The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-03-14
$1.OO 'YEAARt IN ADVANCE.


AIVAE. =
found who refused to give any in
| formation. BY these personal visits
it was found, as has been already
mentioned, that the amount received
on loan was usually 10 per cent less
than the corresponding mortgage
given to secure the same. In the
same way it was further learned that
the actual rate of interest paid on
PER MONTH, or from ito $50 per cent per
annuml!! These are doubtless the
rates paid with few exceptions on all
the 22l here claSSed as extOrtiOnate.
| The leading causes stated by the bOr-
rowers for securing the loans were,-
out of work, hard times, sickness and
for living purposes. calling
this number the larger estimate
which is above the actual number of
such extOrtiOnate instruments not
known to be such, we reach the con-
cluSiOn that the number of eXtOr-
tiOnate loans made in Minneapolis in
1893 was, substantially, 2,7OO, invOlv-
ing loans of little less than 500, 900.
The face of these instruments, how
ever, would represent an amount not
far from $4,000. Allowing an aver
age life of four months or trifle over
for these eXtOrtiOnate loans, we reach
the conclusion that IN the making of
the 500, 900 of atSl1iOus loans in Mime
apOliS in 1893 there was invested q
capital of from $50. 900 to $4,000. This
investment netted it's owners sum
about equal to its principal. The Com
missioner thinks that SAC, 900, invested
in these loans, at legal rates, would
save the people of Minneapolis $50, 900
a year.
What is the cause of all this? A
money-lender's government: demon
etization of silver; contraction of cur
rency; poverty, hardship, misery; the
sacrifice of the little all of the poor
to the sharks. That is the whole
story. l. d.
Remember that losses by fire have
to be paid promptly. Assessments
must be paid in the same manner.
How the Truth Spreads.-A VAL
liable Convert.
In 1892, during the campaign, we
spoke in Kandiyohi county, at New
London. We had an immense audi
ence. We were crOss-examined and
pitched into by an able gentleman, a
republican, named doctor John
son." and we had it ''hOt and heavy"
He was the aeading republican OF the
locality,-and man OF wide infiu-
ence. I'VE pummelled each other
considerably, but all in good-na-
tured way, and l expressed my regret
that he was on the wrong side. The
other day l received a letter from
one Of my friends in Kandiyohi coun-
ty telling me, incidentally, that
"Dr. Johnson" had been converted
by time and events into a Populist.
| was so pleased that, although |
did not even know his first name, l
wrote him a letter of cOngratula-
tions. l have just received the fol-
lowing reply, which take the liberty
of publishing:
New LONDON, March I, '94 :
| HON. IGNATIUS DONNELLY:
DEAR SIR:-YOur kind favor of the
9th inst, is received and contents
duly noted. [ confess that passing
events during the last year have con-
vinced me that the Peoples party is
right on the money question. [ am
beginning to see the political history
new light. The unequal and unjust
| n G. ri hI1f Of
reached a crisis, that means radical
reform, or revolution. The old par
ties stand imbecile and cowardly i'm
potent, while the mothers and wives
and little ones of the land die of
want and starvation. | feel it a
duty as we'll as privilege to do what
l can for public liberty and justice;
and stand ready to shake hands with
any man or party in the cause of true
reform. Sincerely yours,
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
This is the kind of man we WANT
with intellect enough to think him
selves out of his errors and courage
enough to stand by his convictions
If our friends in Kandiyohi county
have the sense to put DR.. Johnson
forward, and let him canvass the
county, they will sweep it two to one.
That is our honest belief. The Peo.
pies party is no close corpora tion.
We want the men who can produce
results. Our object is not office but
reform of abuses, and the prosperity
of the people. l. d.
A Question Asked and Answered
as to County Alliances.