The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-15
FACTS AND POETRY.
AND ROTTEN BANKS.


THE SECURITY BANK AND IT'S FELL
LOWS GET A GENTLE ROAST
FROM BURKE.
Early in 1893 we published in county
paper question asking the Security
bank folks whether they had loaned
Menage or the Guaranty Loan 100000,
or what other amount. and received
from Henry M. Knox the following let
ter:
The Security Bank Of Minneapolis
Capital $1,000, OoO-Surplis and profits
$500, 900.
]. H. Burke, Esq, Care Of Alliance
Advocate-Dear Sir: We have been
favored with copy Of the above paper
for June 22nd, in which we find it init
mated, over your signature, that the
bank holds, or has held, 100000 of
Guaranty Loan Co. paper. We would
be obliged If you would call on us, or in
some other way, II more convenient, and
inform us where yo'l came by the knowl-
edge. We must suppose that you would
prefer to tell the truth than attempt to
damage one by falsehoods, which such
course would be likely to do in such
times as these We desire no contro-
versy but would show you how utterly
without foundation any such statement
Is, had we the opportunity. Yours
truly, H. M. KNOX, V. P.
Mr. Knox had been Public Examiner
and as such had made good one, we
sincerely believe, but the fact that he
had once been a state official and was
also a brother of an ex-comptroller of
the United States treasury, seems to
have unduly elevated him, else he could
not have written such letter, which
If not SO intended, was plainly full Of
insults. Mr.. Knox knew full well that
our statements as made were true, and
that the bank had advanced large sums
to Menage and the Guaranty Loan, and
It the ofhcials were not aiding Menage
In scheme to gut the bank the court
records show some of them were inter-
ested with him In his schemes, and +.
A. Chamberlain-the president, is one.
Notably being in the Compo Board
scheme. Hence we sent the following
reply:
522 Cedar st., ST. Paul, Mimi, July s,
1881. M. Knox, Esq.-Dear Sir:
Your favor of June 3Oth at hand and
hasten to reply at first opportunity. Ask
#. A. Chamberlain, Esq, whether be-
fore or since September, 1891, he ever
admitted to anyone that the bank held
q large amount of Guaranty Loan Co.
paper, or paper of it's directors. While
you claim the bank does not now hold
100000, you do not admit, or deny the
holding OF smaller sum. You are
aware that one man without assistance.
official position, money or aid, cannot
personally examine the condition of
every bank in the state; but must per-
force take a good deal second hand, and
by putting different items together make
q whole. l should have cheerfully CO.
operated with any honest committee of
bankers at any and all times, but all
nave displayed a mastery inactivity;
hence have been left entirely to my own
resources to gather the facts as best l
could. meeting with obstacles at all
times from both banks and public off,
cfals. could not verify any statements
as to the condition of your bank-or any
othar-by applying to the bank officials,
because had every reason to believe
that al! the banks and financial con-
Germs Of your city-with two excep-
tions-would have received me with in
suit to my face, even as a part of them
have stabbed me in the back, and the
agents Of some of them have stolen my
property and tried to encompass my
>3~A~ IS
the element who have been principals
or accessories to these or other, crimes,
have been, or are, officials in your own
bank Hence, with belief of these
facts and having no assurance that an
application to the banks of Minneapolis
for information might not be met with
death, violence or insult even as appli-
cations to the state officials so resulted
1t became my duty to ask these ques-
lions publicly without any desire to in
jure the just, but in the hopes that the
banks Of your city may be induced to
weed out the criminal element from
among the directory. l am satisfied the
Alliance Advocate will cheerfully make
any just correction you can conscien-
tiously request; but in writing to the
paper would suggest that you state
how much, if any, money your bank
has advanced directly, or indirectly to
its directors, and especially to Harrison,
Harrington & Co., Hopwood & Co., or
any of the directory. Regretting the
necessity of inflicting on your city the
experience you mention, and trusting
may not be compelled to administer one
still more severe as we'll as I can make
myself understood, let me assure you
that I will cheerfully cooperate with
the honest bankers of your city in any
such move to secure justice and restore
confidence. Yours respectfully,
JOHN H. BURKE.
In view Of the fact that Mr.. Knox
shove this letter himself around among
tho bankers, that was publication and
in one sense a breach of confidence,
since he has never replied to it. Hence,
as was warranted, we gave it still wider
publicity by printing it in a paper in
July, 1898. Whereat some one connected
with that bank commenced to start an
inquiry concerning our sanity, and ever
since that time we have been met at all
times by an unforeseen hand that was
studiously circulating these reports by
inuendo.
II any person Of means connected
with that bank will put in print some
Of their alleged utterances we will en-
deavor to warm them to the queen
taste, and in the meantime republish
the following, which the bankers will
all like to read: