St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-31
THE BUNCO "BANKERS."
How They Are Squeezing the
Farmers to Death.

How They Are Squeezing the
Farmers to Death.
TO the Editor of the Globe.
1t is just possible some able-bodied
guesser may be able to tell why the
picture of Knute Nelson alone graces
the interior of nearly all the country
banks in Minnesota to the exclusion of
the Lawler Autographs. have been
over the state quite good deal the past
month, and wherever have been | have
been impressed with this fact. The
most direct answer, the most natural in
deed. would be that these farmer-skin
ming ShylOcks are Republicans. Under
Republican rule the uSuriOuS practices
of these skinf1ints have gone on unre-
l can recall but one instance indeed, and
that was the case of the Ashby money
lender who overDlayed his ShylOckian
tendencies to that extent that his vic
tins rose ell maSSe and drove him out
of business. He recently informed a
friend of mine that 1T would probably
cost him $4,000 before he got through.
This is but one case that have heard
of. But what an outrage it is the way
some of the money changers of Mime
sofa take the very skin Off their victims.
People talk about the elevator and
wheat rings. They are saints i'll COM
pariSOn with some of the money loanerS
of the country districts. Invariably
taking advantage of the farmers neces-
stiles, they charge hum bonus ''fOr
getting the money" when they already
have it at command; charge him out
.rageOus interest; take chattel mort
cages on ali his belongings; charge
him bonus for the air he breathes, and
would even charge him rent for his
grave if they could by any possibility
enforce payment.
They are III nearly every instance
rabid lllsDury Republicans,
discoursing glibly Oh protection to
American industries and patriotism,
and SHINING their hapleSs victims out
of their money, their homes, their right
to live. and even Stealthily debating, as
far as they can, the way he shall vote.
Two years ago | was informed by a no
torious banking bloodSucker, operating
on the line of the Northern Pacific, that
on capital of S775, 900 he had dead sure
thing on profit of 81, 400 month every
month in the year. And he glOried in
it. and smiled satircally as he thought
of the soft snap he had. Only q few
days ago farmer who entered his bank
ing house otherwise bunco house, was
asked by this Minneapolis Christian
banker how his crop had PANIED out.
Every DOOR," the luckless farmer
answered. 20, well, damn the Odds"
was the reply of Skinflint, ''as long as
you pay me my interest"
If it could be generally known how
farmers are habtually bled by these
harpies of finance, such howl OF exc
Grafton would go up in this state that
the people would almost rise up in arms
and sweep them out of existence. There
will never be anything i'll the way of
legislative or executive relief from this
species of contemplate daylight rob-
berry until we experience total change
in the state government. This is an
evil that has grown and been fostered
under the rule OF the gang that have
run things in Minnesota the past thirty
years. 1t is time there was change.
There must be a change. Every indi
cation points to the triumphant election
of d. W. Lawier, an executive who may
be depended OH to sit down hard OH the
soulless Shylocks who have for so long
unblushingly buncoed the farmers OF
the state who at certain times must
have money. They have been obliged
to submit to any eXtOrtiOn to meet their
present necessities. Down with the
bunco bankersl Turn the rascals out.
ONE OF THEIR VICTIMS.
Henning, MIMI, Oct. 81.