHECKMATED.

the Anoi1a Bank and was Gioriousiy
Left-"rhe Besl Laid Plans of Men and
Mice" Etc.
w. D. Washburr, who was recently nomi-
mated in this district for congress, never
passes an opportunity b. to make money
without struggle. He is known as
modern financial schemer, man who not
unfreqUently adds wealth TO his Golfers ct
the expense of those towards whom he as
sumes the most cordial and solici-
tious friendship. But it has often
been remarked, and By people who know
him best, that w. D. Washburn never forms
(or rather pretends te form) a friendship
without a sinister motive. He has usually
been successful in his efforts, but there is
an instance on record where this arch con-
coctor of selfish schemes was handsomely
Outwitted and frustrated.
Washburn, like othec public characters
of his pattern, of course rejoices in the
possession and control of a man Friday,
Now it may be we'll to add right
here that the initials of the particular
man Friday in question, when properly
adjusted, spell Maj. Halls. This man Fri
day operates for him both here and in the
adjacent sections. In the discharge of his
duties in his opprobrious Office, this major
acquainted himself with the internal af
fairs OF the Anoka bank, through the me-
dium of one of the directors who earns his
daily bread by keeping books for Wash
burn in Anoka. It happened, in this way,
to come TO his knowledge that the divi
dends of the Anoka bank for the past year
were exceptionally large. which informa
ton was in turn conveyed forthwith to the
chief mogul, W. D. Washburn. As nat
ural result man Friday was delegated to
go forthwith to Aaoka town. There he
made the acquaintance Of the cashier of the
bank. Mr. P. Z. Pratt. This acquaintance
quickly ripened into the most cordial init
macy. Finally and cautiously Friday
broached the subject of his mission.
He advised the cashier to urge
upon the stockholders OF the bank tee ad-
Visibility of changing the bank into a
national bank with al increased capital.
He was quietly informed in reply that that
very project was already being matured;
that they were to increase the capital to
$50.O00, etc. Frieday argued that the sum
proposed was entirely inadequate, that it
should at least be made 100000. The
cashier didn't know where they could read
lily secure stockholders. Frieday could
easily arrange that. Mr.. Washburn, he
had. incidentally learned. had large sum
Df, 4oI -, OF ;,l,
were not paying very large dividends, and
he coald without doubt iuduce him to take
at least $4,000 worth OF the Anoka Nation
al bank stock. He would call again when
the whole arrangement could be perfect
ed.
M. Pratt thought the idea OF non-res-
ident owning r controlling interest would
be Objectionable to the Anoka people
and further that the business of the bank
would not require 100000 capital He
believed that $4,000 would bring Just as
large returns as would three times that
amount. Friday assured him that Mr..
Washburn would be very liberal respecting
the election OF the bank directors. Il was
quite certain that no objection could be
raised by the residents on that score.
At this juncture Mr.. Pratt began to smell
the WGshburn game. He told MAJOR Hale
that ne should urge nothing of the kind.
The stock which would be increased to
$4,000 would be owned by the business
men Of Anoka,
In due time formal application was
mailed to the comptroller of the treasury
department at Washington for the com
templatcd change. 1t was asked that they
be given the right to the name of the First
National Bank OF Anoka. and requested
that the comptroller mail explicit ilstruc-
tions FOR completing the national bank
organization. The comptroller wrote in
reply that it was customary to get the rep
resentative of the district to recommend
the same in making application for ma
tional bank. In accordance with this sug-
gestion a delegation from the stockholders
waited upon Mr.. Washburn and solicited
his endorsement. Washburn pe-em ptori-
ly refused, explaining that he had
been pledged to a similar project with a
number of Minneapolis spectators, who
were to establish First National ban K
in Ano,1a. further stating that the matter
had already been with the treasury depart
ment. To settle the question the directors
of the Anoka bank at once telegraphed the
comptroller asking him if they had the
right TO the name Of the First National
Bank OF Anoka, and stating briefly the
conduct of Mr.. Washburn. The comp
troller telegraphed back that the nams de-
sired was preserved for them AID fur
ther stated that 10 one
else had made application for tee name
The necessary instructions for perfecting
the organization were received by mail
and all went on as merry as a marriage
bell
Now the question resolves itself down
to this point: Either W. D. Washou-n i;
guilty OF base falsehood in his eodea7ol
to rob the Anoka business men of theil
bank TO satisfy his grasping, selfh nature
or NJ. Knox, the comptroller, is guilty oi
Misrepresentation. At all events it viii