Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-12-29

a century since anything like the
present political situation was
seen in this country. Splitting
up of old political parties was the
order of the day. The Repub.
lican party won, but it had NO
walk away; and the minds of
the people at large are stirred
to their very depths on the
economic questions of the day.
And what expectations of good
times the people are now enjoy.
ing! Will their hopes be real
lied? We sincerely hope so.
So far as regards our jmme.
date section, the outlook is some
brighter than it has been for
several years. Our statesmen
are trying the experiment OF
having this nation do business
on a contracted money volume.
Now, as a matter of fact, a
farmer, not too heavily encum-
bered, can manage to live and
operate his farm on very little
money. So in this experiment
Of doing business without money
farming will, after all, be the
best thing agoing, even if prices
of agricultural products are ruin
ously low. In fact, we are in
clined to believe that our farm
ers have seen the worst of this
squeeze. And we would advise
all who own good agricultural
land to hold on to it if they can.
Good agricultural land will be
what everybody will want in a
little while.
Que reason for saying this is
that banking and business and
manufacturing cannot, like farm
ing, be carried on without an
adeq uate vo]umn Of currency. A
few days ago this state was star
tied by the failure of one of the
strongest banks in the State, the
oldest bank in St. Paul, estab>
lished in 1859, the Bank Of Min
nesota. It had a capital and un-
divided surplus of over 100000,
and total resources of nearly
three and d half millions of dol
lars, and all of the stockholders
dre among the wealthiest men in
the state-in fact, all are ranked
as millionaires. Now, why, it
may be asked, did these men
allow this time.honored institu.
ton to close it's doors? Evident
ly because they could not set the
money to meet their bills pay
able. And if money is plenty, as
we are told. why couldn't Daw-
son & Co. get it? The simple
fact is-and every intelligent
business man ought to know it,
if he don't-that there isn't one
half money enough in this coun-
try to do our business, and the
inevitable consequence, sooner
or later, is the collapse of all
moneyed institutions. Our over
doomed cities are just now be-
ginning to collapse, and God help
those that have invested in city
property. Ali who have any.
thing left will want a farm "a
keep them from star walton. This
will cause a demand for desir.
able farm property and newt
ably enhance such realty in
value. On the whole, may be
this is the best solution of our
economic difficulties. With the
downfall Of our great cities the
smaller towns will start up
enterprises for it's own imme-
date territory, and of a more
healthy character. Wealth will
stay where it is produced, in
stead of flowing to a few metro
politan centres. Let our people
here practice economy until our
homes are free from mortgages,
and we can defy the money lords
of the world. Let no one wait
for political reform. That may
come in our time and it may not.
At any event let us thank God
and take courage while making a
fresh start in 1897. G. J.
1.-THE BEST BANKING RYS-