The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-08-13
Banks and Banking Organizations.
By MRS. ANA D. WEAVER, JAMESTOWN
:,


,ank satisfactory security against
oss: but, in case he deposits money
With the bank he must receive al
ow rate OF interest and the credit OF
he bank must be his only guarantee
II payment.
Within the past year in my own
county three banks have failed.
Three bankers have been defaulters
% the peopl" to the value OF over
i've hundred thousand dollars!
Three bankers, with the eyes Of the
ynx, have watched their Opportu-
mites and at the most suspicious
moment have pocketed their credi-
tors money and between two days
have collapsed into Canada or some
other shady retreat for legalized de-
ranlters until the storm passed over.
Laboring and business men and
women are out to the value OF
100000, dollars in consequence. One
aged widow who had deposited and
lost her all is hopelessly insane.
i5a suicide. Several men
are tramps: while many others hav-
ing sought reliefin.saloons and 9TH
or places Of dissipation are on the
down hill road Of sin and crime to
fill the jails and state prisons. The
bankers luxuriate and the system
goes on.
On Main street in jamestown n.
T., situated nealy opposite OF each
other, are two national banks. Yes
terday, had occasion to enter one OF
them. In it is Il picture hung whose
memory haunts me. It is the same
us or very similar TO that which
every national bank in the United
States contains. / will draw j. for
you. 1t is Il vivid truthful picture
OF capital expressing labor. It is
writ III human flesh and stained
with human gore. Scattered all
about it are the dead and the dying
the mangled corpscs, trophies OF
victory. Here it is, laboring voters.
On the left, in the foreground us /
entered stood man who Mt one
time figured prominently in the
United States Senate. He is presi-
dent, director and heavy stakeholder
in the bank. He was evidently Il
sort Of reception committee. He
stroked most complacently at inter-
walls white beard and a whittier
vest, smiled blandly, and conversed
fiuently on the fine weather. bOunti-
full crops, and general prosperity.
Farmers hurried in and out. They
were haggard anu careworn. Their
garments were faded and rusty;
many OF them were patched at the
knees and elbows. It seemed to
them Il question OF life or death.
One old farmer had a heavy obliga.
ton to meet at the bank that day
or his note must 60 to protest. He
had brought all his dairy product,
wool-clip, and even eggs and vege-
tables from the garden for the mar
ket. Wool was bringing twenty five
cents per pound, butter fifteen cents
and cheese five ceets, and slow sales
The old man hurried to and fro; he
tried to sell his produce and could
not; he tried to find signer to aid
him to renew the obligation and
failed. Finally, fretted and worried
to desperation, he sat down and
wept like child; tears weak and
futile. The prices for farm produce
were ut the lowest possible margin
and yet butter and cheese were
luxuries, not necessities, on the
average laboring maR's table. And
and worn and faded suit was barely
respectable. The president Of til.
bank from an elegant gold watcl
noted the time Of day, smiled bland
~, and said the note had gone K
protest.
To the old man the words came
like u thunderbolt. It was his dealt
sentence, financially. Chagrin and
embarrassed In the extreme, hi
naturally fine and sensitive organism
suffered iudescribable emotions
Silently he arose and walking dow
and out carried in his face a hear
history that human tongue or pei
could not delineate. Behind hin
were long, long years Of wear.
hopeless toll, crushed hopes, ruine'
aspirations. Before him, lost credi
and manhood, II sheriff sale, name
less days and sleepless nights, rcck
lessness. intemperance, the pathwa,
to sin and crime, state prison an,
the gallows, or the intirmary and
pauper's grave.
He did not study the cause; he di
no. seek out Il remedy. Somethin;
was wrong. The banks rich M
powerful and oppressive. He VIA
only one from among its millions 9
remorseless victims. And the dea
and the dying financially wer
strcwn all around him. The Repub
lican party had blankcted the entir
country with debt and mortgage.
The Democratic party were foreclos
ing on them.
On the brew OF the hill us the oil
man passed along was an clegan
residence among the finest in lib
city. II is the property OF popula
banker. The father watercd rail
road stock to the value $1OO,OOO an,
Stealing legally that amount from
the people Ill. son WAS made
banker On their knees in front G
the mansion five iaborers were wit
their fingers pulling superflno,,
leaves from the elegant lawn. Tiles
men hal been all farmers IN com
Portable circumstances, with it'll
homes for themselves anu families
Through i'll unjust system Of !egis
IatiOn the homes had been given III
the members OF the families ha
separated. they had driftcl dow
into day-l;,borers, selfs tn Il monte.
aristo"rat. One OF these farmer.
to keep the ,heriif's sale off Il littl
longer, had watercd his milk an
for it was fined $50 and costs. Their
is a mine OF difference between VIA
terihg milk and Watering railraa
stock: between stealing Il loaf .
bread for /; furnishing. hunyerin
family and robbinS Il United Stat.
treasury OF Sl50.OOO.OOO.
Since American freedom was e.
tablished ut sd fearful cost, eyer
patriot and statesman has unan
mously said; ''The national banl,
| ing system must be abolished or civ
liberty must die" And yet moneie
aristocrats, through willy systeI
OF legislation, blind the grei