The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-12
THE BANKERS INTERESTS.
SHOULD THEY GOVERN THE
COUNTRY?
They Are Adverse to Those Of the People.

same as bankers Interest,", Glcu III
will be good common sense to vote as
the banks vote. but what fools we are
to do it now.-People's Waterman,
Parker. S. Oak.
Very true. The REPRESENTATIVE
is not necessarily hostile to bankers as
such. Some of them are very good,
fair-minded men. And we cannot
blame a shrewd man, in the present
wretched condition of society. for per-
ceiving that money-lending is the on
ly safe and protitab BILE business; and
selling out his real and personal es-
tate and engaging in banking. He is
simply adapting himself to his en-
vironment.
But nevertheless, every one must
acknowledge that the bankers inter-
ests are hostile to the interests of the
rest Of the community.
If farmer begins with $1,000 of
capital and becomes worth $4,000 he
has probably added 100000. to the
worlds stock of wealth. He sows, we
will say, a bushel and half of heat
and raises twenty bushels. He has,
created eighteen and half bushels
of wheat, which are necessary to hui
man life, and which never had an ex-
istence before. This is real wealth
added to the worlds store; for the
digestive tract lies at the basis of
civilization, and whatever supplies it
supplies life and growth and progress;
the happiness of this generation and
possibly of all future gene rations.
| But if banker starts with $4,000
and accumulates 100000 he adds
nothing to human wealth; he simply
| concentrates in his own hands 500, 900
which before was distributed among
his fellow citizens. Hence his fellow
men are his sources of wealth. his
subjects, we may say, his victims.
Whatever he is wor tn they are worth
so much less. His end of the ste ter"
has gone down with the weight of his
gatherings; theirs has gone up, minus
his distractions. The banker and his
family are enriched but what other
party in the community has been
benefited?
Now the world lives and has it's be-
ing by it's producers. If the farmers
refused to raise crops for three years
nine-tenths of the human family
would perish of starvation. 1t can
not be otherwise. The supply each
year just about balances the demand.
If it falls short there are famines
somewhere and millions die,-as in
Russia not long since.
Hence the PRODUCERS are the the acorld
All the rest are simply excresences,
appendages, parasites:-the fringe of
the dogs tail; ornamental but not
necessary. Cut the fringe off and you
do not affect the dogs digestion.
Now then if the world is to endure
and mankind to maintain it's civilized
position the interests Of the producers
must prevail. Upon these depend
even the prosperity Of the dependent
classes, the eXcresce noes. II the pro-
ducers are impo verished where are
the doctors, lawyers, merchants,
clergymen, manufa cturers to get a
living? Where will the Transports
tion lines procure the material for
their commerce? The cities live up
on the country;-no count no city.
your newspapers, your b0ok-makerS,
your actors, your artists, your poe is,
your editors, your workers in the
metals, your jewellers, your artisans,
your mechanics your laboring men, to
live?
If then the interest of the banker
is adverse to the interest of those who
borrow from him; and if he grows rich
out of and at the expense of the pro-
ducers, how can you safely turn over
the government of the town, the
county, the state or the nation to his
hands? Will he not use them simply
as instrume ntalities to increase his
gatherings? Does he not live to gather
and does not this mean lower status
for the mass of the comm unity, from
whom he gathers?
And how can you safely trust any
political party which he dominates:
Will you not be safer in the hands OF
a party which he denounces with
savage bitterness? Is it not conclu-
sive proof that the organization
which he opposes must be on your
side,-because he is on the other side?
Is not his very denunciation proof
that he cannot control it. If it we re
otherwise he would have nothing fol
it but praise.
And suppose the banker accumu
lates 100000, or 100000 or $1,000, 0CO
will he contribute any more to the
prosperity Of the town than an or
binary mechanic? Not necessarily
His fare may be little more dainty
and his raiment little more costly
but how will that affect the business
Of the town? Who will feel the bene-
fit Of it? On the contrary, having con
centrated tue wealth of the town ir
his own pocket, he and his family are
very like ly to feel that the place is
not grand enough for them. They
must 60 to some great city. Or they
must travel in Europe, and look out
for broken down scions of the ancient
noblity,-ready to exchange Their
ld-fashioned.scorbu aristocracy fol
new-fanglcd pretension, gilded will